The Hawai'i football team's preview turned into a review.

UH closed yesterday's practice with 2-minute drills between the Mauka and Makai teams that will compete against each other in tomorrow's Warrior Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

"That was a sample of what's going to happen this weekend," UH head coach Greg McMackin said.

It also was a flashback as to why wideout Malcolm Lane is expected to be one of the Warriors' top weapons this coming season. Lane, playing for the Makai team, and quarterback Brent Rausch teamed on a 70-yard, catch-and-strut touchdown play.

For all of the contenders for receiver jobs — there were 11, at last count — it was evident that Lane's experience gives him the edge.

"That was three seasons of coverages in games," said Lane, who will be a senior in the fall. "I give a lot of credit to (offensive coordinator) Ron Lee."

Lane, aligned on the right side, was given a "choice route," in which he had the option of running a post pattern or a fade route along the right sideline. The Mauka team was in a two-deep zone, with cornerback Tank Hopkins in tight coverage and safety Mana Silva assigned to Lane's half of the field.

"On that type of play — a cover-2 — I have to set the corner, then fade up the sideline," Lane said.

It was a coverage Lane, who is averaging 17.0 yards per catch in his UH career, has seen often. The wideout's decision is influenced by the cornerback's move. If Hopkins leans one way, Lane goes the other.

Hopkins shaded to Lane's right, and Lane broke to the left. As Hopkins tried to follow, Lane cut back to the right. Rausch delivered a spiral between Hopkins and the on-charging Silva.

"It was a tight spot to throw it," Rausch said. "Malcolm made it happen. Malcolm has the most experience (among the wideouts), and it definitely paid off on that."

Lane sprinted the remaining 45 yards into the end zone, touching off a wild celebration.

"In this offense, you learn a lot about how to recognize zones, and how to get open, and how to get into the right places," Lane said. "That's what's good about this offense."

Most significant, at least to his younger teammates, was Lane's unabashed joy during the final Manoa practice of spring training.

Lane had traded jerseys with slotback Rick Taylor, who did not practice because of a suspected hairline fracture in his right foot.

At 6 feet 1, Lane is about 3 inches taller than Taylor; the No. 9 jersey was noticeably short on Lane.

"We were playing around," Lane said.

Lane has admittedly been on an emotional teeter-totter this semester. Soon after the 2008 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, he suffered from strep throat, a condition that caused him to lose several pounds and siphon his energy.

Later, he suffered from pink eye.

What's more, his thoughts often were on his stepfather, Michael Baldwin, who is stationed in Iraq.

"It's rough for me," said Lane, who lives with his mother at Schofield Barracks. "My mom is lonely, sad, things like that. From that aspect, it bothers me. I'm a mama's boy. When my mom's sad, I'm sad. When my mom's happy, I'm happy."

Catherine Baldwin retired after serving 22 years in the Army. Michael Baldwin is head of a military-police unit.

"We know it's tough over there, but we talk to him every day on the computer," Lane said. "He's doing fine."

Lane used to live near UH. He was famously videoed helping capture a fugitive on "Dog the Bounty Hunter."

Now he awakens at 5 every morning to make the commute from Wahiawa.

"It can be tiring," Lane said. "That's probably why I'm so down some days. I'm tired, and my body's worn out. But I've got to do what I've got to do. I can't miss practice. And I want to be out there every day with the guys."

Because he missed much of the offseason workouts due to illness, Lane looks forward to tomorrow's end of spring training.

"I can't wait for spring to be over so I can start training again," he said. "I missed so many workouts over the spring semester. I want to train through the summer. I'm going into my senior year, and I want to have the best season possible, and be in the best condition."

QBS UP FOR CHALLENGE

The two quarterbacks in yesterday's 2-minute drills — Rausch and Shane Austin — made a strong case in their bid to close the gap on starter Greg Alexander.

Rausch displayed the quick release and arm strength that boosted him atop the depth chart during last year's training camp. That berth was short-lived; a sore elbow cost him reps, and eventually the No. 1 job.

Rausch traced his arm problems to strenuous work in the first week of training camp. "We were throwing, like, a thousand balls a day," he said.

Rausch has gained more than 10 pounds through the strength and conditioning program, and arm fatigue is no longer a concern. "Everything's fine," he said.

Austin completed 7 of 8 passes, including a ricochet that he caught. "I was wide open," he said, smiling.

One of the completions — a 27-yarder to a leaping Greg Salas — was nullified because of a questionable false start. He also was ruled to have been "sacked" twice, despite protests from Makai teammates.

"The defense loves fly-bys," said center John Estes, referring to plays blown dead when it appears a defender is near. Estes likened fly-by sacks to phantom tags in baseball. "How do you make a sack from 2 yards away?"

Still, Austin said, "It was fun."

McMackin added: "It's been a productive spring. The last couple of days we've had some fun bringing them together."

JUNIORS WILL PAY VISIT

McMackin said 95 players (and their parents) will participate in tomorrow's Junior Day, a day-long orientation for prospects from the 2010 recruiting class.

The players and their parents will tour the facilities and meet with academic counselors.

Because this is termed an unofficial visit, the players and parents will pay for their refreshments and meals.

The day concludes with the Warrior Bowl, which kicks off at 3 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.