Grand debut for Davis

Freshman wide receiver Trevor Davis was a new face in the lineup in the third quarter and made his first big catch while playing a new position.

Davis, the backup to Royce Pollard at right wideout, caught an 8-yard out on his first play late in the third quarter.

“The first snap my legs were kind of shaking, but I was OK after that,” Davis said.

With UH protecting a 33-20 lead early in the fourth quarter, he entered the game on the left side and UH quarterback Bryant Moniz lofted a deep pass in his direction. Davis ran under the ball and made the catch at the New Mexico State 1. The 40-yard gain, UH’s longest play of the game, set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Joey Iosefa that gave the Warriors a 19-point lead.

“Making my cut I slipped because I’m not used to running my routes on the left side,” said Davis, who hadn’t practiced at all on that side of the formation.

The coaches had planned to redshirt Davis this season, but his progress in practice moved him up the depth chart.

The decision to forego the redshirt was then solidified when Allen Sampson, the starter on the left side, suffered a knee injury and didn’t play in the second half.

“It’s his mind-set and he was mentally ready to play; that’s pretty mature for a freshman,” UH offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said.

Aggies have local flavor

Quarterback Andrew Manley, defensive end David Niumatalolo and linebacker B.J. Adolpho brought a local presence to midfield as three of New Mexico State’s pregame captains for the coin toss.

Manley is out of the season after suffering a knee injury on the last play of a 16-10 loss to UTEP on Sept. 17, but spent the game on the NMSU sideline, without the aid of crutches.

The 2010 Leilehua alum said he’s been off crutches for “four days” and still walks with a noticeable limp.

Adolpho, one of four Kahuku graduates on the team, had four tackles, including two for loss, and tight end Jackson KaKa had two catches for 13 yards.

Niumatalolo, who graduated with Adolpho in 2005, had six tackles, including one of the Aggies’ five sacks, a fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries.

“As the game was winding down I was looking around the stadium realizing this was my last time,” he said. “It brought back a lot of memories.”

PAT struggles again

Hawaii’s problems on point-after-touchdown attempts continued Saturday.

Last week UH had a PAT blocked and run back for two points in its 28-27 loss at San Jose State, in addition to a blocked field-goal try.

After Kenton Chun converted on the first three PAT kicks against New Mexico State, UH had a missed PAT by Tyler Hadden that hit the goal post, and one that never got off because of a snap dropped by holder Shane Austin. Hawaii is 27 of 33 on PAT kicking attempts this season.

The Warriors were also 0-for-2 on 2-point tries Saturday. UH also attempted a field goal against New Mexico State, but Hadden’s 41-yard attempt wide right.

Paredes toughs it out

Senior linebacker Corey Paredes aggravated a nagging right knee injury on the game’s first play from scrimmage. He went down shaking his leg in pain as trainers attended to him.

But all he would miss was the next play — UH’s ironman was in for every meaningful snap the rest of the way.

Paredes finished with six tackles and a forced fumble.

“It was sore, but I was able to shake it off,” Paredes said. “I’m a senior. I don’t know how much more football I’m going to play.”