Warriors want to power up with improved run game

Time is not on the University of Hawaii football team’s side.

The Rainbow Warriors are 121st nationally in possession time, averaging 25 minutes, 9 seconds per game. The nearly 10-minute-per-game disadvantage has taxed the Warriors’ defense.

The Warriors hope to gain time with an improved clock-milking running attack for Saturday’s homecoming game against Colorado State at Aloha Stadium.

"We’re looking a lot better this week," left guard Kody Afusia said of the run-blocking. "We’re running the ball really well, Against our defense, that’s tough. That’s what makes it easier in the game, going against those guys in practice. It doesn’t get much tougher than our defense for us."

The Warriors’ goal is to average 4 yards per rush each game. They have achieved that once in six games, averaging 5 yards in a 39-37 loss to UNLV two weeks ago. In that game, they rushed on 26 of 74 plays, and controlled the ball for 22:17.

This season, they are averaging 31 rushes per game and 2.7 yards per carry.

Injuries have played a part in the Warriors’ rushing struggles. Faga Wily started the first two games but has not played after suffering a concussion in a bye-week scrimmage on Sept. 13. Joey Iosefa, who has played one game, is expected to need another week of rehabilitation after undergoing a procedure in which a pin was inserted into his left foot. Diocemy Saint Juste and Marcus Langkilde also have been hampered by a variety of ailments.

"We have to stay healthy," said Steven Lakalaka, who has a team-high 283 rushing yards. "Being healthy is the main thing."

Chris Wiesehan, who coaches the running backs, said the statistics can be skewed because of circumstances.

"Sometimes we’re down," Wiesehan said, "and when you’re backed up score-wise, a lot of times you’re going to air it because you have to play catch-up ball a little bit. Whether we were part of the problem in the catch-up or not, we were playing catch-up ball."

Head coach Norm Chow said the defensive scheme often dictates the play-calling.

Chow said: "It’s not a matter of saying, ‘We’re going to run the ball.’ It’s a matter of what the defense allows us to do."

If a defense crams the tackle box with eight defenders, that should open the passing lanes.

"If we can’t run with the six-man box, then we’ve got problems," Chow said.

This week’s emphasis has been on creating better down-and-distance situations for the running game. Against UNLV, the Warriors were penalized for false starts on two third-and-short situations. Against Fresno State, they advanced to the 10 only to retreat 20 yards because of a false start and an illegal block.

"Nobody likes that," offensive line coach Chris Naeole said. "You’re losing yardage even before you call a play. It doesn’t make sense. It puts the play-calling in a bad situation. It’s hard to make up the yards. We actually do a good job in practice. We have to do a good job consistently in games."