UH hits the ground running

SYDNEY >> The University of Hawaii football team’s new hybrid offense had a running start to the 2016 season.

In a 51-31 loss to California, Diocemy Saint Juste, Steven Lakalaka and Paul Harris combined for 215 rushing yards. Adding quarterback Ikaika Woolsey’s 33 yards on scrambles and keepers, the Rainbow Warriors gained more yards on the ground (248) than through the air (234).

Saint Juste, Lakalaka and Harris each scored a touchdown.

“There are three running backs who can make some plays,” head coach Nick Rolovich said.

In the previous two years, UH had a featured back who took the majority of the carries. Rolovich, who was hired in November 2016, inherited an interesting dilemma. Saint Juste and Lakalaka had recovered from injuries and were ready to compete for playing time in the one-back offense. With Paul Harris, who rushed for 1,132 yards in 2015, and Mel Davis, who scored six red-zone touchdowns, entering their senior years, the carries needed to be distributed.

Rolovich decided to implement a spread-the-wealth system that had worked at Nevada, where he was the offensive coordinator the previous four years. Don Jackson, a senior, had agreed to take a smaller workload to enable James Butler to get more carries. Jackson and Butler each rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year.

At the end of UH’s spring training, the Warriors did not release a depth chart, keeping open the competition at running back. They also added Freddie Holly, a prolific back.

In training camp, it was apparent Saint Juste had emerged as the top back. But with Saint Juste’s history of hamstring issues — he missed the 2015 season while recovering — the Warriors went with a rotation system in which backs took turns not participating in team drills. That enabled the Warriors to avoid taxing Saint Juste while using more backs.

Against California, Saint Juste rushed 14 times for 118 yards, an average of 8.4 yards a carry. He scored on a 53-yard run in which he broke or eluded four tackles. On that run, his only thought, he said, was: “Score.”

“It was good to be back on the field with my teammates,” Saint Juste said. “It’s been a long time coming. I spent the whole season out. I was excited to be out there today.”

Only three of his 14 carries came in the second half. “It was OK with me,” Saint Juste said. “I understand, with the precautions everyone has.”

Lakalaka amassed 58 rushing yards, including the final 4, on an 84-yard scoring drive in the third quarter.

And Harris, who has accepted his shared role, scored the Warriors’ final touchdown on a 15-yard sprint.

“There’s ability at that position,” Rolovich said.