Receivers get their freak on

The "Freak Show" stole the spotlight in the University of Hawaii football team’s first appearance in Aloha Stadium this year.

The UH receivers, collectively known as the "Freak Show," combined to catch six touchdown passes — four from Taylor Graham and two from Sean Schroeder — in a 92-play, full-padded scrimmage.

The Rainbow Warriors had planned a trial run that would simulate the conditions of the Aug. 29 opener against USC. They arrived at the stadium at 3:10 p.m., and started the scrimmage at 5 p.m., the same time as the scheduled kickoff for the USC game.

After an uneven start, the offense seized control in the drills starting at midfield.

Graham, the No. 1 quarterback, completed 11 of 20 passes for 213 yards. He teamed with senior wideout Chris Gant on scoring plays of 50 and 20 yards. Graham also threw touchdown passes of 50 yards to Marcus Kemp and 31 yards to Keith Kirkwood.

Schroeder connected on scoring passes of 36 yards to Donnie King and 20 yards to Duke Bukoski.

"Most of the Freak Show got a touchdown," said Kirkwood, a freshman from New Jersey.

Gant concocted the nickname when he noticed the diversity of the receivers, ranging from 5-foot-6 King to 6-4 Kemp and Kirkwood.

"We go from here to here to here to here," Gant said, moving his hand up and down.

Slotback Scott Harding is a 27-year-old former Australian rules football player. Kemp celebrated his 18th birthday three days ago. Kirkwood began playing football as a high school senior. Bukoski is a Saint Louis School graduate who transferred from Idaho State. Daniel Masifilo is a Campbell High alumnus who transferred from Arizona State. Vasquez Haynes’ father was the NCAA basketball scoring leader in 1995-96.

"We’ve got it all," Gant said. "We’re the Freak Show."

Gant, a fifth-year senior, is recognized as the group’s leader.

"He’s a great mentor," Kemp said. "He teaches me a lot. I look up to him. He works hard every single day and he pushes us."

Gant and Graham were initially roommates last year, when Graham redshirted after transferring from Ohio State.

"We’ve had a bond ever since," Gant said. "We’re picking up on it."

Gant admittedly had a poor start to the scrimmage, dropping two passes while in the clear.

"The young guys picked me up," Gant said. "They were encouraging me. I eventually came along."

On first and 10 from the 50, Gant sprinted past the secondary to grab Graham’s aesthetically arced pass.

Soon after, Graham hit Kemp on a crossing pattern. Kemp out-raced a safety an cornerback to complete the 50-yard scoring play.

"We have a great connection," Kemp said of Graham. "Taylor threw a great pass. I caught it and ran it in."

Kirkwood’s touchdown came on a fade pattern along the left sideline.

"We all came together," Kirkwood said. "We all had energy coming onto the field. Everything clicked."

It was a chicken-skin debut for Kirkwood, who has never attended a college football game. "Walking onto the field felt great," Kirkwood said.

Although this was the third intrasquad scrimmage of camp, it marked Graham’s first football action at Aloha Stadium. Graham took only three snaps in a game in two years at Ohio State before transferring to UH in January 2012.

"The receivers made the plays today," Graham said. "I think (the quarterbacks) did a good job of putting the ball where it needed to be."

Kemp said: "We love our quarterbacks. They get us the ball. We count them as Freak Show, too."

Told that, Graham smiled and said: "I think we’re honorary members. We try to get them the ball as much as we can."

Friday’s performance was the offense’s best this camp. The line, which is experimenting with lineups, played well. Mike Milovale and Frank Loyd Jr. switched spots, with Milovale at right tackle and Loyd at left guard.

"It’s good to get some results out of it after we’ve been pounding away so much," Graham said. "I thought it was a productive day for the offense. … It’s a marathon. We’re nearing the end of the marathon of camp. But then the season begins, and it’s a whole different animal."