Despite harsh reaction from critics following Hawaii’s loss to Utah State on Saturday night, UH head coach Greg McMackin said he remains focused on preparing for this week’s road game against Nevada.

"I could care less about my contract," said McMackin, who is in the fourth season of a five-year deal he signed in January 2008.

UH officials have tabled negotiations with McMackin until after the season.

"I’m concerned about having a winning season and going to a bowl game," McMackin said. "Those are the only two things I’m focusing on."

The Warriors are 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the Western Athletic Conference. They need to win two of their final four regular-season games to earn the seven victories necessary to qualify for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

The Warriors will enter the stretch with more lineup shuffles. Against Utah State, the Warriors lost three more starters to injuries. Left tackle Clayton Laurel’s career might be over after he suffered a broken arm.

Right wideout Royce Pollard, the Warriors’ best receiver, suffered injuries to his left knee and left ankle. He underwent an MRI on Sunday, and is unlikely to play against Nevada.

Justin Clapp, the starting right slotback, moved to right wideout after Pollard was injured. But Clapp suffered fractures to at least one rib on a catch-and-run play. Clapp will be "out for a while," McMackin said.

"We have to overcome some devastating injuries," McMackin said. "I don’t want to make excuses, because nobody cares about excuses. There are no excuses in football. If somebody gets hurt, the next person has to step up."

The replacement line is getting shorter.

Jordan Loeffler, a second-year freshman, replaced Laurel at left tackle.

Left guard Brett Leonard, who missed the Utah State game because of dizziness, should be cleared to play this week. He has had experience playing left tackle.

In Pollard’s absence, freshman Trevor Davis will move back to right wideout. Davis practiced at that position — but did not play in any games — for the first six weeks of the season. He abandoned his redshirt status after left wideout Allen Sampson suffered a season-ending knee injury three weeks ago.

Although left slotback Billy Ray Stutzmann finished the game at right wideout, it was a one-time move. McMackin said he did not want a repeat of when he moved slotback Kealoha Pilares to wideout as an injury replacement in 2009. Pilares struggled at the new position. He returned to slotback the following year, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers this year.

"You want to play your four best receivers," McMackin said, "but sometimes (a move) takes away from somebody who is really productive, and Billy Ray is really productive at slotback."

UH’s wish is that left wideout Darius Bright, who did not play Saturday because of a variety of ailments, is available for the Nevada game. If not, the Warriors are considering activating Chris Gant or Cecil Doe. Both are on track to redshirt this year.

Aggies’ Keeton released from hospital

Utah State announced that quarterback Chuckie Keeton was released from The Queen’s Medical Center on Sunday, after he was injured in the second quarter of the Aggies’ 35-31 win over Hawaii at Aloha Stadium on Saturday.

Keeton, a freshman from Houston, was scheduled to return to Logan, Utah, on Sunday night.

Utah State team physician Dr. Trek Lyons said Keeton suffered an extreme stinger to his spine, adding that Keeton was moving and walking on Sunday.