MOSCOW, Idaho » When the game was on the line in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter and the University of Hawaii needed yards — key ones and plenty of them — in a hurry, sophomore slot receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann emerged as the Warriors’ go-to guy.
But, then, quarterback Bryant Moniz had a "feeling" about it.
"It was just a feeling thing between us," Moniz said. "Billy and I knew each other so well that he was reading me and I was reading him. We both knew what the other guy was going to do and we got into a rhythm and were able to connect for some of the key plays."
They teamed up for three first-down completions and 40 of the 60 yards it took to set up Kenton Chun’s 35-yard go-ahead field goal in a 16-14 win over Idaho on Saturday.
Stutzmann hauled in eight passes for 73 yards, including a 2-yard pass in the second quarter for the Warriors’ only touchdown.
But where the 6-foot, 165-pound Stutzmann really rose to the occasion was on the crucial go-ahead drive.
On third down and 3 yards to go from the UH 44-yard line, Moniz hit Stutzmann for 10 yards. On second and 10 from the Idaho 46, they teamed up for a 12-yard completion. And on second and 10 from the Idaho 34, they were good for 18 yards with 55 seconds remaining that helped set up the field goal.
"I was just able to find the soft spots in the zone and Mo knew where to find me," Stutzmann said.
It was the same kind of resourcefulness that made his brother, Craig, a big-money receiver (1998-2001) for the Warriors. "Mo and I know each other well enough that I know where he has to put the ball and he knows how to get it to me," said a drained Billy Ray, still struggling for breath. "I guess I’m kinda speechless right now," Stutzmann said.
"Except for Royce (Pollard), Stutzmann and Mo probably have as good a feel to them as anybody," said receivers coach Mouse Davis.
"They complement each other and they’ve worked together enough to be building that rapport. When you come right down to it, in this offense it is all about playing throw and catch. And they know each other enough to do that pretty well."
