Rainbow Warrior reserves shine in Scout Bowl during week off

Under darkened Manoa clouds, the University of Hawaii football team had a clear view of the future.

On Saturday morning, several redshirts and developing players showed their hidden-from-the-public talents in the Rainbow Warriors’ so-called Scout Bowl at the Ching Athletic Complex. The Warriors have a bye this weekend.

“I saw some guys get better, especially some of the young guys,” coach Nick Rolovich said. “It was good to get another Scout Bowl in.”

Justin Uahinui, a second-year freshman, was the quarterback for all 24 plays. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. It was a rare opportunity for Uahinui to call the Warriors’ base offense. During the season, Uahinui is the quarterback of the scout offense simulating the schemes of UH’s upcoming opponent.

“Every day, scout is a hard job,” Uahinui said. “Today, we had the opportunity to run our offense. It was fun. Today was a good day.”

Uahinui showed precision and spunk. When a play was called dead while he was escaping a defender’s grip, Uahinui argued for the post-release yards, saying, “I thought the quarterback was live.” In practices, the quarterbacks are not allowed to be hit. In the Scout Bowl, the rules of contact are ambiguous.

Uahinui’s first pass was a shovel to KK Padello, who rumbled for 33 yards. Padello is a rush end who was asked to play running back for the scrimmage-like session. Padello borrowed running back Fred Holly III’s jersey.

“Represent,” Padello said. “I’m glad I got Freddie’s jersey.”

Padello once harbored dreams of playing running back. At Mililani High School, Padello and Dayton Furuta both tried out at back.

“And then Vae (Malepeai) came along and took over the whole thing,” Padello said. Malepeai is now at USC. Furuta is a UH running back.

Padello said he had never practiced receiving a shovel pass. “I was a little surprised to see it,” Padello said. “I thought it was going to be an interception. I had to remember I was on offense.”

Padello recently received another pleasant surprise. The NCAA approved a waiver that will allow Padello to play as a sixth-year senior in 2019.

“I’m glad to be able to play my dream sport with my dream team and represent Hawaii,” Padello said.

Uahinui and Kumoku Noa, who is redshirting this season, collaborated on a 69-yard play to the 5. Two plays later, Uahinui lasered a 5-yard scoring pass to Keliam Brunn.

“He threw that thing in there,” said Brunn, who followed his orders of “go up and get it, be strong with the hands, come down with it … and celebrate.”

Earlier, Brunn set up a touchdown for a teammate when he cut sharply on a route. “He set the safety inside, and I went right over the top,” freshman Adam Netane said of his 30-yard scoring play. “The scouts are really close. We text each other every day. Everything we do, we do together.”

Uahinui’s final scoring pass came on what the defensive players claimed was the “fifth down.” (It appeared the offense was a pinkie-length short on a fourth-down reception.) Uahinui lofted a pass that James Green snatched in the left corner of the end zone.

“It was real exciting for me to go out there and get a catch like that,” Green said.

Afterward, Rolovich praised Uahinui, a walk-on from Farrington. “Justin had a great day,” Rolovich said. “He’s been real unselfish this year. For him to get out and show some improvement and completions and knowing where to go with the ball, I think it was good for him. He’s understanding how to command this offense.”