UH’s secondary was primary target

It was a busy day for the UH secondary as it tried to deal with USC’s standout receivers Marqise Lee and Robert Woods, who combined for 16 receptions for 239 yards and three touchdowns.

Cornerback Mike Edwards had some good moments, but did get beat for a touchdown pass from Matt Barkley to Robert Woods, a play after an interference call against him.

"Coach (Lane) Kiffin was joking with me. He told me to tell the other guys to stop holding," said Edwards, who played a season for Kiffin at Tennessee. "I told him, ‘Come to me.’ I still don’t think it was PI. And the next play he (Woods, on the touchdown) pushed off."

Overall, UH was penalized nine times for 83 yards and USC was flagged eight times for 74 yards.

A tight end makes a return to UH

One of the biggest topics of discussion in UH football in recent years has been tight end … or the lack of one.

Saturday’s game was the first since 1998 in which Hawaii used a tight end on a regular basis. Craig Cofer started at the position, but did not catch a pass.

Ryan Hall played the H-back position (similar to tight end, but off the line of scrimmage). He caught three passes for 17 yards, all in the second half.

Redd makes debut and scores a TD

Silas Redd, who transferred from Penn State’s beleaguered program, made his USC debut Saturday.

Silas ran nine times for 56 yards and one touchdown, a 31-yard run. The junior also caught a 41-yard pass.

"I think he’s a good addition," Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley said. "I think he played very well. He ran hard, made guys miss and stretched for that extra yard on a couple of plays, which we needed."

Last year at Penn State, Redd ran for 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns while catching nine passes for 40 yards and another touchdown.

Trojans’ D-line wasn’t a weak link

USC’s defensive line entered this year without three of last year’s starters — including Nick Perry, a member of the All-Pac-12 first team who left after his junior season and joined the Green Bay Packers as a first-round draft choice.

But against Hawaii, the Trojans amassed five sacks, recovered two fumbles and forced two interceptions. In the first half, USC held the Warriors to 105 total yards.

"Our defensive linemen are extremely young, but they came out and played extremely fast," said sophomore linebacker Hayes Pullard, who returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown.

Late start caused visual impairment

The late-afternoon start created some visual problems.

In the first quarter, the Trojans intentionally took a delay-of-game penalty so that UH punt returner Scott Harding would have to move into a sunnier area. Unable to locate the punt against the bright background, Harding let the ball bounce.

UH defensive backs also had to adjust to the setting sun.

UH returns today, practices Tuesday

The Warriors stayed overnight in Manhattan Beach and will depart from Los Angeles this morning.

Head coach Norm Chow said the Warriors will not practice on Labor Day. They will have a usual practice on Tuesday. The Warriors have a bye this week. Their home opener is against Lamar on Sept. 15.

Freshmen rested against Trojans

Several freshmen, including running back Steven Lakalaka and linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams, did not play.

Chow has maintained players are not recruited to redshirt. But by withholding players from a one-sided game, it keeps open the redshirt option if they face limited playing time this year.