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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Sore knee won't stop Warrior safety Peters

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 •  Klingler ready to pass it on

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Leonard Peters

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Despite a sore right knee, University of Hawai'i free safety Leonard Peters vowed to play in Saturday's football game against Louisiana Tech.

Peters, who is one of three team captains, yesterday underwent a magnetic resonance imaging after experiencing "tightness" and discomfort in his right knee. There was concern after Peters missed all but one game of the 2005 season because of a torn medial collateral ligament in the same knee.

This time, the MRI did not show any apparent tearing.

"The doctor thinks I just tweaked it," Peters said. "No matter what he said, I was going to play, anyway. Nothing was going to stop me from playing."

Peters said he suffered the injury during Saturday's 63-10 road victory over Utah State. He said a teammate inadvertently "rolled" into his right knee.

"If the game (were) today, I would not be able to go," Peters said. "I can't hardly jog. ... I tried to jog, and I couldn't."

He said he probably will rest "for a couple of days, and we'll see. But if it's up to me, I'm going to play."

Strong safety Jake Patek has been told he will move to free safety in Peters' absence. Dane Porlas and Mike Malala also will play there.

"We'll try to get the best 11 out there," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said.

Patek said of Peters: "He's a great leader on defense. He's someone we really need out there. If he's not going to be out there, hopefully I can step it up."

Meanwhile, there might be a change at left cornerback. Rich Miano, who coaches the defensive secondary, said Ryan Keomaka will practice as the first-team left cornerback today.

"That's the plan," Miano said.

For Keomaka to start, Miano said, "he has to have a good week of practice."

The Warriors have started four different players at left cornerback this season. A.J. Martinez, who started against Utah State, is suffering from a possible sprained knee. He underwent an MRI yesterday.

That opens the way for Keomaka, who has an interception in each of the past two games.

"He makes plays, he's confident in his speed, and he tackles well," Miano said.

Of the possibility of starting, Keomaka said, "I'm stoked. Every corner has a chance to start."

Keomaka said his greatest challenge is gaining weight. "I'm 170, I think," he said. "I can lose weight, but I can't gain. We run a lot."

As for his height, Keomaka said, "I'm 5-10; 5-11 with shoes on; 6-1 with shoes and a helmet."

ANSWERING THE CALL

Running back Siave Seti and offensive linemen Larry Sauafea and Adrian Thomas yesterday auditioned on the depleted defensive line. "It was open casting call," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said.

Five defensive ends were lost to injuries in the past two games.

That forced Glanville to request help from the offense. Seti and Sauafea began their UH careers as defensive linemen.

"I'm just trying to help out my team," Seti said. "They're trying me at end and nose."

At 5-11 and 280 pounds, Seti does not fit the image of a UH defensive end. UH's starters are 6-6 Ikaika Alama-Francis and 6-5 Melila Purcell III.

"No, (Seti) doesn't look like an end, but a lot of our ends don't look like ends," Glanville said. "What I like is Seti has a championship motor."

After two weeks, the UH coaches listened to starting nose tackle Michael Lafaele's suggestion to move Sauafea.

Lafaele said he told the coaches: "Bring Larry over. I think he's a better defensive lineman than offensive lineman. He's a tough kid. You can see him making plays. Guaranteed."

After yesterday's 30-minute conditioning drills, Reinebold spent another 45 minutes tutoring the defensive linemen.

"You could see, obviously, that Larry has played there before," Reinebold said.

Thomas was scheduled to redshirt this season, but head coach June Jones said, "If he can help us, he'll play (this year)."

Thomas said he was taught where to line up in some of the defensive fronts. "I think I'm still redshirting," he said.

"I think the jury's out on that," Reinebold said. "Adrian has no earthly idea what he's doing (on defense). But he's big (6-5, 305) and he's got some athletic ability. ... It's worth, during this time when he is going to redshirt, to invest some time to see if he can do it."

Fale Laeli, a defensive end who has missed five games because of knee injuries, is expected to play this week.

"Everything is good," Laeli said. "I'm still waiting for my custom-made brace to come in. I'll play with that. I took measurements on Friday."

Glanville said: "If we can get him ready to go, that's a big, big plus. When he left, he was playing at a very high level."

WAC HONORS BRENNAN

Another week, another honor for quarterback Colt Brennan.

Yesterday, he was named the Western Athletic Conference's Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season. He threw for 413 yards and six touchdowns against Utah State.

"I think it's great for the team that we're getting notoriety," Brennan said. "We need as much attention as we can get. We want to take the program to that level. We've got a good football team. We want a lot of good things to start happening for us."

• • •

UH FOOTBALL

WHAT: University of Hawai'i (7-2, 5-1 in Western Athletic Conference) vs. Louisiana Tech (3-6, 1-3 in WAC)

WHEN: 6:05 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Aloha Stadium

TV: Live on Oceanic cable pay-per-view digital; rebroadcast on PPV at 10:30 p.m. Call 625-8100 on O'ahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. Delayed on KFVE Sunday 10 a.m.

AUDIO WEBCAST: espn1420am.com

VIDEO WEBCAST: Available through Hawaiian Telecom and KFVE. Tickets available for single game at $9.95, a full season for $39.95. Go to www.hawaiiantelmedia.com

RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420, with warmup show at 5 p.m. Neighbor Island simulcasts on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kaua'i

GATES OPEN: Parking lot 2:30 p.m.; Stadium gates 3 p.m.

TICKET PRICES: $38 sideline, $32 South end zone, $27 North end zone (adult), $22 North end zone senior citizen, $22 North end zone students 4-18, $5 UH students.

TICKET SALES: Available online at hawaiiathletics.com, by calling 944-2697 (BOWS) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique at Ward Centre and Windward Community College's OCET Office during business hours. Convenience fees may apply.

PROMOTION: Discount ticket deals will be offered to season-ticket holders and armed services members. Season-ticket holders for UH football, women's volleyball, and/or men's and women's basketball will receive two-for-one tickets prices (maximum of 12). Season-ticket holders can purchase tickets at Stan Sheriff Center (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or online at hawaiiathletics.com. Season-ticket holders can also sign up at the game to compete for prizes, which include interisland trips for four and a trip for four to Las Vegas. at the game. Members of the Armed Services, active and reserve, will receive two-for-one tickets prices (maximum of 12). A valid military identification card is required when purchasing tickets at the Aloha Stadium in advance or on game day. This discount also is available at the Stan Sheriff Center in advance (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

PARKING: $5

ALTERNATIVE PARKING (no tailgating):

• Leeward Community College (free with $2 charge for shuttle service);
• Kamehameha Drive-In ($5 with free shuttle service);
• Radford High School ($3 with no shuttle service).

All shuttle service runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately one hour after the game ends.

SECURITY: Only fanny packs, purses, backpacks and handbags will be allowed into stadium (subject to check).

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Sports Radio 1420 will provide traffic advisories and updates before each UH football home game.

BUS SHUTTLES:

For UH students: Chancellor office is providing free bus transportation to the home games at Aloha Stadium. Buses will pick up UH students on Dole Street in front of Gateway House two hours before game time.The buses will leave the stadium 30 minutes after the game and return to Gateway. Sign-up sheets are at the front desk at each UH residence hall.

Roberts Hawaii is offering round trip "air conditioned" shuttle bus services to Aloha Stadium for $6 from three O'ahu areas.

Bus No. 3 will pick up at the Hawai'i Kai Park n' Ride at 4 p.m., at Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall at 4:15 and proceed to the stadium.

Bus No. 2 will pick up at the Kailua District Park, Kainalu Avenue at 4:15 p.m., at Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 4:30 and proceed to the stadium.

Bus No. 1 will pick up at the Mililani Mauka Park n' Ride at 4:30 p.m. and go directly to the stadium.

Reservations are required and service is first come, first serve. Call Roberts School Bus at 832-4886 for reservations and additional information.

City bus service

The FootballExpress offers 17 pickup locations throughout O'ahu.

The first trip from each location leaves approximately three hours before kickoff and the last trip leaves approximately 90 minutes before the game. Return trips leave as soon as the bus is full, with the final trip leaving 30 minutes after the game ends.

Honolulu pickup locations are at Ala Moana, downtown, Hawai'i Kai, Kahala Mall, Kaimuki, Palolo, Waikiki and the University of Hawai'i.

Leeward pickups are at 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani Mauka and Village Park.

Windward pickups are at Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road, Kailua Road at Keolu Drive and Hele Street, Kailua Road at Hahani Street, Kane'ohe Bay drive at Mokapu Boulevard and Kane'ohe Bay Drive at Makalani Street.

Rates are $3 one way and $6 roundtrip. Passes and transfers are not accepted.

For information, go to: http://www.thebus.org

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.