The Hawai'i football team's duel for the No. 2 quarterback's job will go into overtime.

It will be another few days before the coaches decide between fourth-year junior Brent Rausch and third-year sophomore Bryant Moniz. Greg Alexander is the starter for Friday's season opener against Central Arkansas.

A choice was supposed to have been made when training camp ended a week ago. But Rausch and Moniz have been impressive in 6-on-7 and team drills.

The coaches prefer to give Alexander two-thirds of the reps in passing drills, with the No. 2 quarterback taking the rest.

"The only rush is if you need a No. 2 guy, you've got to have that decision made," head coach Greg McMackin said. "I don't want to go all the way to game time."

The Warriors will not practice today. Because the opener is Friday, the practice schedule has been moved up a day. Tomorrow's practice will be like a usual Monday practice, a one-hour meeting followed by an hour on the field.

"I think by Tuesday we have to make up our mind on the second guy," McMackin said. "We're in a good situation. And Shane (Austin, the No. 4 quarterback) looks good. We're not in the same quarterback situation we were in last year."

Last year, the Warriors did not name Alexander as the starter until the day before the season opener. UH played three quarterbacks in that game.

McMackin has settled on a starting running back. Leon Wright-Jackson, who arrived as a heralded transfer in 2007, has been hindered by injuries the past two seasons.

Now healthy, Wright-Jackson gets the first turn from a rotation that includes Inoke Funaki, Alex Green, Chizzy Dimude and Jayson Rego.

"He's been consistent, and he's not hurt," McMackin said of Wright-Jackson. "Hopefully, he'll be able to continue. It's very competitive, and he's getting better. He's sort of a slasher/big guy."

Wright-Jackson also has practiced as the wildcat — a running back who takes the direct snap.

"We wanted to run (the wildcat), and coach threw me in there," Wright-Jackson said. "We had some fun."

There are plays in which the wildcat throws option passes.

"If it's a pass play," Wright-Jackson said, laughing, "I'll run it."

McMackin said he will start Wright-Jackson and "then we'll go from there."

Funaki, a converted quarterback, is the most skilled wildcat. Green, who transferred from a junior college last month, has had a breakout preseason.

"Alex is a big-time player," McMackin said of Green. "He's really an athlete. He's quick for a big man."

INJURY, HAKA REPORT