UH Game Day: UNLV Rebels vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

UNLV OFFENSE

X—10 Darren Woods Jr. 6-0 220 Jr.

SB—2 Mekhi Stevenson 6-0 180 So.

LT—71 Justice Oluwaseun 6-3 325 Fr.

LG—72 Matt Brayton 6-3 310 So.

C—70 Sid Acosta 6-1 290 Jr.

RG—78 Justin Polu 6-4 325 Jr.

RT—64 Nathan Jacobson 6-5 280 Sr.

TE—45 Giovanni Fauolo 6-2 250 So.

Z—80 Brandon Presley 6-0 180 Jr.

QB—6 Max Gilliam 6-3 195 So.

RB—3 Lexington Thomas 5-9 170 Sr.

Like many Ninth Islanders, the Rebels are contemplating which hand to play. Quarterback Max Gilliam, a mid-year transfer who has started the past six games, has completed 55.1 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Nearly half his completions have resulted in first downs, and 22 percent have exceeded 15 yards. Gilliam, who began his career at California, led the Rebels to an upset at San Diego State last week. Armani Rogers, the Mountain West’s 2017 freshman of the year, is a more productive runner than passer. Before suffering an injury to his left big toe, Rogers was averaging 9.1 yards per non-sack scramble or keeper. He has completed 41.5 percent of his passes, including 36.7 percent on third down. Rogers has taken reps with the first team this week. The Rebels align mostly in three-receiver sets. Their pet routes are slants and screens that are particularly effective when Gilliam throws off three-step drops. Giovanni Fauolo is used as a second-level smasher, pulling tight end or lead blocker for Lexington “Lightning” Thomas. The nickname was cemented after teammates heard analyst Rich Miano use the description during a TV replay of a 2016 game. “Lightning” is now part of Thomas’ Twitter name. Thomas leads the Rebels in net rushing (897 yards), a total he traces to his hips. “Cone drills, ladder drills … it’s all hips workouts,” Thomas said of the keys to maintaining his moves. “I’ve been doing jump cuts my whole life,” Thomas said. “Jump cuts are second nature.”

UNLV DEFENSE

DE—20 Jameer Outsey 6-3 250 Sr.

DT—42 Salanoa-Alo Wily 6-0 295 Sr.

NT—94 Kolo Uasike 6-0 330 So.

Buck—56 Roger Mann 6-3 265 Sr.

SLB—16 Javin White 6-3 195 Jr.

MLB—53 Farrell Hester II 6-1 240 So.

WLB—25 Gabe McCoy 6-2 220 Jr.

CB—7 Jericho Flowers 5-10 175 Jr.

SS—17 Evan Austrie 6-0 195 Jr.

FS—33 Dalton Baker 5-11 185 Sr.

CB—26 Jocquez Kalili 5-11 185 Sr.

In examining the evidence of last season’s defensive woes — 31.8 points and 458.7 yards yielded per game — an underlying theme was lack of a consistent attack. That prompted the departure of defensive coordinator Kent Baer and the hiring of Tim Skipper, who coached Florida’s linebackers in 2017. Skipper’s father and brother are NFL assistant coaches. Skipper cranked up the pressure — weak-side linebacker Gabe McCoy sometimes aligns as a rush end opposite stand-up end Roger Mann — leading to seven sacks in the first four games. (They had 11 sacks in 12 games in 2017.) But since then, the Rebels have only six sacks in six Mountain West games, including being blanked in four games. (Two of the sack-less games were against option-based New Mexico and Air Force). But the Rebels came up with three sacks in 27 pass plays against San Diego State last week. The Rebels usually align in a tight pack of three linemen, with Mann rotating on either edge. Mann’s quick hands are useful in fighting off blockers. Middle linebacker Farrell Hester II is a no-frills gap canceler. Strong-side linebacker Javin White is the “Vegas Strip,” with four forced fumbles. Dalton Baker leads with 100 tackles, including 55 solo stops. “Man, it’s crazy,” Baker said of hitting triple digits. “Last year, it was 99. I came home last year after we played Reno and my dad said, ‘You only had 99.’ I had to get 100 this year, for sure.” The Rebels have used four nickelbacks this season. Demitrious Gibbs, the backup to both safeties, probably will get the first shot at nickel tonight.

UNLV SPECIALISTS

PK/KO—30 Evan Pantels 5-10 190 Sr.

SS—58 Nathan Guzman 5-10 180 Sr.

LS—52 Nikola Kresovic 6-2 205 So.

P/H—19 Hayes Hicken 5-11 185 Jr.

KR—29 Evan Owens 6-1 215 Sr.

KR/PR—9 Tyleek Collins 5-9 170 Fr.

After early glitches, Evan Pantels has regained his kicking groove. After missing three of his first five field-goal attempts, including the first career misfire from inside 39, he has converted on four of five. His career streak of 80 successful point-after kicks ended in the third game. But he has been perfect on the ensuing 23 PATs. Hayes Hicken, who served a church mission in Mexico and was a Utah walk-on for two seasons, is averaging 44.3 yards per punt. Two UNLV punts have been blocked.

HAWAII OFFENSE

LWO—85 Marcus Armstrong-Brown 6-3 210 Sr.

SB—5 John Ursua 5-10 175 Jr.

LT—75 Ilm Manning 6-4 280 Fr.

LG—57 J.R. Hensley 6-5 310 Jr.

C—63 Taaga Tuulima 6-2 290 So.

RG—60 Solo Vaipulu 6-2 310 Fr.

RT—72 Kohl Levao 6-6 340 Jr.

SB—6 Cedric Byrd 5-9 170 Jr.

RWO—19 JoJo Ward 5-9 175 Jr.

QB—13 Cole McDonald 6-4 210 So.

RB—7 Dayton Furuta 5-11 150 Jr.

The Warriors are one of five FBS teams to start the same offensive linemen the entire season. In 790 offensive plays, the line has been penalized 25 times, and only five times for holding. But after relinquishing 17 sacks in a 6-1 start, the Warriors have given up 14 during the four-game losing streak. Against Utah State, quarterback Cole McDonald was hit seven times, including a targeting shot that resulted in an ejection. In recent practices, the Warriors have cross-trained the linemen, mixing and matching different lineups. The Warriors are seeking to boost a running game that has been idling. In the first seven games, the UH running backs averaged 111.1 yards per game and 5.29 yards per rush. In the past four games, the backs are averaging 46.0 per game and 3.01 yards per rush. During that span, they have one touchdown in 60 carries. McDonald has conquered nagging ailments and is prepared to regain his dual-threat role. “Body is 100 percent,” McDonald said. “It’s always good to have that.” McDonald’s accuracy has dipped slightly in recent games, to 59.8 percent overall, but he remains a late-game producer. In the fourth quarter, McDonald has completed 65.3 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns against no interceptions (for an NCAA pass-efficiency rating of 205.06). Of his fourth-frame completions, 63.4 percent have resulted in first downs and 15 percent have exceeded 25 yards.

HAWAII DEFENSE

DE—99 Zeno Choi 6-3 280 Sr.

NT—54 Blessman Taala 6-1 310 Fr.

DT—91 Samiuela Akoteu 6-2 280 Jr.

DE—96 Kaimana Padello 6-0 227 Jr.

LB—27 Solomon Matautia 6-1 230 Jr.

LB—33 Penei Pavihi 6-2 230 So.

DB—16 Kalen Hicks 6-3 200 Jr.

DB—14 Manu Hudson-Rasmussen 6-0 180 Sr.

DB—22 Ikem Okeke 6-0 200 Jr.

DB—8 Eugene Ford 6-2 195 So.

DB—4 Roe Farris 6-1 180 Jr.

Jahlani Tavai’s absence, like the butterfly effect, has triggered a series of actions. Tavai, who underwent successful shoulder surgery in Los Angeles last week, has left a void in the playing rotation and peer leadership. Despite missing three games, including the past two, Tavai still has a team-high 82 tackles. As a second edge attacker, Tavai forced offenses to balance the protection, creating more one-on-one situations for rush end Kaimana Padello (11 of 18 tackles have been in the backfield). The Warriors have divvied up Tavai’s responsibilities, with Pumba Williams as an end, Penei Pavihi as a pure middle, and Kana‘i Picanco and Paul Scott as mobile backers. The Warriors are seeking to tighten the passing lanes. In the past three games, opposing quarterbacks are completing 73.1 percent of their passes with six TDs and no picks. The Warriors have four interceptions this season — all by the secondary — and one in the past six games. In recent weeks, the Warriors launched several beta tests. Manu Hudson-Rasmussen, who was recruited as a safety, has played nickel and corner. Kai Kaneshiro, who was on the redshirt track, also has been used at corner. Khoury Bethley has had consecutive nine-tackle games as a safety. Eugene Ford has taken reps at corner and nickel. Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon said missed tackles have accounted for many of the chunk plays. Utah State eluded 22 would-be tackles against UH two weeks ago.

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

PK/KO—94 Ryan Meskell 6-0 185 Jr.

LS—1 Noah Borden 6-1 220 Sr.

P/H—99 Stan Gaudion 6-3 210 So.

KR—28 Elijah Dale 5-10 200 Sr.

PR—19 JoJo Ward 5-9 175 Jr.

The Warriors are seventh nationally in blocks with four — one on a punt, three on field-goal attempts. “Our goal isn’t necessarily to block a kick,” special-teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said. “That’s a byproduct of these guys’ 100 percent effort.” With a background coaching defensive linemen, Ghobrial has extensively studied protection schemes. Ghobrial has sent blockers from the edges and the middle. “When I design blocks, I try to put our players in the best positions they can be in,” Ghobrial said.