By Jason Kaneshiro

jkaneshiro@staradvertiser.com

Hawaii’s shortage at defensive tackle boosted the number of snaps Siasau Matagiese has played over the past few weeks.

Since returning from a neck injury he suffered earlier this season, he has an elevated appreciation for each one.

Matagiese was carted off the field in the first quarter of the Warriors’ game at BYU on Sept. 28, just moments after a similar scene played out with fellow defensive tackle Geordon Hanohano being taken out of the stadium on a stretcher.

While X-rays were negative for both linemen, Hanohano’s history of neck stingers contributed to his decision to leave the sport the following week. Matagiese, meanwhile, rejoined the Warriors two weeks later and reclaimed a starting spot on the defensive line.

“I’m very lucky,” Matagiese said this week. “I had to really get down and pray and thank God for watching over me.”

Matagiese said the frightening experience at BYU “was a big check for me,” and the junior from Kauai returned from the neck strain to help anchor the UH defensive line along with senior Haku Correa in the four games since he’s been back.

Matagiese, who earned a starting job in fall camp, and Correa are the only two defensive tackles left from what had been considered a deep group entering the season, and are again slated to start in the middle of UH’s defensive front when the Warriors (1-8, 0-6 Mountain West Conference) face Air Force (5-5, 4-2) on Friday in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Me and Haku had to sit down, gather ourselves and be ready to play every single snap,” Matagiese said of their approach after Hanohano and sophomore Moses Samia had their seasons end in September.

When they need a break, Matagiese and Correa have gotten relief from transplants Kaeo Alo, who began the season as a fullback, and Marcus Malepeai and Beau Yap, both of whom are regularly defensive ends. Matagiese enters the matchup against Air Force with 12 total tackles, three coming in last week’s loss to Boise State. He also recorded his first tackle for loss of the season against the Broncos.

“(Matagiese) has a lot of energy,” UH defensive line coach Lewis Powell said. “(While he was out) he was always around still learning what he was missing and understanding what he needed to do when he came back. When he came back when he was fully healthy … we put him right back in there and he was good to go.”

Matagiese missed UH’s game at San Diego State and returned the following week against New Mexico. While holding his ground is the primary task most games, staying on his feet will be the objective against an Air Force offensive line that opens lanes for an option attack that generates more than 335 rushing yards a game, the second-highest average in the FBS.

“People talk about them being undersized, but they’re a well-coached football team, they come off the ball, they’ll get into you and, especially being light, they’re going to cut (block) you all day,” Matagiese said. “It’s a good challenge. It’ll really put our D-line to the test.”

Matagiese, who lettered in four sports at Waimea, began his college career at Portland State before transferring to UH in 2010, where he has family connections to past, current and future members of the athletic department. He’s a second cousin of former UH and St. Louis Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. Jessica Iwata, another cousin, is a senior with the UH softball team.

His younger sister, Waimea senior Gaylan “Ulu” Matagiese, signed a letter of intent to join the Rainbow Wahine softball program on Wednesday after helping the Menehunes win the Division II state championship last spring.

“It should be exciting for the family,” Siasau said. “She was getting looked at by a lot of schools, so I didn’t want to put the pressure on her. … I let her do her own thing and it came down to her staying home.”