This time, the Hawaii football team is hopeful it will not be caught off guard.

In the Warriors’ 28-27 road loss to San Jose State, a defender stormed the A gap (between the left tackle and left guard) and B gap (between the left guard and long snapper) to block a UH point-after kick and field-goal attempt.

During Tuesday’s practice, Andrew Faaumu returned to left guard on place kicks. Faaumu did not play against San Jose State because of a sprained right ankle.

“I’m fine now,” Faaumu said. “I’m back in.”

Defensive tackle Geordon Hanohano also moved to left guard as Faaumu’s backup on kick-scoring plays.

“He’s a big body in there who can take up space,” defensive line coach Tony Tuioti said of Hanohano.

Head coach Greg McMackin praised Hanohano as a “big, aggressive guy who will be physical.”

Hanohano, a junior, said he had one forgettable experience as a protector on point-after kicks. It was as a Saint Louis School senior in 2007. He was aligned as a wing, across from Punahou School’s Manti Te’o, a high school All-American linebacker.

“Manti was talking to me and tricking me,” Hanohano recalled. “It was a close game. I relaxed, and he came off the edge. It was funny. He was talking about how we were playing a good game. I answered back, and he caught me not paying attention. He ran away when we snapped the ball. He almost made the block.”

After that, Hanohano said, “They never put me in there again. It was my one and only snap (on special teams).”

This year, Hanohano has been used as the “personal protector” — the blocker aligned in front of the punter. He is in charge of calling the blocking assignments.

“I’ll do anything to help the team,” Hanohano said.

Tuioti said: ”That’s the philosophy of the defensive tackles. We want to be unselfish. Whatever we need to do — whether it’s block on PATs, or get water, or pick up some bags — we need to be unselfish to help the team. It’s all about the team.”