MOSCOW, Idaho — The competition was furious as Hawai'i punter Alex Dunnachie kept adding points on the scoreboard.

The Hawai'i football team was staging a walk-through in the Kibbie Dome — site of today's game against Idaho — when Dunnachie, kicker Scott Enos and strong safety Spencer Smith agreed to a punting contest. The object was to strike the scoreboard, which hung from the dome's ceiling 150 feet above the FieldTurf.

Enos and Smith each had one direct hit — good enough for a second-place tie. Dunnachie struck the scoreboard four times. Dunnachie, who is right-footed, nearly connected on a left-foot punt, too.

It was a symbolic display for a struggling team with lofty goals.

The Warriors have lost three in a row to fall to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Western Athletic Conference. But they are assured a berth in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl if they finish their 13-game regular season with a winning record.

The first step to recovery begins in the Kibbie Dome, a hangar-shaped facility in which there are no stands behind the end zones.

The Warriors spent one day this week trying to forget last week's 42-17 loss to Fresno State, and the rest implementing new schemes on offense, defense and special teams.

The Warriors arrived in the Northwest Wednesday night, then had an energetic practice Thursday afternoon at Colfax High's rustic facilities.

Yesterday, they spent the first half of the 75-minute walk-through getting acclimated to the Kibbie Dome's unique features. The second half, they worked on special teams and defensive-scoring drills.

"We've had an excellent week of practice," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "Now we have to take it to the field, and get a win."

This week, the Warriors tightened the pass routes, and quarterback Bryant Moniz worked on building a better connection with his receivers. Moniz will make his second NCAA start, in place of Greg Alexander, who will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery three weeks ago.

"I thought he did a great job against Fresno," slotback Greg Salas said of Moniz. "As receivers, we're going to do a better job of helping him out."

The Warriors also adjusted their base 4-3 defense. Mana Lolotai will start at middle linebacker, with Blaze Soares moving to the outside, and nickelback Richard Torres will open at free safety. Torres will move to nickelback when the Warriors use schemes employing five defensive backs.

"We're doing a lot of good things, and we're working on things we have to improve on," McMackin said. "When we get it working all together, we're going to be the team we want to be."

Idaho, meanwhile, has become the team few expected. Under third-year head coach Robb Akey, the Vandals are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the WAC.

"There's a new life around here, which is a good thing," Akey said. "The program is starting to take hold a little bit. I'm happy with the early success we've had this season. We're trying to keep it going a game at a time. That's how it goes."

The renewed enthusiasm can be found outside the Kibbie Dome. There were more than 20 mobile homes parked in the lot yesterday. Most were equipped with satellite dishes; all were stocked with enough food for the three-day tailgate.

"We've got hotdogs, hamburgers, turkey burgers, salmon burgers," said Bruce Brown, who made the 8-hour drive from just north of the Nevada border. "We grill everything. And the food is well-seasoned."

Brown and Benny Blick are Idaho alumni.

"We've waited a long time for this," Blick said of the Vandals' strong start. "We're enjoying it."

Akey acknowledged that the Vandal fans have an appetite for more than salmon burgers.

"The people are hungry for a good football team," Akey said. "The people are going in there" — he points to the Kibbie Dome — "and they're being supportive. The place was rocking for the last home game, against Colorado State. It was full. We expect it to be full. That makes a big difference for our football players."

The Vandals will become bowl-eligible if they win today.