How Hawaii and Nevada match up

HAWAII OFFENSE

Through the first six games, the Rainbow Warriors tried to stretch the offense with four-receiver sets. Against New Mexico, the Warriors spread the attack by contracting the formations, going with the heavy set — one back, two tight ends — 19 plays for 94 yards. They also used the jumbo package, with lineman Eperone Moananu aligned as a fullback three times, producing two touchdown runs. The way it worked was the Warriors bunched the formation, with tight ends on both sides, and attacked with power runs on dives and read-option keepers or draws. That opened the way for speedy receivers Isaiah Bernard, Dylan Collie and Devan Stubblefield. "It was fun going back to that old school of having the tight end block," tight end Dakota Torres said. "We were basically getting out there banging heads." The Warriors also employed 6-5, 295-pound Leo Koloamatangi as a wide tackle who aligned as line blocker, in the slot, and a motion fullback. "It’s not much different from being an O-lineman," Koloamatangi said. I’m just farther off the ball." The scheme afforded max protection for quarterbacks and extra blockers for backs. "The tight ends get heavy in the box, and it opens the passing lanes," running back Steven Lakalaka said.

HAWAII DEFENSE

The Rainbow Warriors are breaking out the West Coast defense, with Ka’au Gifford joining fellow Waianae resident Kennedy Tulimasealii as a defensive end. Gifford replaces Meffy Koloamatangi, who stepped in for Luke Shawley last week. Shawley remains on the inactive list while dealing with a personal issue. Koloamatangi is a slip-and-move boxer; Gifford is a slugger. During his redshirt season in 2014, Gifford blew up from 240 pounds to 296. He then joined a program focusing on light eating and heavy lifting. Gifford, who is down to 275 pounds, can squat lift 495 pounds. "Playing with this body size is a lot easier," Gifford said. "I’m not 240, anymore, so they can’t throw me around." The Warriors also shifted outside linebacker Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea to end. "I never played a full defensive end against blocking schemes," Kema-Kaleiwahea said. "I’m usually just a pass rusher. But a linebacker usually transitions to (end). In a heated tug-of-war, defensive coordinator Tom Mason pulled freshman Eperone Moananu from offense to nose tackle. In his first practice there this week, Moananu made all the tackles in a four-play series. Zeno Choi, a freshman who no longer will redshirt, can play end, 3-technique tackle and, in passing downs, nose tackle.

HAWAII SPECIAL TEAMS

As the season progresses, Rigo Sanchez’s leg strength appears to have improved. Despite missing the field-goal attempt from 22 yards last week, he still connected from 47 and 49 yards. His last 12 punts are averaging 47.6 yards. Sanchez also has learned to temper his kicks. Of his seven punts launched from an opposing team’s territory, the average starting point for the ensuing drive is the 12-yard line. The specialists are taking extra jobs. Long snapper Noah Borden has an extended role at outside linebacker; tight end Dakota Torres is on four special-teams units, and Sanchez is now handling kickoffs.

NEVADA OFFENSE (EDGE)

Despite the mashup of former coach Chris Ault’s pistol and offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich’s run-and-shoot — the shooting pistol? — the Wolf Pack’s offense is rooted in the ground. The Pack’s breakdown is 57.4 percent rush, including 61.1 percent on first down. That’s down from Ault’s final season in 2012 — 62.4 percent and 72.1 percent — but still is weighted to running backs Don Jackson and James Butler off read-options. Jackson is quick (4.48 in 40), powerful (515-pound squat) and smart (he’s enrolled in a master’s program). Butler is a good runner (6.41 yards per rush) who’s better on first down (7.45). The key is tight end Jarred Gipson, an agile arc blocker who often aligns as an off-set fullback. In Nevada’s version of the pick and roll, Gipson will block a defender then release into the flats. Seventy percent of his catches resulted in first downs. When the Wolf Pack start in triple-receiver sets, it does not mean Tyler Stewart is going in one direction. The speedy wideouts are used on jet sweeps, and Jerico Richardson is a threat as an option passer.

NEVADA DEFENSE (EDGE)

At the league’s media day, end Lenny Jones mused the defense takes a supporting role to the Pack’s high-octane offense, a Jordan-Pippen partnership. "Nobody cares about defense until you start winning games 17-14 or 14-10," Jones noted. But following last week’s 28-21 loss to Wyoming, in which the Pack yielded 272 rushing yards, Jones vowed: "It starts with me. Guys look at me to bring the juice, bring the energy. (Last) Saturday, I was more focused on me, ‘I gotta make a big play,’ and not bringing the guys along with me." Jones, who has four sacks and three breakups, and Ian Seau are bookends to an experienced defensive line. The linebackers are moving pieces. Matthew Lyons can align opposite an inside receiver. Bryan Lane, one of three remaining from a 17-freshman class in 2011, resembles a nickel linebacker with the dual ability to play coverages or set up in the tackle box. Nevada’s secondary is mostly in a Tampa 2 — two safeties playing deep — but can shift to a single high-safety look with the strong safety attacking the run or defending the flats. 

NEVADA SPECIAL TEAMS (EDGE)

From A (punter Alex Boy) to Z (kicker Brent Zuzo), Nevada owes thanks to Chris Sailer, the highly regarded owner of the nation’s premier kicking academies. Sailer has known Boy and Zuzo for several years, and was instrumental in each landing at Nevada. Sailer said Boy has an "NFL-prototype" body. Boy is averaging 43.8 yards per punt, with 18 resulting in fair catches and 13 being downed inside the 20. Zuzo was perfect on his first seven field-goal attempts this year before being idled against New Mexico two weeks ago and missing from 52 yards against Wyoming last week.