Tucson, Ariz. >> At nearly every University of Hawaii football practice, slot receiver John Ursua glides through defenses with the greatest of ease.

“I kind of forgot at the Cal game,” UH coach Nick Rolovich said of the 2016 season opener in Australia, “it was his first football game in a long time.”

With quick-cut moves developed as a basketball guard and toughness from growing up with older brothers, it is indeed easy to forget that Ursua’s last high school football game was in November 2011.

After that, he worked for a year in Utah — where his family relocated after moving from Hawaii island when he was a Kealakehe High sophomore — and then spent two years on a church mission in Paris. He joined the Warriors in 2015, then spent last year as a redshirt who practiced but did not play in games.

“It was almost 41⁄2 years since I played in a real game,” Ursua said of this season’s opener. “But, I mean, I can’t use that as an excuse. I always look forward to getting better every day, no matter how long I sat out.”

It was an uneven debut for Ursua, who dropped two throws and had difficulty securing a pass aimed at his knees. In UH’s first three games, Ursua averaged 13.1 yards on seven catches.

In Saturday’s 47-28 loss to Arizona, the Rainbow Warriors aligned in a power formation late in the first quarter. Running back Steven Lakakala was given the football on five consecutive plays — three rushes and two screens. With the Wildcats jamming the tackle box, quarterback Ikaika Woolsey held out the football for Lakalaka. Woolsey then pulled the ball back, and threw to Ursua, who was on a slant route.

“It was a nice play-action,” Ursua said. “Ikaika made a nice read to pull it. He found me there in space. I like getting into space. I crossed like two or three of the linemen. He found me in the second window. It was a great feeling when I caught it.”

The play went for 38 yards.

On the next play, from the Arizona 15, Ursua ran 10 yards, then broke toward the middle. Woolsey’s throw gave Ursua his first college touchdown.

“It was the best feeling,” Ursua said. “I’ve never felt so happy. Although we were down 20-7, I felt rejoiced. It took a little bit of pressure off my shoulder. Just to actually taste the end zone, to finally get to the end zone, that was one of the sweetest feelings. I’ll never forget that play.”

Ursua said the setup, with Lakalaka drawing defenders and Woolsey making the read, showed the Warriors’ developing chemistry.

“Everybody helps each other out in the little way that people might not see,” Ursua said. “That was a huge setup for me. I’m grateful Ikaika found me and trusted me to put up the pass and let me make a play on it.”