Oregon State offers UH no respite

Hawaii football coach Norm Chow keeps awakening to the same nightmare.

"This is another very good Pac-12 team," said Chow, whose Rainbow Warriors will play Oregon State at Aloha Stadium this afternoon.

The Warriors opened the season against Washington last week. Oregon State might have more talent.

"They’re extremely well coached," Chow said of the Beavers. "They’re not going to do a lot of things you don’t expect. What they do, they do well. They’ve had the same (defensive) system for years with (defensive coordinator) Mark Banker. They’ve got veteran guys — juniors, seniors."

In his 14th season at OSU, Mike Riley is the dean of Pac-12 head coaches. Sean Mannion, considered the second-best quarterback in the Pac-12 — and in Oregon — leads the pro-style offense.

John Garrett, the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, is OSU’s offensive coordinator.

"Mike Riley’s stamp is on that offense," Chow said.

This is a familiar trip for the Beavers, who played in the 2013 Hawaii Bowl.

"For most of our guys, it’s not going to be their first time to Hawaii or Aloha Stadium," Mannion said. "I think our team has always done a good job staying focused for road games, and really treating it like it’s a business trip. When we go somewhere, we know the only reason we’re going is to try to win a football game."

It will be a homecoming for six OSU players who were raised in Hawaii. What’s more, Banker, offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh and receivers coach Brent Brennan previously coached at UH. Banker was a finalist for the UH head coaching job when Greg McMackin was forced to retire in December 2011. Brennan’s cousin is former UH quarterback Colt Brennan.

"Obviously, we love going to the island," defensive lineman Dylan Wynn said. "We have a lot of players who have family there. It’s great when you can play (in front of them)."

The Beavers struggled in the first half of last week’s opener against Portland State before pulling away after intermission.

"We really improved as the game went on," Mannion said. "It got clicking in the second half. That was good to see."

The teams met last year at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. It was tied at 14 at the half before OSU broke away to a 33-14 victory.

"This is our second year playing them," UH quarterback Ikaika Woolsey said. "It’ll be a little different because they’re coming to our house. It definitely feels good to stay in front of our fans. It’ll be exciting."

Against Washington, the Warriors had five drives into the red zone and one that advanced to the 21. They managed a touchdown and three field goals. One drive ended when an option pass fell short; another when a 38-yard field-goal attempt struck the left upright.

"When we get into the red zone, we have to get six points," Woolsey said. "A field goal is a loss for us, even though we get points on the board. This Saturday, when we get into the red zone, we have to finish."

Last week, the Warriors amassed 97 offensive snaps and averaged a play every 20.7 seconds. If the Warriors are to match that pace, they figure to add more players to the rotation. Running back Joey Iosefa hit or was hit 52 times. Three offensive linemen played every down.

"Our guys are determined," Chow said. "It’s another tough, tough outfit. Every week is a challenge. That’s what we enjoy. That’s what the players enjoy. They’re all looking forward to it."