After resuming football practice, quarterback Bryant Moniz yesterday declared himself relatively physically fit and vowed to play in Saturday's game against Navy.

"Of course," said Moniz, whose bruised right ribs kept him sidelined for the past Saturday's 17-10 overtime victory over San Jose State.

Head coach Greg McMackin reiterated that if Moniz is available, he will start against Navy.

"From what I saw, he was throwing pretty good," said McMackin, who spent most of the practice working with the defense.

Moniz had not worked with the first team since suffering the injury against New Mexico State Nov. 14. He did not practice last week.

Moniz and Shane Austin, who started against San Jose State, yesterday took turns working with the No. 1 offense.

Moniz acknowledged he "was a little rusty."

He also said there was some soreness near his right ribs.

"It's one of those things I have to deal with," Moniz said.

Quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich, who calls the offensive plays, said Moniz is "dialed in" mentally.

"It depends on what he can take as far as pain," Rolovich said. "It's going to be sore. It's probably not going to be better for the rest of the season. It's a pain threshold thing for him."

If Moniz is not ready, Austin is poised to make his second NCAA start. Against the Spartans, Austin completed 28 of 46 passes for 299 yards. He scored on a 3-yard run, and made the decisive pitch to running back Leon Wright-Jackson's game-winning touchdown rush in overtime.

"Shane did a lot of good things," Rolovich said. "There were some out routes I thought he could have been more accurate on. I thought he handled things pretty well. If we need him, we can go to him."

Of his performance against the Spartans, Austin said after Tuesday's practice: "There were negatives and positives. There were some big throws, a lot of third-and-long that we converted. I need to work on being consistent and not forcing things. ... There are some times when everybody is covered. You can't always expect to throw the ball. You can tuck the ball and run, get some yards with my legs."

Brent Rausch is listed as Austin's immediate backup.

Two days before UH's second game, Rausch suffered a fractured right pinkie on his throwing hand. He resumed practicing two weeks later.

But a couple of weeks ago, he aggravated the injury. Rolovich said Rausch's right pinkie is completely healed, and that Rausch has enough preparation to play, if summoned.

Inoke Funaki, who moved to running back in spring training, was Austin's immediate backup last week. Rolovich said Funaki, who is an elusive runner, served as a change-up to Austin's drop-back style.

NOTEWORTHY

• Right cornerback Jeramy Bryant is back — as a starter and pursuer.

"It's coming," said Bryant, the only starter in the defensive secondary without an interception. "I was close on three."

Safety Mana Silva has a league-high six interceptions. Cornerback Lametrius Davis has three, and safety Richard Torres and nickelback Spencer Smith each have one.

"They've got a thing for the ball," said Bryant, who missed three games because of a tear in his left biceps. "I've got to get up with those guys, find out how they're doing it."

• Three weeks ago, linebacker Blaze Soares began wearing a T-shirt he received from former UH cornerback Ryan Keomaka. Since then, the Warriors have not lost.

"I wear it every practice," Soares said.

On the front of the shirt is this Biblical passage: "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."

"I like the saying," Soares said. "It means a lot to me. It helps me go out there with a positive mindset."