HOUSTON »In the dark, the University of Hawaii football team saw the light.

In the Johnson Space Center’s theater, the Warriors watched a 15-minute video of NASA’s history, evidence that all things are possible.

It was a message reinforced in meetings, during an hourlong practice at Saint Thomas High’s Granger Field, and in an impassioned pep talk by former Warriors Ryan Mouton and Gerard Lewis.

The Warriors are on their own mission in Saturday’s road game against Rice. Since arriving Thursday morning, the Warriors — with the exception of food runs to Chipotle Mexican Grill and a two-hour excursion to NASA — have focused on their fifth and final nonconference game of the season.

UH and Rice are both 1-3.

"We really need to get to 2-3 to get our season rolling," UH nose tackle Moses Samia said. "We need to get a boost going into the conference."

UH and Rice were once members of the Western Athletic Conference. The Owls left the WAC in 2004. They reunite for this two-game series, which is scheduled to bring the Owls to Aloha Stadium in 2018.

Rice won the 2013 Conference USA title. The Warriors, meanwhile, have lost 14 road games in a row dating to Oct. 29, 2011.

"Every week is a different week," UH defensive end Beau Yap said. "When you think about it, our road record is pretty bad. I mean, we’re trying to turn it around. We’re in the present. We forget about the past."

UH coach Norm Chow said: "We’re anxious to get going. We have a lot to prove. There are nine tough weeks ahead of us. We have to take them one at a time."

The Owls are averaging 27.5 points and 442.3 yards per game while relinquishing 38.5 points and 476.5 yards. Chow said the Owls’ defensive statistics are skewed because of Top 25 opponents the first two weeks.

"Texas A&M and Notre Dame aren’t too shabby on offense," Chow said.

Rice running back Jowan Davis said the Warriors show many defensive looks.

"Their defense does a lot of different things," Davis said. "Really, they do some things I’ve never seen."

UH defensive coordinator Kevin Clune said he is not withholding any plays for next week’s start of the Warriors’ conference schedule.

"We’ll do whatever it takes to win," Clune said. "I’m not holding anything back."

The Warriors have struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Quarterback Ikaika Woolsey, who was pulled in the second half of the past two games, will make his fifth consecutive start.

"We have all the bits and pieces that we need to have to be a successful offense," Woolsey said. "Obviously, we haven’t been playing the way we wanted to the last couple weeks. We have to put it together and play as one and be a good offense."

Davis said Rice also has several concerns.

"We’re 1-3," Davis said. "It’s not like we’re 4-0. We still have to figure out things. They’re a great team, too. … It’s going to be a good game. I’m looking forward to it."