Improvement may not be enough for trip to a bowl

Did they hit the reset button a week too late?

We will know the answer by Nov. 25, when the University of Hawaii football team completes its 12-game regular-season schedule with a home date against old rival BYU.

Whether the Rainbow Warriors (3-4) pack up their gear or play in the Hawaii Bowl depends on if they can win at least three of the remaining five games after this week’s bye.

There’s renewed hope after UH came away from its homecoming game Saturday with a 37-26 win over San Jose State to end a four-loss skid. But the wet blanket aspect of that is the Spartans are now 0-7 against FBS competition; their only win was a 34-13 decision against Cal Poly of the lower-level FCS, and that was way back on Sept. 2.

You have to start somewhere, though. The Warriors are still somewhat rough around the edges, but they showed significant improvement in key areas Saturday, including third-down efficiency on offense and defense.

And they were outdone by their opponent in penalties and other mistakes for a change. The Spartans shot themselves in both feet with yellow flags and then a turnover after driving to closer than the length of this column to the goal line.

It looked like something UH might have done as recently as the previous week, but hopes to have put in its past.

As much as Diocemy Saint Juste dominated the statistics, Hawaii’s first win in more than a month was a team effort. That was one of the things coach Nick Rolovich seemed most pleased about postgame; offense, defense and special teams made critical contributions in a game where the outcome could have easily gone the other way if the Warriors let it happen.

UH got off to a slow start, and the loss of super slot receiver John Ursua early in the game did not bode well. Neither did Saint Juste’s lost fumble.

But Saint Juste went on to show why he could be deserving of All-America consideration as the season hits the stretch run. If Hawaii is going to make a serious run to a .500 record and bowl eligibility, it will likely need him to dominate at least a couple more games.

Maybe not to the tune of the 202 yards rushing he amassed in a school-record 39 rushing attempts Saturday, but especially if Ursua is not available the Rainbow Warriors will go as far as Saint Juste can carry them, and the ball.

Of course he will need help, especially from the offensive line, and the defense that caused two Spartan turnovers.

The Rainbow Warriors lost when they were favored to win at Nevada. Of the games left, they will have to steal at least one — maybe two — in which they will be underdogs.

Rest of UH schedule

Here’s a quick look at Hawaii’s remaining schedule:

>> Oct. 28, San Diego State (6-1): The Aztecs were knocked out of the unbeaten ranks and out of the Top 25 by Boise State, 31-14, on Saturday. UH will have had two weeks to prepare for them, and SDSU will arrive in the islands after a game against Fresno State with huge Mountain West championship implications. Two of the nation’s most productive running backs will be on display in Saint Juste and Rashaad Penny.

>> Nov. 4, at UNLV (2-4): This will be even more of a home-away-from-home game for Hawaii than usual; a huge football alumni gathering is expected for a reunion celebrating 40 years since Dick Tomey started his head coaching career at Manoa.

>> Nov. 11, Fresno State (4-2): This game looks a lot tougher than it did before the season started. The Bulldogs’ only two losses are at Alabama and Washington. They are 10-point underdogs at San Diego State this Saturday in a matchup whose winner will likely play in the Mountain West championship game.

>> Nov. 18, at Utah State (3-4): The Aggies have lost two in a row, but Logan is no picnic area as Thanksgiving nears.

>> Nov. 25, BYU (1-6): The Cougars haven’t won since Aug. 26 against Portland State. But four of their six losses have been to teams that have appeared in the Top 25 this season. On the flip side, BYU’s next five opponents before finishing the season at Hawaii are now a combined 8-25.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.