Hard to handle

University of Hawaii football player Scott Harding would not be the Mountain West Conference’s player of the week for special teams if it were not for a game of catch.

It was August 2012, and Harding and punter Alex Dunnachie were zipping the football back and forth during training camp. Instead of passes, they were kicking the ball. Special teams coordinator Chris Demarest noticed: 1. Harding was a skilled catcher and, 2. he could kick the ball rugby-styled with either foot.

With Dunnachie suspended for that season’s first three games, Harding added punter to his list of duties. He also was the Warriors’ slotback, punt returner and holder.

"Basically, we were kicking around after practice, and Demo saw it as an opportunity to use it as a special weapon for us."

In the 27-24 victory over Northern Iowa last Saturday, Harding had his most prolific performance as a punter. Seven of his 11 punts were placed inside the 20, including one that was downed at the 1. Three of the punts were returned, for 9 yards, with one ricocheting off the returner’s legs for a turnover.

Of Harding’s 25 punts this season, six have been returned for 25 yards. Two of those returns resulted in lost fumbles.

Harding’s success against UNI led the Warriors to switch to a field-position strategy.

"With Scotty kicking the way he did, and the defense playing the way it did, it was obvious what we needed to do," UH coach Norm Chow said.

Harding said: "We definitely won the field-position battle. That’s what Demo wants us to do every week. We beat them on special teams. That’s the main thing."

What’s more, Harding played with a tender ankle and leg cramps caused by the humidity.

"I started cramping, and I never cramped before," Harding said. "That was weird."

Despite the ailments, Harding remained effective. Chow said it was decided not to use backup punter Ruben Guzman to give Harding a break.

"Demo and I talked about it, but Scotty was doing such a great job, we couldn’t do that," Chow said.

Harding also had seven punt returns for 76 yards. This season, Harding is averaging 10.6 yards per punt return. In 2012, he averaged 12.8 yards, the highest average (with a minimum of 10 returns) since 2004, when Chad Owens averaged 14.8 yards.

Including 30 snaps as a slotback, Harding logged 53 plays against UNI. Fittingly, he started the Warriors’ final drive when he recovered an onside kick.

The UH coaches have discussed limiting Harding’s workload. But that is not an easy reduction. He is a clutch receiver, averaging 14.4 yards per reception. Five of his nine catches have resulted in first downs.

Harding said he traces much of his success to his father. Russell Harding implored his naturally right-footed son to kick with his left foot while competing in Australian rules football. Scott Harding played that sport professionally for six years before joining the Warriors in 2011.

Russell Harding, who is founder of Harding Pharmacies in Australia, has been in Hawaii the past month.

"It’s great to have him around," Scott Harding said. "He helps with the things I need to get done. I actually think he likes the game more than me. He’s always studying it, and he wants to learn more and more."