After a six-quarter touchdown drought, Hawaii finally broke out on offense with a frenzied rally of six house calls Saturday. Five of them came in the second half as the Rainbow Warriors routed UC Davis 47-27.
As it took UH some time as a team to get rolling after being blanked last week at Ohio State, so it was with Paul Harris. But anyone who had watched this talented running back closely knew, it was just a matter of time before he broke a long run.
That time came midway through the third quarter at Aloha Stadium, with UH nursing a 13-10 lead and the ball at its own 5. The issue was far from settled.
But it was soon, after Harris instinctively broke outside on a run designed to go inside. Using a key block from wideout Devan Stubblefield, Harris blasted smoothly into the Aggies territory and just kept going down the right sideline, 95 yards forward into the UC Davis end zone and 60 years back into the Rainbows record book.
"I was kind of shocked," Harris said of seeing nothing but green in front of him. "But the line and ‘Stubbs’ did their job. Without them I can’t do anything."
He had no idea he’d broken a record from 1955, back when a former Marine stationed at Kaneohe was UH’s star back. Skippy Dyer went 87 yards for a TD in a 20-18 loss to Fresno State at Honolulu Stadium.
UH’s third of four defeats that season didn’t bother fans too much; anything the ’55 team did after its second game, on Sept. 17 (following the opener against the Prep All-Stars) was gravy. Dyer was one of 25 players who went to Nebraska as 50-point underdogs and came back with a 6-0 win. It is widely considered the program’s greatest road victory, although the 1973 squad that beat Washington in Seattle might disagree.
And it was fitting a mark set by that team would fall on this night, as 11 of the living legends served as honorary captains. Dyer was not among them — teammates have tried many times to find him for reunions, with no luck.
"I haven’t seen him since college," said Richard Ueoka, who played end and defensive back at 160 pounds. "But he was something to see. Fast, shifty."
Retired UH sports information director Eddie Inouye once described Dyer as looking like he’s on skates, because he glided when he ran. The same can be said for Harris; when he runs it appears effortless and efficient. On this night, it was also electric.
Harris totaled 147 yards on 11 carries Saturday, and the JC transfer junior has led the Rainbow Warriors in rushing all three games.
That included 46 hard-earned yards at Ohio State last week. No touchdowns, but a birthday cake from his mom when he turned 23 the day before the game; Harris was born and raised in Columbus and his family still lives there.
The Warriors hope to use Saturday’s romp as a spark for better outcomes than the 38-0 loss to the Buckeyes at two more tough places to play. Their next games are at Wisconsin and Boise State.
"We’ve just got to keep working and fix what needs fixing," Harris said.
Maybe they should take Ueoka with them. On Friday he addressed the current ‘Bows.
"I told them when we played in 1955 the field was 100 yards and we played against 11 guys," he said. "The game has changed in a lot of ways, but it’s still all about blocking and tackling."
Ueoka sat in the end zone seats with his daughter, Miki, and son, Kelly. They come for games two or three times a year from Kauai.
"I like this team because they play with a lot of hustle," Ueoka said. "And they’re all gentlemen. Coach (Norm) Chow is teaching them the right values."
And Ueoka and his teammates taught them about their link to the past, when anything was possible.
It still is, just ask Paul Harris.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads
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