LOUISIANA TECH OFFENSE

X—6 Adrian Hardy 6-2 193 So.

H—9 Teddy Veal 6-0 191 Sr.

LT—74 O’Shea Dugas 6-5 330 Sr.

LG—55 Drew Kirkpatrick 6-3 311 Jr.

C—65 Kody Russey 6-1 285 So.

RG—61 Ethan Reed 6-4 295 Jr.

RT—75 Michael Rodriguez 6-6 296 Sr.

A—4 Alfred Smith 5-9 188 So.

Z—84 Javonte Woodard 6-0 194 Jr.

QB—8 J’Mar Smith 6-1 226 Jr.

RB—23 Jaqwis Dancy 5-11 194 Jr.

Head coach Skip Holtz decided to mention what many were thinking. “Our offense is the elephant in the room,” Holtz said. “It certainly hasn’t been up to the standard of what we’ve been doing for the last four, five years.” The Bulldogs present the same four-wide look of recent seasons, yet they are averaging 3.79 yards per first-down rush. With leading rusher Jaqwis Dancy, a cancer survivor, at 610 yards, the streak of four consecutive years with a 1,000-yard runner appears to be snapped. The Bulldogs threw for 4,000-plus yards in two of the previous three seasons. “For whatever reason, we haven’t been on the same page,” Holtz said. “We’ve had some injuries, some ups and downs. We’ve had a little bit of a shuffleboard on the offensive line.” Despite using six different combinations on the line — three left guards, three right tackles — the plan remains to clear open lanes for the downhill runners. The Bulldogs have two play-making receivers. Adrian Hardy has a team-high 69 receptions, with 71 percent resulting in first downs. He has moved the chains on 89.5 percent of third-down receptions. Teddy Veal is a possession receiver (5.2 catches per game) with speed (sub-4.5 seconds in the 40). The Bulldogs try to use multiple formations and shifts to create mismatches. Quarterback J’Mar Smith, who operates the no-huddle attack, is at ease in the pocket or on the move (5.74 yards per non-sack scramble or keeper). Smith’s toughness comes from playing linebacker before switching to QB in high school. After his first passing drill, Smith said, “That was the last time I played defense.”

LOUISIANA TECH DEFENSE

DE—93 Immanuel Turner 6-3 287 Sr.

DT—94 Jordan Bradford 6-2 288 Sr.

DT—96 Ka’Derrion Mason 6-4 291 Jr.

DE—45 Jaylon Ferguson 6-5 262 Sr.

LB—33 Dae’von Wasihngton 5-10 219 Sr.

LB—35 Collin Scott 6-0 225 Jr.

CB—21 Amik Robertson 5-9 180 So.

S—10 James Jackson 5-11 210 Jr.

S—38 Darryl Lewis 5-11 212 Jr.

S—28 Jordan Baldwin 6-1 194 Sr.

CB—24 L’Jarius Sneed 6-1 191 Jr.

Since he was 8 years old, Jaylon “Sack Daddy” Ferguson has been a heat-seeking defensive end. A few years ago, he paid to install gold caps on two front teeth. Asked what quarterbacks thought of his gold rush, Ferguson said, “I hope they have nightmares about it.” Ferguson needs 1.5 sacks to tie Terrell Suggs’ NCAA record for career sacks. Ferguson has 15 this year and 42.5 in four seasons for the Bulldogs. Of his 59 tackles, 23.5 have been in the backfield. “I try to model my game after (former NFL player) Jason Taylor because we have the same long-bodied build,” said Ferguson, who is 6-5 and 262 pounds. “But lately, I’ve been stealing Terrell Suggs’ moves because I’m on course to break his record.” Defensive coordinator Blake Baker said he has watched Ferguson mature from a 220-pound freshman. Ferguson and Immanuel Turner often rotate ends. With a four-man front and two-deep safeties, the other five are green-lit to roam under the defensive umbrella. Safety James Jackson (team-high 47 solo stops) aligns at different points. Amik Robertson is a shut-down corner who is effective in both directions (7.5 tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups). Baker, who has coached on offense and defense, encourages versatility. His mentor is Punahou graduate Duane Akina, a former Washington quarterback who became a college defensive coordinator.

LOUISIANA TECH SPECIALISTS

PK/KO—34 Bailey Hale 5-11 196 Jr.

DS—49 Reeves Blankenship 6-4 218 Fr.

H—18 Will Parker 6-3 200 Sr.

P—36 Davan Dyer 6-4 225 Sr.

KR—14 Praise Okorie 5-10 170 So.

PR—9 Teddy Veal 6-0 191 Sr.

Bailey Hale handled place-kicking and punting for two years at Eastern New Mexico before joining the Bulldogs. Hale converted five field goals against North Texas, but also went four games without scoring. Of opponents’ 64 punts, the Bulldogs have returned nine, including six by Teddy Veal. Veal, who began his NCAA career at Tulane, averages 12.3 yards per punt return.

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—72 Kohl Levao 6-6 340 Jr.

RG—60 Solo Vaipulu 6-2 310 Fr.

RT—58 Joey Nu‘uanu-Kuhi‘iki 6-3 290 So.

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 5-11 250 Jr.

After leading the Warriors to an overtime victory in the regular-season finale at San Diego State, quarterback Cole McDonald borrowed a memory stick from video coordinator Oli Vea. On the six-hour flight back to Honolulu, McDonald studied videos of coverages and defensive schemes. When the bowl opponent was announced, McDonald pored through hours of videos of Louisiana Tech’s games. And then 70 minutes before each practice, the quarterbacks and receivers went over worst-case scenarios. If McDonald is flushed to the right of the pocket, for instance, the receivers mapped alternate routes. To paraphrase singer Rod Stewart, the ad-libbed lines were well rehearsed. “You always have the improvised thought in your mind as you’re going along,” slotback John Ursua said. “We like to be prepared like that.” With 3,790 passing yards and 35 TDs against eight picks, McDonald’s 149.32 passer rating is the highest for a UH full-time starter since 2010. In the fourth quarter, McDonald is averaging 16.3 yards per completion with 11 TDs and no interceptions. McDonald hopes to benefit from the return of running back Dayton Furuta, a ferocious backfield blocker who missed the SDSU game to attend the birth of his daughter, and the improved cohesiveness of a shuffled offensive line. The Warriors are 2-0 since 6-6, 340-pound Kohl Levao moved from right tackle to center. Levao fortifies the inside and provides an advantage against odd fronts.

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.

NB—8 Eugene Ford 6-2 195 So.

CB—4 Rojesterman Farris II 6-1 180 Jr.

SS—16 Kalen Hicks 6-3 200 Jr.

FS—22 Ikem Okeke 6-0 200 Jr.

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

The Warriors’ schemes appear to be drawn on an Etch A Sketch. They can set up with a four-man front and — shake, shake — the next play a linebacker slides to the edge as a fifth lineman. Corners can blitz, safeties can move into the tackle box, and linebackers can drop into semi-deep coverage. Defensive end Zeno Choi is deceptively versatile, ranging from the perimeter to inside gaps. “Zeno is a stud for us because he does so many different things,” defensive coordinator Corey Batoon said. “He’s a really good warrior mentally, and he comes to work every day.” With Penei Pavihi relocated from strong-side linebacker to the middle, the Warriors can fit in quicker complementary backers (Paul Scott, Scheyenne Sanitoa) or a rugged edge setter (Pumba Wiliams). A favored scheme involves three safeties — Ikem Okeke at free, Kalen Hicks at strong, and Eugene Ford at nickel. Okeke and Hicks are converted linebackers who provide physical play in the box. True freshman Khoury Bethley has nine tackles in three of the past four games. Ford has benefited from the move from cornerback. He can attack in the box or harass an inside receiver.

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—82 Justice Augafa 5-11 200 Jr.

Several times a week, kicker Ryan Meskell endures the aptly titled physical therapy. The trainers apply pressure to trigger points of his hips. “It’s pretty painful, but it loosens me up,” Meskell said. “That’s helpful.” The improved hip rotation is evident in his work. Meskell has connected on 15 of 18 field-goal attempts, including eight of nine the past seven games.