Hawaii Bowl headed for another shootout

Typically known for its high-scoring affairs, the Hawaii Bowl hasn’t provided quite as many shootouts in recent years.

With San Diego State and Cincinnati clashing in the 2015 edition of the Christmas Eve game, there’s a strong possibility that could change.

The two teams play different styles of football on offense, making for an intriguing matchup today at Aloha Stadium.

The Bearcats feature a wide-open spread offense that currently ranks fourth in the FBS, averaging 373.1 passing yards a game.

The Aztecs, who run more of a pro-style offense, like to pound away on the ground, ranking 14th in the country and averaging 253.3 yards per game.

Both approaches have gotten the job done this season as the Aztecs and Bearcats combine to average more than 67 points per game, making this year’s Hawaii Bowl a candidate for one of the best of the bowl season.

“After watching every single game on film, I anticipate a very high-scoring game and hopefully it goes right down to the very end, which is best for everyone watching,” San Diego State coach Rocky Long said.

“Both teams are explosive in their own way,” added Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville. “The fans that come to the game and the ones that watch it on national television will have the opportunity to watch some very good athletes on both sides.”

It starts with San Diego State junior running back Donnel Pumphrey, the reigning Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year. Pumphrey ranks third among all FBS players with 4,173 career rushing yards and 49 total touchdowns.

The MWC-champion Aztecs rattled off nine straight wins after a 1-3 start and rushed for at least 200 yards in every one of those games. The first road victory during that winning streak came in Hawaii on Oct. 10, when Pumphrey had more than 100 rushing yards by the 10-minute mark of the second quarter and finished with three TDs in a 28-14 win.

“We came out with fire and I remember the first drive we came out running and that’s what we want to do in this game,” Pumphrey said. “(Cincinnati) passes the ball well so we want to keep the ball out of their hands.”

Cincinnati defensive tackle Sione Tongamoa, who lived on Kauai during middle school, is a backup defensive tackle for the Bearcats and couldn’t ask for a better matchup against the run-first Aztecs.

“To be honest, it’s all on the D-line,” Tongamoa said. “We’ve seen that they’re like an old-school team. We have to try to take away their bread and butter. (Pumphrey) is a very shifty guy, but as long as we get there before he gets the ball, we should be good.”

Both teams will start backup quarterbacks, with the Bearcats going with Hayden Moore in place of Gunner Kiel, who did not make the trip because of personal reasons. SDSU’s Christian Chapman will get the nod in his second consecutive game, replacing Maxwell Smith, who tore his ACL against Nevada.

Moore started two games this season and came off the bench against Memphis when Kiel got hurt to throw for a career-high 557 yards and four touchdowns.

The Aztecs will counter with a defense that gives up just 287.9 yards per game and is second in the country with 31 turnovers forced.

“Watching film, they’re running to the ball and their cornerbacks and safeties are really fast and quick to the ball so we have to be ready for that,” Moore said.

Bearcats receiver Shaq Washington is Cincinnati’s career receptions leader with 238 and has a program-best 88 catches this season for 971 yards and six touchdowns. Cincinnati has six senior receivers who have combined for 690 catches and nearly 10,000 yards over the last five seasons.

“Capping (our careers) being in Hawaii with some of the senior class being here for five years together, that’s amazing,” Washington said. “Just to go out with a win would be great. It’s definitely a great opportunity to come out and play a good team that’s 10-3 and just prove how good we are.”