Hammy sidelines Pilares after half

UH slotback Kealoha Pilares sat out the second half with a strained hamstring and was replaced in the lineup by Dustin Blount.

Pilares caught four passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in the first half and served as Hawaii’s punt returner for the first time since the last time Idaho visited Aloha Stadium, returning two kicks for 28 yards.

He said he felt his hamstring tighten up during warm-ups after halftime.

"I just made this sudden movement and I felt it," Pilares said. "I’m just going to do everything in my power to get back, because this week’s game (at Boise State) is super important."

Blount caught four passes for 44 yards and scored his second career touchdown.

WR Bradley named captain

UH receiver Rodney Bradley was named the Warriors’ fourth captain for last night’s game against Idaho, a little more than a year after he suffered a broken leg against the Vandals.

"That was really big. I really thank Coach Mack (Greg McMackin) for that," Bradley said.

Bradley met Idaho safety Shiloh Keo — whose hit in last year’s game resulted in Bradley’s injury — at midfield for the coin toss, and Hawaii’s first offensive play went Bradley’s way for an 8-yard completion.

"There’s only good things between us," Bradley said.

After the game, Bradley took a moment to visit with Idaho’s medical staff, who tended to him after he suffered the injury in Moscow.

"Dr. (Steve) Pennington did my surgery and took good care of me," Bradley said. "Their coaches came down and saw me and their players. I have a lot of love for those guys and appreciate what they did for me."

Idaho’s early lead short-lived

When Idaho’s Trey Farquhar kicked a field goal to put the Vandals ahead 3-0 with 10 minutes, 39 seconds left in the first quarter last night, it became the first time Hawaii’s opponent scored first since UH’s season opener against USC.

The Warriors had not trailed in a game since UH was at Fresno State three games ago. The Bulldogs led briefly, 10-7, on a touchdown late in the second quarter. But Hawaii then scored on a touchdown pass from Bryant Moniz to Royce Pollard 66 seconds later to retake the lead.

Also, UH’s streak of five games in which its defense forced the opposing offense off the field without a first down on the opening series ended last night.

Satele blocks field goal

Junior defensive lineman Liko Satele notched the second blocked field goal this season by the Warriors when he burst through the Idaho protection and swatted Farquhar’s 26-yard attempt with 5:25 left in the second quarter.

"We seemed to be getting close. So this week we just broke through," Satele said. "I figured it’d be lower because of the spot we were on the field. I figured if we get the push at that one spot, I could get it with my hand."

It preserved a 24-3 UH lead. Nickel back John Hardy-Tuliau had the other UH kick block earlier this season at Army.

Dickson can only watch

Idaho’s JoJo Dickson, a 2007 Baldwin graduate, made the trip with the team a week after breaking his ankle in a home win over New Mexico State.

The senior co-captain could only watch as the Vandals gave up 494 total yards and more than 40 points for the second time in three games.

"I try to be a leader on and off the field, but it’s a lot more difficult being on the sideline," Dickson said. "They played their hearts out and that’s all you can ask for."

Dickson, who has a slim chance at returning for a possible bowl game, has 182 career tackles with three sacks and three interceptions.

Old school in the booth

In a variation of the homecoming theme Jim Leahey teamed with former partner Rick Blangiardi for the KFVE/pay-per-view telecast last night.

It was the first time since the 1989 game against Brigham Young the two have worked together on a UH broadcast.

They regularly teamed up on TV and radio in the 1980s.

Blangiardi, a former UH player and assistant coach, is general manager of KGMB.

"He (Leahey) is still as cute as ever," Blangiardi joked.