He steps in for Miah Ostrowski and catches nine passes after a career of playing special teams

LAS VEGAS >> The way slotback Justin Clapp looked at it, his first start for the University of Hawaii football team was just like another day on the practice field.

Summoned to fill in for Miah Ostrowski, the Warriors’ leading pass receiver, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, Clapp said he told himself, “ ‘It is just like practice, only I’m going against another colored jersey.’ That helped me get going right off the bat.”

And Clapp, whose strong performance in practice sessions had earned him the stand-in for Ostrowski, made it pay off with nine pass receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Billy Ray Stutzmann, UH’s other starting slotback, had a career high nine receptions for 136 yards.

For Clapp, however, it was quite a statement for someone with one career catch and the bulk of his previous playing time on special teams.

“Justin did a great job,” said head coach Greg McMackin. “He came in for Miah, made all the catches and did great. … I’m real proud of him.”

Clapp, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound sophomore, said, “Miah wasn’t able to go, so I just wanted to help the team as much as I could. They happened to call my number a lot and I tried to make the most of the opportunity.”

He did it from the Warriors’ first offensive play, a 4-yard pass from quarterback Bryant Moniz, and played steady throughout.

“That’s the way he plays in practice,” McMackin said. “He has great hands and he’s probably the smartest receiver we have as far as knowing the offense.”

Clapp is the son of UH associate athletic director Carl Clapp, who often travels on the road. Ironically, “he had to go back for work (after attending the game at Washington),” Justin said.

His father was one of the few family members who missed the game, with family coming from as far as Kansas and Washington to take in the game.

But Clapp said he understands that he might have to return to backing up Ostrowski again. “I’m sure Miah will be back, but if not I’ll be ready to go again.”