Bus’-up Warriors appear mostly healed

SAN DIEGO » One team, one dream … one bus?

When a bus failed to appear, the University of Hawaii football team and support staff crammed into a single vehicle for the 5.1-mile drive to San Diego Mesa College for Friday’s practice.

As the 95-member party exited the bus, head coach Norm Chow shook his head and grinned in disbelief. It will be another anecdote in the book Chow plans to write one day.

But on this afternoon, the Warriors, already testing their limit of complications, had more pressing concerns.

They sprinted onto the FieldTurf, stretched, then went through a 40-minute practice in preparation for Saturday’s game against San Diego State.

The usual Friday routine is a walk-through session. But because Chow cut two five-minute periods from each of the practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, it was decided to stage a modified practice on Friday.

The practice served as a medical test for running back Steven Lakalaka, quarterback Ikaika Woolsey and inside linebacker Tevita Lataimua. Each was considered iffy at the beginning of the week.

Lakalaka was recovering from concussion-like symptoms suffered in the second half of the Warriors’ 38-28 victory over Wyoming. He passed a baseline exam earlier this week, received medical clearance on Thursday, and then aced the coaches’ eyeball test during Friday’s practice. Lakalaka appears fit enough to make his fifth consecutive start.

Woolsey was held out of several drills this week to heal a variety of ailments. But he directed the offense on Friday. The coaches will decide Saturday whether to open with Woolsey or 22-year-old freshman Beau Reilly.

Raised in San Diego, Reilly, took most of the No. 1 snaps this week in practice.

Lataimua, who ran at full speed, is prepared to contribute.

"It’s nice to come off a win," tight end Jordan Pu’u-Robinson said, but we have a good conference schedule ahead of us. San Diego State is a good team. We have to be ready to go."

"We realize in conference, every game is extremely important," SDSU cornerback J.J. Whittaker said. "We understand the situation we’re in. We realize how important this game is to us."

The Aztecs (3-3, 2-1 Mountain West) have had quarterback issues. Quinn Kaehler struggled before suffering an injury to the AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder. His replacement, freshman Nick Bawden, also had problems with accuracy.

The Warriors (2-4, 1-0), meanwhile, are seeking their first road victory since Oct. 29, 2011, a span of 15 away games. To get it, they need to contain the Aztecs’ running game. San Diego State rushed for 397 yards, including 246 by Donnel Pumphrey, against New Mexico last week.

"With 397 on the ground," UH defensive coordinator Kevin Clune said, "it doesn’t matter what the quarterback does. I could be the quarterback. Man, that running game is good."