After 75 minutes and 77 full-speed scrimmage plays yesterday, there still is no resolution in the competition for the Hawai'i No. 2 quarterback's job.

When training camp opened Aug. 6, Brent Rausch and Shane Austin were in a dead heat to serve as the primary understudy to starter Greg Alexander.

But head coach Greg McMackin said Bryant Moniz, a third-year sophomore, has entered the race.

On the depth chart, McMackin said, using the football vernacular, Moniz is "slashed" with Rausch and Austin at No. 2.

The placement is important because starting Wednesday, the Warriors will begin working on plays specifically designed for the Sept. 4 opener against Central Arkansas.

McMackin said Alexander will get the majority of the snaps in practice, with the rest going to the No. 2 quarterback. The other two will "have to learn by osmosis," McMackin said.

The coaches met yesterday afternoon, and there is a light practice this morning. McMackin said a decision on the No. 2 quarterback will be made by Wednesday.

"We want No. 1 to get a certain amount of reps, and No. 2 to get a certain amount of reps," McMackin said. "The first guy is going to play in the game. The second guy has to be ready. He has to have enough reps. The third guy has to be ready without getting a lot of reps in case something happens and he has to finish the game."

The Warriors usually have a three-tier system at quarterback. But Rausch, a junior, and sophomores Austin and Moniz have spent their redshirt years.

McMackin indicated that freshmen Corey Nielsen, David Graves and Cayman Shutter will serve as scout quarterbacks this year. All are expected to redshirt.

Rausch, who worked with the first-team offense, completed 7 of 11 passes for 57 yards in the full-speed scrimmage.

Austin was 6 of 9 for 28 yards.

Moniz completed 8 of 12 passes for 65 yards. He was intercepted once, and threw the scrimmage's only touchdown pass, 19 yards to Jon Medeiros.

Alexander did not participate in the scrimmage.

"(Moniz) has that football mentality," McMackin said. "He makes plays. He can run. He throws the ball really well. He understands the offense. He goes through his progressions, and he's getting better and better. He's worked his way into the competition for the backup job."

Moniz is a graduate of Leilehua High. He played last year at Fresno City College.

The offense broke out several innovative plays, such as shovel passes to the slotback and the wildcat scheme, in which running back Alex Green took the direct snap.

As Green shifted behind the center, the crowd of about 100 roared with a approval. Green sprinted up the middle for a 7-yard gain.

"I wanted to pass the ball a little bit," Green said, smiling, "especially being that close to the end zone. But it was cool. You get the ball and take off. It was fun. There were big smiles in the huddle."

There also was a pirouette play in which Chizzy Dimude took the handoff, turned and followed a block from Moniz.

"I thought it was a good workout," McMackin said. "Our objectives were to look for a backup quarterback, which is why we kept Greg out. We were able to do a lot of evaluations."

But for the second consecutive full-speed scrimmage, the defense played well, even when limited in the number of times it could blitz.

Linebacker Blaze Soares, who did not play last season because of a torn calf muscle, and cornerback Steve Stepter made the two loudest hits.

Soares floored Green, who had caught a shovel pass.

"It's good to be back, flying around," Soares said. "Football is football. You have to hit somebody. It's a scrimmage — you hit or you get hit. I figure if you go 100 percent during a scrimmage, the chances of you getting hurt are way less. All of the guys are trying to get you, too. You have to bring it."

Stepter is a third-string cornerback trying to gain notice. He hit slotback Ryan Henry, dislodging a helmet and mouthpiece.

"It was a good hit," Henry said. "I was a little dizzy afterward. I could only see out of one eye. When I tried to look out of two, I was a little dizzy. When I closed one eye, I could see straight."

The discomfort lasted for a few seconds. On the ensuing play, Henry caught a pass in the flats.

"Coach Mack told us not to show any weakness," Henry said. "I knew I had to regain my composure, and go out there and make another play."

Stepter said: "This was a big-time game for me. It's evaluation week. I'm trying to make the traveling squad. I'm trying to get into the rotation."

As a second-year freshman, Stepter acknowledges he does not have as much experience as junior-college transfers Tank Hopkins and Lametrius Davis.

"I'm waiting for my time," Stepter said.

One of the Warriors' heralded recruits, Aaron Brown, made an interception and batted two passes. Brown was recruited as a safety, but he is being used as nickelback.

"It's kind of like a rover," Brown said. "It's an outside linebacker, walk-down safety."

In blitz situations, Brown often aligns near the line of scrimmage.

"The closer I get to the line, the more opportunities I get to make a play," Brown said. "It puts me in the (tackle) box."

POLLARD BLOCKED IT

Royce Pollard, who is competing for the job at right wideout, continues to impress on special teams.

Yesterday, he had a long kickoff return, and he blocked a punt.

"I wanted to get the block," said Pollard, who was aligned to the right of punter Alex Dunnachie. Pollard sprinted past a three-man wedge to knock away Dunnachie's punt.

His play was greeted with ... silence?

Pollard recalled: "I was like, I blocked it. I looked around, and there was no reaction. I thought: 'Did I not block it?' Everybody was still going with the play. Someone said: 'You blocked it.' I was like, 'there you go.'"

NOTES