UH looking to bounce back from losses

Like many, the members of the Hawaii football team left Las Vegas with an empty feeling.

But after consecutive losses during an 11-day trip, punctuated by the 40-20 defeat to Nevada-Las Vegas last Saturday, the Warriors spent the past week trying to regain their groove.

“When you come off two losses,” quarterback Bryant Moniz said, “you try to find out what kind of team you are, whether you fall down and get back up, or fall down and keep on fighting and try to finish off the season strong. We want to finish the season strong.”

The first shot at redemption is today’s game against UC Davis, an FCS member. Kickoff is at 6:05 p.m.

Except for some changes on the special-teams units, the Warriors’ opening lineup remains intact.

A foot injury will force right slotback Miah Ostrowski to miss his second consecutive game. Justin Clapp will replace Ostrowski. Terence Bell has been told he will have a role this week as a backup at slot or wideout. Darius Bright will make his second start in a row, but will split time at left wideout with Allen Sampson.

UH’s secondary, which relinquished several big plays against UNLV, will remain the same. But when the Warriors go to the 45, a scheme involving five defensive backs, MIke Sellers probably will be used more as the nickelback. Kenny Estes was the primary fifth defensive back the past two weeks.

“We’re just a team trying to find ourselves right now, trying to win,” Moniz said.

Right wideout Royce Pollard said: “After the experiences we’ve had, we’re back to square one. We have to find out what works, and have the team improve. Every game is important. Practice is important. We have to find that concentration and focus. No mental errors.”

UC Davis runs a ball-control, multi-set offense. Randy Wright has not been intercepted in 128 passing downs, and the Aggies’ two lost fumbles came on special teams.

While the Warriors have 85 players receiving full football scholarships, the Aggies split up the financial equivalent of 56 scholarships. There are 83 Aggies receiving a share of the football scholarships.

With UC Davis’ fall semester starting this past Monday, the Aggies moved practices from the morning to the afternoon.