University of Hawaii head football coach Greg McMackin defended quarterback Bryant Moniz’s uneven play in the Warriors’ 16-14 victory over Idaho Saturday saying the Warriors need to "protect for him" better.

Moniz completed 32 of 53 passes for one touchdown, was intercepted once and lost two fumbles. He guided the Warriors 60 yards to set up Kenton Chun’s deciding 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

"We had a hard time blocking their front and they really kept him from doing any running," McMackin said on the Western Athletic Conference coaches’ teleconference today.

McMackin said Moniz has had "an excellent year. He (Moniz) was a little out of sync this last ballgame  but he’ll get himself back to where he (was). I wouldn’t put it on him. You know, shoot, we had (six) sacks and he got hit nine times and we’ve got to protect for him. And Idaho did a good job of closing down the lanes so he couldn’t run out of there. "

The 5-3  (3-1 WAC) Warriors UH host Utah State (2-5, 0-2) Saturday at Aloha Stadium.