KICKOFF: 6 P.M. ALOHA STADIUM •  RADIO: KKEA, 1420-AM •  TV: PPV (255) • Line: UH by 61⁄2

ARMY 3-7, INDEPENDENT

ARMY OFFENSE

The Black Knights, who lead the nation in rushing (330.6 yards per game), offer few surprises. Rushes account for 82.9 percent of their plays. Unlike recent UH opponent Navy, which also runs the triple-option offense, Army always has quarterback Angel Santiago under center. Army’s version has the basics: fullback dive, mid-line option (with Santiago following the fullback) and load option (Santiago running to the edge and either keeping it or pitching to a trailing back). Army will be without its best fullback, Larry Dixon, who suffered a season-ending wrist injury. Dixon averaged 7.25 yards on first down, and also was a punishing blocker. Matt Giachinta is expected to make his first start in place of Dixon. Aaron Kemper has moved from slotback to fullback. Terry Baggett, who is most effective on motion runs, leads with 991 rushing yards, an average of 8.54 yards per carry. He has been the go-to runner on 58 percent of first-down plays. He rushed for 304 yards and four touchdowns against Eastern Michigan. Santiago can throw, if needed. There are no illusions. "Most of the time it’s going to be a run," said Patrick Laird, Army’s best blocking receiver. "But we have to be ready to catch and to make plays." Laird said the key is to go hard every play. "If you take a step off, it’s seen by our coaches," he said.

ARMY DEFENSE

Army’s double-eagle flex is regarded as an offshoot of Arizona’s Desert Swarm defense of the 1990s, but its roots can be traced to Manoa. Borrowing concepts from the Chicago Bears’ 46 defense, Hawaii created its version of the multiple scheme that can offer 4-3, 3-4, 5-2, 4-2-5 and 3-3-5 looks. Versatility is the key, with ends dropping into coverage, outside linebackers aligned as rush ends, and hybrids serving as both safeties and linebackers. When Dick Tomey left UH to take over at Arizona, Rich Ellerson ran what was re-branded as Desert Swarm. Ellerson, after a stop at Cal Poly, brought the scheme to Army. At West Point, the personnel led to changes. Nose tackle Richard Glover is aligned across from the center instead of angled off a shoulder. The ends have to attack gaps instead of holding points. One of the big changes was moving Geoffery Bacon, who had a team-high 136 tackles in 2012, from middle linebacker to free safety. "A lot of times I thought, if I didn’t put up good numbers, like tackles, I wasn’t contributing," Bacon said. "Now I know as a safety, I’m not supposed to have 15 tackles a game. If I am, that’s a bad game." Bacon has 48 tackles in six games despite missing a month because of a broken wrist. Colby Miller and Marcus Poling, who is good in passing situations, will rotate at middle linebacker. Josh Jenkins is the corner who covers the wide side of the formation.

ARMY SPECIAL TEAMS

In the previous game against Western Kentucky, Army recovered an onside kick to open the game (it was nullified because of a penalty) and gained 20 yards on a fake punt. Other than that, there has been little special about the unit. Daniel Grochowski has converted eight of 11 field-goal attempts, but has only one in the past four games. Army is averaging a mere 14.8 yards per kickoff return, with a long of 29 yards.

HAWAII 0-11, 0-8 IN MOUNTAIN WEST

HAWAII OFFENSE

With his dry wit, Clark Evans has become Deadpan Walking among teammates. He is as subtle on the field with 37 receptions, second most among Mountain West Conference tight ends. Evans is most effective on football’s version of the pick-and-roll: Evans will rub-block a defender, then curl into the flats or button-hook the middle. Evans saves the best for last, with 51 percent of his catches coming in the fourth quarter. Chris Gant and Scott Harding have emerged as clutch receivers. Gant has 21 fourth-quarter catches, with 13 resulting in first downs and seven exceeding 25 yards. Harding is perfect in converting third-down plays that need up to 6 yards. He has mastered the out-cut play that was former UH slotback Davone Bess’ favorite route. The passing game has improved in part to better protection. Against Wyoming, Sean Schroeder was hit five times in non-sack plays but still managed to complete three of those passes. Schroeder is able to play off Joey Iosefa for play-action passes and bootlegs. Against Wyoming, Schroeder faked a handoff to Iosefa, ran to his right, pirouetted and fired to Iosefa on the left side. Iosefa has gained 432 yards in the three games since returning from a foot injury. During that span, he has caught nine passes for 85 yards. 

HAWAII DEFENSE

Against triple-option offenses, success is measured in cubes. To counter bigger defenders, Army’s slingshots are cut blocks. On a good night, defenders will emerge from the training room with ice packs on their legs. The tactic is legal, but nonetheless aggravating. UH worked on counter moves in practices this week, even wearing full pads through Thursday, usually a day for tapering. Navy used a similar offensive scheme, except it spread the receivers wide, forcing the corners into man coverage and reducing the action to 9-on-9. But Navy offered the threat of passing, whereas Army, which throws 17 percent of the time and completes 50.8 percent, can be defended with zone coverages. Pro scouts believe Jerrol Garcia-Williams has the potential to be a next-level pass rusher. Thing is, UH’s schemes often call for Garcia-Williams to be in pass coverage. He was shaken on a play on which he was defending a Wyoming wide receiver 25 yards downfield. Against Army, Garcia-Williams is expected to be moving forward or laterally. Nose tackle Moses Samia, who was injured against Navy three weeks ago, won’t play. Marcus Malepeai, Calen Friel, Kennedy Tulimasealii and Iuta Tepa will help on the defensive line.

HAWAII SPECIAL TEAMS

During a break in practice on Thursday, student manager Jake Ingram grabbed a football and demonstrated the art of long-snapping to Brodie Nakama. As a former snapper at UH and in the NFL, Ingram had talent in making the laces face upright when they reached the holder. His brother, Luke Ingram, could snap a football into a helmet. Nakama is not at that precision level yet, but his snaps have been consistent and he has been able to seal the inside rush. In a season of impressive newcomers, Nakama, a walk-on, might be one of the top freshmen.