Edwards was special

In Hawaii’s season opener at USC two weeks ago, Scott Harding was a super utility player for UH, contributing as punter, punt returner, holder and receiver — catching a touchdown pass.

Mike Edwards approached that level of versatility Saturday against Lamar, contributing on offense, defense and special teams.

Edwards started at cornerback and made a key stop for a 1-yard loss on the game’s second play from scrimmage. Then, on UH’s first offensive possession, Edwards made a surprise appearance and carried the ball for a 3-yard gain.

But his biggest play came on the kickoff to start the second half. Edwards picked up the ball at the Hawaii 5. He found a hole and then ran toward the right sideline.

Edwards cut back at the Lamar 10 and jogged the rest of the way into the end zone. The touchdown extended Hawaii’s lead to 35-0 en route to a 54-2 victory to even its mark at 1-1.

It was UH’s first touchdown on a kickoff return since Ryan Mouton got one against Fresno State in 2008.

QBs Graves, Higgins both play

Backup quarterbacks David Graves and Jeremy Higgins shared mop-up duties in the nonconference victory.

Graves, who started the final two games last year as a sophomore, was first off the bench and handed the ball off to John Lister on all eight of his snaps.

Higgins, who didn’t attempt a pass either, participated in his first game in Hawaii since his senior year at Saint Louis School in 2008.

In his last two high school games at Aloha Stadium, Higgins threw for 822 yards, including 484 in a win over Kamehameha, which is the second-highest total over the past 16 years.

Iosefa powers UH offense early

The Lamar defense got to know Joey Iosefa pretty well early in the game.

The UH running back touched the ball 14 times in the first half as the Warriors established the ground game, which in turn set up the play-action passes later in the contest. The sophomore finished with 55 yards on 15 carries —one short of his high for attempts last year — and caught three passes for 11 yards.

Iosefa was attended to by UH trainers after his last reception, and went to the locker room early with the Warriors holding a commanding lead in the third quarter.

Sterling Jackson and Lister got the bulk of the carries for the rest of the game. Lister carried the ball on all eight plays on a fourth-quarter drive and scored his second touchdown of the game and his career.

The Warriors finished with 219 rushing yards, led by Will Gregory‘s 62 on just six carries, as four backs finished with at least 43 yards.

"That’s another group we feel really confident about," UH offensive coordinator Tommy Lee said. "They’re all really good runners."

UH debuts Warrior Walk

The Warriors’ new look on the field was preceded by a new entrance into the stadium.

The Warrior Walk debuted with the team walking through the Aloha Stadium parking lot into the stadium. Coaches and players were greeted by a group of fans lining the path as the UH band and cheerleaders led the team toward the entrance.

"Terrific," was interim athletic director Rockne Freitas‘ assessment.

"It’s building a relationship with the fans. … This is the baseline and it’s going to get better every game."

In past years, the team disembarked from the buses in the stadium’s north tunnel. On Saturday the buses drove around to the far side of the upper Halawa parking lot and the team walked up the middle aisle to the stadium with the band playing the fight song as they reached the stadium.

"This program is a university program, so everybody should be involved," Freitas said.

Near miss on shutout

UH entered the fourth quarter entertaining thoughts of its first shutout since blanking Idaho 24-0 in Moscow, Idaho, on Sept. 24, 2005.

Adrian Guillory spoiled it by returning UH’s fumble on a PAT kick for two points with 8:19 left.

UH still achieved a defensive shutout, and broke a streak of 90 games of an opponent scoring a touchdown. The last instance of no TDs was also the 2005 Idaho game.

"It was great not to give up a touchdown, but as soon as we saw that guy return it to the end zone it was kind of a buzz kill for us," defensive lineman Paipai Falemalu said. "It was kind of like, ‘Awwwhhh.’ It was so close."

Small crowd

Saturday night’s crowd of 29,011 was the smallest for a home opener in six seasons.

UH drew 28,173 for the 2006 opener against Nevada-Las Vegas. The Warriors sold a little more than 20,000 season tickets this year.

As for Lamar, this was the largest crowd the Cardinals have played in front of since at least 1987.