Running game still important for University of Hawaii football

Similar to Roebuck, Luigi and Twiddledee, the Hawaii football team’s running game often is the forgotten half of a partnership.

But the Rainbow Warriors showed the importance of the running element to the run-and-shoot offense during Saturday’s 12th practice of spring training.

During the scrimmage-like session, running back Elijah Dale sprinted 17 yards on a stretch play, power back Dayton Furuta dragged three defenders on a 5-yard dive, and quarterback Cole McDonald dashed 11 yards on a third-and-10 bootleg.

After a six-year absence, the Warriors have resurrected the four-wide offense, a scheme head coach Nick Rolovich directed as a record-setting UH quarterback in 2001. Rolovich learned the run-and-shoot offense from its creator, Mouse Davis, and one of the scheme’s top advocates, June Jones.

A complementary running attack has “always been the critical part of the offense,” Rolovich said. “There’s a reason why Mouse Davis called (running backs) super backs. It’s because they do everything. They’re like O-linemen. They have to be explosive like a receiver.”

There are eight running backs on the spring roster. None has started a Division I game. “We have a lot of different kinds of them,” Rolovich said. “Each one of them poses a different threat.”

Freddie Holly, Miles Reed and Dale are speed backs. Furuta, Kaiwi Chung and Hekili Keliiliki are power backs. Justice Augafa, who moved from rover, is a combo back. Genta Ito is recovering from a knee issue and will be at full strength this fall.

“Even though we may be forgotten with the plays out here and the media stuff, the running backs still play an important part of the offense in terms of pass pro(tection) and making sure things go well,” Dale said.

Offensive coordinator Brian Smith said read-option concepts from the run-pass option the past two seasons will be added to the run-and-shoot.

“It’ll give us great answers in the run game if (defenses) are trying to hit the (tackle) box,” Smith said. “The best part is (the backs are) extremely hard workers who are eager to learn and get better. There’s not one in the group who has a bad attitude or ego.”

The “Hammers” — the collective nickname for the plus-sized backs — are a key tool to the offense. Furuta, who is 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, and Chung, who is 5-11 and 240, are converted tight ends. That position was phased out when the four-wide offense was installed.

Furuta had the option of returning to offense, where he played his first three years at UH, or move to the backfield. Furuta was used as a short-yardage back for Mililani High.

“I was thinking back to vintage Hawaii football — West Keliikipi, Reagan Mauia, Nate Ilaoa — and I thought it would be a great fit,” said Furuta, who also has a background competing in wrestling and judo.

Keliikipi gained national attention for a knockdown block on a USC defender. The hit was featured in a YouTube video that has drawn more than 2.5 million views. Mauia earned the nickname “Juggernaut” when a video clip emerged of him running through a wall during a training session.

“The thing that’s great with Dayton is he’s extremely smart,” Smith said. “He’s picked up everything very quickly, and asked good questions in meetings. He’s really good in our protection system. He has a good feel. Part of that is from playing linebacker. He understands where he needs to fit and what pressures are coming. He reacts quickly right now.”

Dale said the backs are a cohesive unit.

“We get along well,” Dale said. “Everyone is talented but it’s still a competitive environment. We complement each other very well.”