Hawaii middle linebacker Corey Paredes and center Matagisila Lefiti will be held out of practices until Tuesday after being diagnosed with sprained knees.
The injuries won’t prevent either player from playing in the Oct. 14 nationally televised road game against San Jose State. The Warriors have a bye this weekend.
Paredes suffered the injury to his right posterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s 44-26 road victory over Louisiana Tech.
Lefiti injured his left PCL three weeks ago. In each of the past two games, Lefiti has been forced to leave in the first quarter, lasting three series against UC Davis and six plays against Louisiana Tech. In the latter game, Lefiti benched himself because of the pain in his knee.
“I told coach (Greg McMackin) I didn’t want to be a hassle to the team,” Lefiti said. “I took myself out of the game. It was for the betterment of the team.”
Paredes and Lefiti have been told they will be medically cleared to practice Tuesday. The Warriors depart Wednesday afternoon.
Although no decision has been finalized, London Sapolu has been told to prepare to be the starting center against San Jose State. He made the majority of snaps the past two games.
Sapolu said he’s learning to enter games on quick notice.
“It’s not easy,” Sapolu said. “Everybody is already warmed up. It’s hard to get that feeling going. … Even though you might not play, you just have to be ready.”
Meanwhile, Lefiti said he believes he will conquer his inconsistency with shotgun snaps. He said a lack of focus might have factored in several errant snaps.
“They’re correctable,” Lefiti said.
Ostrowski ready
Right slotback Miah Ostrowski has declared himself physically fit to play against San Jose State.
Ostrowski caught 19 passes in the first two games, but has missed the past three games because of a dislocated Lisfranc joint on his right foot. Justin Clapp has 22 receptions as Ostrowski’s understudy.
McMackin has indicated Ostrowski and Clapp will split reps.
“I just want to be on a winning team, whether it’s a back-up role or starting,” Ostrowski said. “It’s all about the team. Clapp is doing a great job. You can’t take away all of the positive things he’s done for the team and all of the sacrifices he’s made.”
Fixing the kicking game
The Warriors have worked intensively on solving their placekicking problems. In the first five games, six point-after or field-goal kicks have been blocked.
“It’s just ridiculous all of those blocks,” long-snapper Luke Ingram said.
The coaches traced the breakdowns to inexperienced protection and timing problems.
“It’s not an individual (problem), it’s a team thing,” kicker Tyler Hadden said.
Coach Moniz has a plan
Quarterback Bryant Moniz is going with the daze-and-confuse approach for today’s Scout Bowl featuring redshirts and developing players.
Moniz and wideout Royce Pollard will coach the offense. Safety Richard Torres and Paredes will lead the defense.
“We’re gonna run, we’re gonna gun,” Moniz said. “We’re gonna wing it, we’re gonna sling it. We’re gonna win it.”
Moniz said he has found a way to utilize quarterbacks Stump Godfrey and Jeremy Higgins. Both are redshirting after transferring.
“I might put both of them in,” Moniz said. “Let one drop right and one drop left. The defense will be very confused.”
First snap will be about 8 a.m.
