Woolsey, redshirts are scrimmage standouts

On a wet and dark morning, the University of Hawaii football team could see 2014.

The Rainbow Warriors entered the bye weekend Friday with a 23-play scrimmage involving redshirts and developing players.

"They got a chance to show their stuff," coach Norm Chow said. "We were physical, but that’s what a normal (game day) would be like."

Ikaika Woolsey, the fourth-string quarterback, who runs the scout offense, took all the snaps. Woolsey, a second-year freshman from the Bay Area, was 9-for-13 for 147 yards, including a 65-yard scoring pass to Utah transfer Quinton Pedroza. He was intercepted on a bobbled pass on the scrimmage’s final play.

Chow said Woolsey played well except for a play in which he tried to force a deep pass instead of hitting an open check-down receiver. Woolsey was ruled to have been sacked. (He was the only player not allowed to be hit during the scrimmage.)

"He knows that’s something that’s really a no-no," Chow said. "You can’t throw the ball deep late. The DBs make up for it."

Chow added: "I felt the other 95 percent of the time, Ikaika did well."

Woolsey said: "I have to get that other 5 percent right. I have to be perfect. As a quarterback, you have to be perfect. If not, you fall short. I have to keep being up there (in the football offices) watching film and getting better."

Woolsey said he viewed the scrimmage as a real game. He went through his pregame ritual of listening to reggae and Bay Area music.

"To me, it wasn’t a scrimmage, it was an opportunity to make plays — not just for me but for the guys who don’t play often enough," he said.

Freshman Diocemy Saint Juste is considered one of the Warriors’ top running backs. Because he only took one handoff against Oregon State last Saturday, he was allowed to play in the scrimmage. Saint Juste’s first carry was a 65-yard touchdown.

"I just found a hole and it was off to the races, I guess," Saint Juste said.

Saint Juste said he always has had the ability to accelerate.

"I haven’t had any training on it," he said. "My dad was an athlete. I guess he passed it down to me. That second gear is, like, God-given, I guess."

Pedroza, who transferred from Utah this summer, turned an 8-yard post into a 65-yard touchdown when the safety made a tag-and-release maneuver.

"The safety came down, I caught it, and kept running," Pedroza said. "I knew it was a scrimmage and it was live."

Pedroza, who has to redshirt this season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, adjusted easily to UH’s offense. Last year, UH quarterbacks coach Jordan Wynn and receivers coach Luke Matthews were Pedroza’s teammates at Utah. In 2011, Chow was the Utes’ offensive coordinator.

"I’ve known them for a long time," Pedroza said. "It’s not like I’m coming into a whole new coaching staff."

On defense, linebackers Jeremy Castro and Deon Leatimua were standouts.

Castro smothered Saint Juste for a 4-yard loss. He also twice chased Woolsey from the pocket.

Castro transferred from UCLA this summer. He also must redshirt. In practices, he is on the scout defense that faces UH’s No. 1 offense.

"Every day, I get a chance to make better," Castro said. "It’s an opportunity to get myself better, too."

For the scrimmages, the usual limited-contact restrictions were lifted.

"They gave me the green light," Castro said. "It felt good to hit somebody."

Leatimua had three tackles, all on 5-foot-9 running back Jason Muraoka, including two for negative yards.

"He’s a little bit lower than me," said Leatimua, who is 6-1.