Warriors fall to Fresno State

The University of Hawaii football team went a long way — 3 hours, 46 minutes — to end up in the same place.

The Rainbow Warriors made all the wrong moves in losing to Fresno State, 42-14, before 16,131 doused fans at Aloha Stadium.

It was the Warriors’ eighth consecutive loss, as they fell to 2-9 overall and 0-7 in the Mountain West Conference. In the process, the Warriors lost consecutive home games by at least 28 points for the first time since 1996.

"We have to be able to come back and keep on fighting," said UH middle linebacker Julian Gener, who made 17 tackles, including five backfield stops. "We have to keep going no matter what the situation we’re in. We’re 2-9. If we don’t keep fighting, it’s only going to get worse."

On a rain-soaked night, the Warriors let this one slip away. The Warriors committed five roughing-the-passer penalties, another two personal fouls, and two pass-interference violations. They also dropped five passes, and fumbled — but recovered — on a punt return. Ikaika Woolsey’s first pass was intercepted, and Max Wittek was picked off in the end zone. The Warriors also lost a fumble in the red zone.

"You can’t win with turnovers and penalties," said Chris Naeole, who was named interim head coach after Norm Chow was fired on Nov. 1. "It killed us today."

Key players injured

Adding injury to insult, the Warriors were without their leading tackler, buck linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams, who was held out because of a stinger. Later, they lost their best offensive lineman, right guard Dejon Allen, to an apparent injury to his right knee. Then kickoff returner Keelan Ewaliko exited with a leg injury.

That left the Warriors without their top returners in the second half. Punt returner Nick Nelson, a cornerback who also is the Warriors’ best cover defender, was ejected after a high hit on Fresno State quarterback Zack Greenlee in the first quarter.

"The cupboard is officially empty," Naeole told reporters, referring to the long injury list. "I don’t know if you looked at the guys who were out there. We’re trying to M*A*S*H-unit it, put a Band-Aid on somebody, and try to find guys who want to play and want to finish out the last two games."

The Bulldogs entered with concerns about their offense. A quarterback competition was held between Kilton Anderson, who started the previous four games, and Zack Greenlee, who had opened the season as the starter. Greenlee was announced as the starter just before the opening kickoff.

Warriors’ penalties

Greenlee benefited from the Warriors’ aggressiveness, absorbing five hits that were ruled as roughing penalties. Three such penalties were assessed in one drive, with flags thrown after two apparent third-down stops. With the drive resuscitated, Greenlee threw 2 yards to Josiah Blandin for a 7-0 lead.

"You’ve got to get back up and keep going," Greenlee said of the late hits. "It’s a game of football. It’s a physical game. We got a lot of flags for it, a lot of roughing-the-passers, but you have to get up."

UH defensive coordinator Tom Mason said the penalties proved disruptive to the Warriors’ multiple-blitz schemes. Nelson was flagged for roughing — and targeting — on a delayed corner blitz.

"We definitely got out of rhythm," Mason said, "and things just mushroomed on us, and the game got away."

Greenlee was sacked three times, but he escaped pressure enough to throw six touchdown passes, including two to Da’Mari Scott. Greenlee entered with seven touchdowns in five games. Television replays showed one of Greenlee’s scoring passes came three seconds after the play clock struck zero.

"That’s what happens when you lose," Mason said. "It just magnifies itself."

Greenlee, who was 20-for-35 for 285 and no interceptions, said the offensive success was about "us working hard all week and coming out here and executing. I’m really happy for the team and how we played today."

Paul Harris led the Warriors with 126 rushing yards, and Melvin Davis averaged 7.5 yards per carry and scored on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 35-14 with 51 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

But Greenlee answered with a 64-yard scoring pass to Jamire Jordan, who tippy-toed down the sideline en route to the end zone.

Missed opportunities

The Warriors squandered two second-half chances. On one, Devan Stubblefield lost a fumble on a slant route. On another, Wittek was intercepted by Tyquwan Glass in the right corner of the end zone.

"We moved the ball, we just didn’t put it in the paint," Naeole said. "We turned it over twice in the red zone."

Woolsey played in the first half, and Wittek took every UH snap after the intermission. Naeole said he made the change because "I felt we needed a spark. I said I would make the change if I needed to, and I did."

Woolsey was 8-for-20 for 92 yards. Wittek was 12-for-29 for 153 yards.

Naeole said he will review videos today and make an "educated decision" on next weekend’s No. 1 quarterback.

Mason said he also will try to find answers to what went wrong defensively.

"I’m embarrassed the way we played, and that’s on me," Mason said. "I have to get the guys ready to play, and we weren’t ready to play."

FIRST PERIOD

FRESNO STATE

>> Score: Josiah Blandin 2 pass from Zack Greenlee. Kody Kroening kick.

>> Drive: 8 plays, 91 yards, 3:44 elapsed time. Time: 00:25. Score: Fresno State 7, UH 0

SECOND PERIOD

HAWAII

>> Score: Makoa Camanse-Stevens 14 pass from Ikaika Woolsey. Rigo Sanchez kick. 

>> Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:22 elapsed time. Time: 14:03. Score: Fresno State 7,  UH 7

FRESNO STATE

>> Score: Chad Olsen 22 pass from Greenlee. Kroening kick.

>> Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:28 elapsed time. Time: 11:35. Score: Fresno State 14, UH 7

FRESNO STATE

>> Score: Da’Mari Scott 28 pass from Greenlee. Kroening kick.

>> Drive: 11 plays, 85 yards, 4:12 elapsed time. Time: 5:44. Score: Fresno State 21, UH 7

FRESNO STATE

>> Score: Scott 25 pass from Greenlee. Kroening kick.

>> Drive: 2 plays, 48 yards, 0:27 elapsed time. Time: 00:58. Score: Fresno State 28, UH 7

THIRD PERIOD

FRESNO STATE

>> Score: Marteze Waller 6 pass from Greenlee. Kroening kick.

>> Drive: 5 plays, 14 yards, 1:42 elapsed time. Time: 11:11. Score: Fresno State 35, UH 7

HAWAII

>> Score: Melvin Davis 1 run. Sanchez kick.

>> Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 1:39 elapsed time. Time: 00:51. Score: Fresno State 35, UH 14

FOURTH PERIOD

FRESNO STATE

>> Score: Jamire Jordan 64 pass from Greenlee. Kroening kick.

>> Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:02 elapsed time. Time: 14:49. Score: Fresno State 42, UH 14

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

TACKLES FOR LOSS-YARDS: Fresno State—Ejiro Ederaine 1.5-9, Kyrie Wilson 1.5-5, Brandon Hughes 1-7. Hawaii—Julian Gener 5-18, Kennedy Tulimasealii 2-3, Jahlani Tavai 1-4, Lance Williams 1-3, Jalen Rogers 1-2, Kory Rasmussen 1-2.

sacks-yards: Fresno State—Brandon Hughes 1-7, Ejiro Ederaine 1-6. Hawaii—Julian Gener 1.5-10, Jahlani Tavai 1-4, Kory Rasmussen 0.5-2.

INTERCEPTIONS: Fresno State—Ejiro Ederaine 1-51, Jeff Camilli 1-7, Tyquwan Glass 1-0. Hawaii—none.

kick blocked: Fresno State—none. Hawaii—none.

quarterback hurries: Fresno State—Ejiro Ederaine, Kyrie Wilson, Tobenna Okeke. Hawaii—Kennedy Tulimasealii 2.