The University of Hawaii football team did not need the full two minutes to show its offense has found its groove.
In running the two-minute offense, quarterback Max Wittek completed four passes in a row to right wideout Quinton Pedroza. Wittek then fired completions to left wideout Marcus Kemp and running back Steven Lakalaka before the session was abbreviated.
“In two minute, you want to stop the clock as much as you can,” Wittek said. Pedroza “was on my (narrow) side for the first part of that, which led me to go a little bit more with the out route.”
Wittek, who redshirted in 2014 after transferring from USC, has developed an easy relationship with his receivers. “We spend so much time together, that kind of happens,” Wittek said. “We’re comfortable with each other.”
In spring training, Wittek would step into the pocket occasionally, but then hesitate. “I would be late,” Wittek said of his decision-making.
In Thursday’s 11-on-11 session, Wittek stepped up, “and I knew Q would be there right away. I popped it to him, and let him run. Those are the things that will be the most critical this season.”
On the other side, Kemp has developed into a post-up receiver on red-zone plays. He soared for a leaping catch over cornerback Jamal Mayo for … a touchdown?
“Of course, I was in,” Kemp said, smiling. “Even if I wasn’t, I’d tell you I was in.”
Kemp, who is 6 feet 4, said he has not measured his vertical jump. But he said his head can touch a basketball rim when he jumps.
“You can tell we’re getting comfortable with each other,” Kemp said.
Pastime pays off for safety Packer
Growing up on Hawaii island, safety Damien Packer filled his free time with sports, cliff jumping off South Point, swimming and lifting weights.
The latter pastime helped Packer develop into one of the strongest Warriors.
At 5 feet 11 and 210 pounds, Packer said he is capable of bench pressing 385 pounds “on a bad day,” and back squatting 510 pounds.
Packer said he began weight-training for fun. At Kea‘au High, he became serious about training, learning under strength coach Danny Pacheco.
“He’s my mentor,” Packer said. “I just follow his footsteps.”
Packers exemplifies why the strength of UH’s secondary might be its collective strength. Safety Trayvon Henderson can bench 380 pounds. Cornerback Jamal Mayo can back squat 405 pounds.
Cornerback Ne’Quan Phillips, who is 5-9 and 189 pounds, can bench 375 pounds and clean 321 pounds, a record for a UH defensive back.
Show moves to stadium
After eight practices in nine days on the Manoa campus, the show moves to Aloha Stadium on Friday afternoon.
It will be the first of three stadium practices ahead of the Sept. 3 opener against Colorado. Last year, the Warriors practiced once at the stadium during training camp.
The Warriors will resume practicing in Manoa on Saturday, the first day they will have two practices.
