MADISON, Wis. >> For three weeks, University of Hawaii wide receiver Makoa Camanse-Stevens had to keep a secret.

Then on UH’s first possession of the second half on Saturday night, Camanse-Steven unveiled what had been under wraps: He threw an option pass.

"I was waiting until they called my name," Camanse-Stevens said. "When they called it, I had to (do) what I was supposed to do. I had to go out there and execute for my team."

Camanse-Stevens motioned to the right side, caught a lateral from quarterback Max Wittek, then threw across the field to running back Paul Harris along the left sideline. The play went for 51 yards before Harris was tackled.

"He put it right in the perfect spot," Harris said. "I did what I could with it."

The play requires Camanse-Stevens, in essence, to serve as a second baseman turning a double play. He has to catch the lateral, sell the pretense he will run downfield, and create enough space to launch a throw.

"It’s a double pass," he said.

Offensive coordinator Don Bailey concocted that play this summer. In training camp, he auditioned receivers. Bailey felt Camanse-Stevens, a former Kamehameha Schools quarterback, would fit the play.

"He’s a good athlete," Bailey said. "He played quarterback before. He made a good throw. That was awesome."

Bailey had kept the play in reserve for the first three games. But with the Warriors down 14-0 at the intermission against Wisconsin, Bailey decided, "sometimes you need one of those type of plays to get you going."

Camanse-Stevens said: "I haven’t been throwing the past eight months. I’ve been trying to work at receiver. It was a fun experience."

Camanse-Stevens envisioned a college career at quarterback when he succeeded Tanner McEvoy, now at Wisconsin, at Arizona Western College. But midway through the 2014 season, Camanse-Stevens moved to receiver.

After completing his junior college eligibility, Camanse-Stevens made contact with UH.

"I didn’t really have anywhere to go," he said. "Coach (Norm) Chow gave me a chance to walk on, and I’m trying to make the most of it."

Last week against UC Davis, Camanse-Stevens started at right wideout in place of ailing Quinton Pedroza. He was in for a handful of plays before being replaced by Devan Stubblefield. On Saturday, Camanse-Stevens received another opportunity.

"Before they called that play, I looked at my teammates, and it looked like they believed in me," he said. "That helped my confidence. I want to help the team any way I can."