Aztecs, Pumphrey have UH’s full attention

SAN DIEGO >> On a picturesque mesa overlooking Mission Bay, the University of Hawaii football team had a good Friday.

“I thought they looked good,” UH coach Nick Rolovich said following a 90-minute workout at the University of San Diego, the Rainbow Warriors’ final tune-up ahead of today’s game against San Diego State. Kickoff at Qualcomm Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. Hawaii time.

Dressed without pads and helmets, the Warriors went through assignments, alignments and pace. The second teams served as scouts mimicking the Aztecs’ plays and players. Real scouts from 12 National Football League teams took notes and consulted with the UH staff.

The mood was decidedly different from a week ago, when a distracted Friday workout preceded the Warriors’ 28-21 loss to New Mexico the following day.

“Last week they had attention issues we tried to clean up,” Rolovich said. “We talked about it. We didn’t play as clean as we should have. That Friday (practice) last week wasn’t as good as we thought it should be. Today, we were better.”

The Warriors, who are 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the Mountain West, are at a critical juncture. They need to win three of their final four for a winning regular season and the accompanying Hawaii Bowl berth. They also remain in the hunt for the MWC’s West title. The Aztecs, 7-1 and 4-0, have four MWC games remaining. The Warriors have three.

SDSU senior running back Donnel Pumphrey, who is the national leader in rushing, has a shot at setting the NCAA’s career rushing record. The Aztecs also have the MWC’s top statistical defense.

“We’ve got to do it offensively against probably our biggest challenge since — not to disrespect anybody — but since Michigan,” Rolovich said, referring to the Warriors’ second-week opponent.

Rolovich said the Aztecs’ offense and defense “complement each other very well. They’re going to make us earn everything. I think they’ve just gotten better year after year, defense especially.”

Rolovich praised his defense, which has allowed five offensive touchdowns in 23 full drives — 21.7 percent — the past two games. They also forced nine punts and six three-and-out possessions during that span. In the first seven games, opposing offenses scored touchdowns on 40.5 percent of full drives.

“We do the best we can with what we’ve got,” UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said.

As for facing yet another talented running back, Lempa said, “It’s unbelievable. It doesn’t stop. Everybody is good. The offenses in this conference are really good.”

The Aztecs have won 13 of the past 15 meetings dating to 1990. The Aztecs also have won 15 in a row against Mountain West opponents.

A side story is the matchup between two brothers — UH running back Steven Lakalaka and SDSU linebacker Ronley Lakalaka.

“We’re friends and brothers off the field,” Steven Lakalaka said. “When it’s game time, we’re enemies. He knows that and I know that. It’s going to be fun, a great experience. We’re very close. We talk every day. But this week has been limited. He’s trying to focus on what he’s got to do, and same here.”