WAILUKU » The Hawaii football team took flight for a day trip to Maui on Saturday.

The Warriors returned with the starting quarterback’s job up in the air.

“No question, it’s still open,” head coach Norm Chow said following the Warriors’ 12th practice of spring training.

David Graves will take the No. 1 snaps in the final week of spring drills. But Jeremy Higgins built a strong case in Saturday’s 31-play scrimmage before about 500 fans at War Memorial Stadium.

Higgins completed five of nine passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once.

Graves was 1-for-8 — his completion coming on a 23-yarder to Billy Ray Stutzmann — and scored on a 4-yard scramble.

“I like Graves’ leadership,” Chow said. “He works hard. He has to be more productive.”

Graves started two games as a sophomore in 2011. He is making the adjustment from a four-wide passing attack to a ball-control scheme featuring at least one tight end.

“I did some good things and I did some bad things,” Graves said. “It’s all about executing with all 11 people. Sometimes I wasn’t doing my job.

“There were some good things that happened on the field. I feel we’re competing every day and getting more comfortable.”

Higgins, a 2010 graduate of Saint Louis School, attended Utah State as a freshman before transferring to UH in the summer of 2011. He was fourth on the depth chart entering spring training. He moved up a notch after

No. 2 quarterback Cayman Shutter was suspended indefinitely, and then hurdled freshman Ikaika Woolsey after impressive play in an April 13 scrimmage.

“He might have the chance to be the starter,” Chow said of Higgins. “He’s competing. He sometimes drives me nuts. He’ll make two good plays and then one dumb play. We have to get that straight.”

In the scrimmage, Higgins and wideout Cecil Doe collaborated on a 60-yard scoring play. Higgins lofted a pass to Doe, who soared to make the catch. Doe then juked a cornerback to sprint the remaining 30 yards.

“Cecil made a nice play,” Higgins said. “He’s good at going up and getting it. We play to his strengths.”

Doe said: “I tried to get open. I looked back, and the ball was right there. I was able to find my balance, and finish off the drive.”

For Doe, who redshirted in 2011 after transferring from a junior college, it was another chance to display his agility.

“He made a nice play,” Chow said. “He’s doing some good things.”

The play also showed the improved strength in the left-handed Higgins’ throwing arm.

Higgins had a long windup that hindered the zip of his passes. Chow, who has coached three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, implored Higgins to step into each throw.

“I feel I can get a lot better at it,” Higgins said. “I kind of have it in the back of my mind. Sometimes I don’t step into it, and (Chow) gets on my case.”

Higgins drew praise when he threw to inside receiver Miah Ostrowski, who sneaked behind a defensive back for a 19-yard touchdown.

“He’s smart,” Chow said of Higgins. “He’s played in this system at Utah State. He understands the concepts.”

For simplicity, Chow introduced his offense as a pro-set attack, which in its purest form employs two receivers, a tight end, a fullback and a running back. The offense actually takes many shapes.

In Saturday’s scrimmage, there was a set where a running back and tight end were aligned as wideouts, and a second tight end stepped back to serve as a blocking back. The Warriors even used an empty-set formation with five receivers.

At Utah State, according to Higgins, the scheme was known as the “try-to-confuse offense.” When pressed, Chow said he runs the “Warrior offense.”

Another makeover is planned.

Dustin Elisara, who has practiced as the No. 1 fullback, injured his left knee in the scrimmage. The other fullback, Jared Leaf, did not play because of an undisclosed ailment.

Chow said he is considering using tight end Waylon Lolotai as a fullback, or going with a so-called “pony backfield” of running backs Joey Iosefa and Will Gregory.

“We have options,” Chow said, “and a lot of work to do.”