Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Sunday, March 16, 2025 71° Today's Paper


Casualties of battle

DAVID G. MCINTYRE / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER

Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich during the game against Utah State Aggies at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah.

LOGAN, UTAH >> Another Hawaii football game, another line dance.

The Rainbow Warriors entered Saturday’s game without injured offensive linemen Fred Ulu-Perry and Matt Norman.

Against Utah State, two more UH starters — right guard John Wa‘a and left guard J.R. Hensley — left after aggravating ailments.

Chris Posa, who started the game at right tackle, replaced Wa‘a at right guard, then shifted to left guard when Hensley departed with five seconds remaining in the second quarter.

“He’s banged up, too,” offensive coordinator Brian Smith said of Posa.

The Warriors finished the game with two freshmen in the lineup. Taaga Tuulima entered at center when center Asotui Eli moved to right guard. Brandon Kipper played right tackle after Posa shifted.

Smtih said Alesana Sunia, a second-year freshman, would have been summoned if another lineman exited.

“When you’ve got a lot of guys banged up, you’ve got to go through all these scenarios already in your head, and have a plan set,” Smith said. “The plans you hope you don’t have to use, you have to go through those scenarios, and make sure you’re putting guys in the best place to be successful and to help the team move the ball.”

The cross-training is proving to be useful. “That’s how our practices are now,” Smith said. “When we’re short (a lineman), we get to roll guys and move and play them in different spots.”

SCUFFLE BETWEEN TEAMS

During warm-ups, Utah State players appeared to enter the practice area set aside for the Warriors. When a ball was thrown, according to reports, players from both teams engaged in a mostly talking shoving match.

“It’s part of the game,” UH quarterback Dru Brown said. “Guys are chippy.”

Head coaches Nick Rolovich of UH and Matt Wells of Utah State discussed the incident.

“It’s just young kids, a little rowdy,” Rolovich said. “It was nothing to worry about.”

UH TURNOVER DENIED

In the second quarter, USU’s Jordan Love threw a pass that free safety Trayvon Henderson intercepted. But strong safety Daniel Lewis thought the pass was going to be completed, and he struck the receiver. Lewis was assessed a 15-yard penalty for hitting a “defenseless” player.

“I didn’t know they called the personal foul on me until halftime in the locker room,” Lewis said. “I spoke to the ref afterward, and I asked if they really called it on me. He said, ‘Yes, he was a defenseless receiver.’ He said he understands where I’m coming from. … He said it was a clean hit, but he was a defenseless player. That’s what I’m confused about.”

PLAYING IN FRONT OF FAMILY

It was a homecoming of sorts for wideout Ammon Barker, who was raised 90 minutes away in Salt Lake City. The game marked Barker’s first in Utah as a UH player.

Barker had three catches for 20 yards.

“It was good coming back and playing in front of the family,” Barker said. “I wish we got the ‘W.’”

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