The Friday-night lights emitted from the big screen in the University of Hawaii football conference room.

For 45 minutes, quarterback Aaron Zwahlen watched, rewinded, then again watched video of a read-option play that did not work in Thursday’s practice. Zwahlen already had pestered quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann and head coach Nick Rolovich, who concocted the play, for tips.

Then, during Saturday’s scrimmage, on the 11th play of what would be a 97-yard drive, Stutzmann said, “It was no coincidence we called that play for him.”

With the ball on the 3, Zwahlen appeared to hand off the football to running back Steven Lakalaka for the third consecutive time. But Zwahlen held on to the ball, glanced at a defender racing toward slotback Dylan Collie in the flat, then opted to sprint around the left side on a keeper for the touchdown.

“Aaron made some poor decisions on that particular play during Thursday’s practice,” Stutzmann recalled. “To his credit, he watched film, got it cleaned up, and did a heck of a job to get a touchdown on it. … That play exemplifies what we’re looking for in any kid at any position. He might have made a mistake in terms of a play initially, but he came up (to the office) and talked about it and watched film. He came out again and made a play on it.”

Zwahlen, Ikaika Woolsey and Beau Reilly are involved in a competition for the quarterback’s job that won’t be resolved until this summer.

“They’re coming along,” Rolovich said, but “they’re going to need every second of this spring and summer to prepare for what’s coming. I appreciate that this is important to them. They’re trying.”

Woolsey appears to have grasped the read-option and run-and-shoot concepts of the hybrid offense. Beau Reilly, who added 10 pounds to his 6-foot-6 frame, can reach every branch of the passing tree. And Zwahlen, who was in the final weeks of a two-year church mission at this time last year, has become the student who asks for more homework.

“He’s always up there (in the office) for extra meetings,” Stutzmann said. “He’s always meeting with somebody. He does an exceptional job of taking what we talk about in the meeting onto the field. He’s progressed because he’s a hard worker and he’s talented.”

During the scrimmage, Zwahlen drew praise from Rolovich for throwing away a pass when the receivers were blanketed. Zwahlen was 9-for-12 for 120 yards. He also has improved in freezing defenses with ball fakes. His sleight-of-hand secret? “Ping pong,” Zwahlen said, smiling. “I’m joking. I’ve been practicing (ball fakes) a lot.”

In this offense, the quarterback is required to focus on both his footwork and reading his keys, such as movements from the safeties and defensive ends. It is a head-to-toe skill that is difficult to master against a full-speed defense.

Zwahlen said the running backs, who have expanded roles in this offense, are helpful contributors. The Rainbow Warriors, who promised a balanced offense, called for 23 passes and 29 running-back carries during the scrimmage. The quarterbacks kept the ball four times for 23 yards.

“This was all a toughness-mentality test,” Rolovich said of the play-calling. Three times the Warriors had five consecutive running plays.

“Give credit to the big boys up front,” Reilly said of the offensive line. “You could tell they were really tired, but they did a good job.”

Right guard Asotui Eli said overcoming fatigue “is part of the game. It’s all about being there for your brother next to you.”