Game Day: Rainbow Warriors vs. Duquesne Dukes

DUQUESNE OFFENSE

It did not matter that quarterback Daniel Parr was born and reared in Jupiter, Fla. His football allegiance is to the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Both sides of my family are from Pittsburgh,” Parr said. “That’s why I’m a Pittsburgh fan from the day I was born. People always asked me why I wasn’t a Dolphins fan. I didn’t really have a choice.” As Florida’s 7A Player of the Year, Parr attended Florida Atlantic for three years, starting the first three games of 2017 before losing his No. 1 job. He then transferred to a school whose campus is on a hill in the middle of Pittsburgh. “I love the city,” Parr said. “I love Duquesne. It’s a great school. A lot of my family is up here.” Parr is thriving in a multiple-look offense.

The Dukes can align four wide, in an empty set, with two tight ends, or a mixture of power running out of a spread formation. Stew Allen, who is 6-2 and 270 pounds, is listed as the starting tight end and fullback. Parr has completed 66.7 percent of his throws, with many aimed at speedy wideout Nehari Crawford. Of Parr’s 96 passes, Crawford was the target 36 times. Ten of Crawford’s 27 catches have ranged from 20 yards to 80 yards. Running back A.J. Hines, who can dash 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Of his 59 carries this season, Hines has been stopped in the backfield only four times. Parr also aspires to be a runner. When he plays the Madden video game, he always chooses a team with a fast QB. “I’m not that fast,” Parr said, “but I do run when I have to.”

WR—1 Nehari Crawford 5-11 170 Sr.

LT—72 Alex Conley 6-4 305 Sr.

LG—57 Matt Fitzpatrick 6-3 300 Sr.

C—75 Gabe Spurlock 6-4 290 Jr .

RG—60 Lyle Petrosky 6-4 300 So.

RT—73 Nick Jordan 6-6 300 Sr.

TE—89 Stew Allen 6-2 270 Sr.

WR—5 Kellon Taylor 6-5 220 Jr.

WR—15 Kareem Coles 6-1 190 Jr.

QB—13 Daniel Parr 6-3 210 Jr.

RB—32 A.J. Hines 5-11 225 Jr.

DUQUESNE DEFENSE

Defensive coordinator David Opfar, who is in his ninth season with the Dukes, played and coached at “Linebacker U”— Penn State — and briefly started for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Translation: Opfar knows linebackers and he is familiar with the Steelers’ 3-4 defense. The Dukes even follow the model set by Dick LeBeau, the former Steelers’ defensive stylist. The Dukes have a snarling point defender (nose tackle Kam Norton), a rugged run-stopping end (Rob Marra), versatile safeties (Spencer DeMedal and Brandon Stanback), and an active middle linebacker (Brett Zanotto). Zanotto, who averages a team-high 7.0 tackles per game, dominated against Dayton last week. Of his seven run stops, two were in the backfield and two netted zero yards. Zanotto, who is from Pittsburgh, tries to emulate Ryan Shazier, who was a dynamic linebacker with the Steelers before suffering an injury last year. “I’m a big Steelers fan,” Zanotto said. “He was always around the ball trying to make plays.” Zanotto was at Maryland for two years before deciding to transfer in 2017. “It didn’t work out 100 percent,” said Zanotto, who found a more compatible major at Duquesne. “I’m happy I’m here at Duquesne.” In 2017, Zanotto started 11 games and amassed 59 tackles for the Dukes.

E—47 Mike O’Malley 6-1 250 Jr.

NT—93 Kam Carter 6-4 295 Jr.

E—55 Rob Marra 6-2 275 Sr.

SLB—44 Chris Favoroso 6-3 235 Jr

MLB—18 Brett Zanotto 6-1 215 Jr.

WLB—23 Chayse Dillon 5-11 225 Jr.

J—22 Greg Claytor 5-11 205 Sr.

CB—4 Daquan Worley 5-10 185 Sr.

FS—28 Spencer DeMedal 6-0 200 So.

SS—2 Brandon Stanback 6-0 195 Sr.

CB—27 Reid Harrison-Ducros 5-10 185 Jr.

DUQUESNE SPECIALISTS

The Dukes have yet to make use of the new fair-catch rule on kickoff returns. Of the 20 kickoffs they fielded, five have been touchbacks and the remaining 15 were run back. Six Dukes have combined to average 19.3 yards per kickoff return. The Dukes have returned three of 16 punts, but one of them was Nehari Crawford’s 44-yarder for a touchdown.

PK/P—98 Mitch MacZura 6-3 200 Jr

KO—91 Jacob Gill 5-10 185 So.

LS—10 Jake Dixon 6-6 245 So.

H—7 Brett Brumbaugh 6-5 220 Jr.

KR/PR—1 Nehari Crawford 5-11 170 Sr.

HAWAII OFFENSE

This season, the starting offensive line has not been assessed a holding penalty. Left guard J.R. Hensley was called for holding, but that was nullified when Rice declined the third-down infraction. Backup left tackle Micah Vanterpool, who was filling in for freshman Ilm Manning, was penalized last week — UH’s only holding penalty in 160 pass plays. The starting tackles — Manning and JC transfer Kohl Levao, both of whom joined UH this summer — have not been penalized at all this season. The line’s efficiency and good behavior have boosted the Warriors’ initial attack (7.7 yards per first-down play), set up the shuttle play (11.3 yards per shovel pass), and allowed Cole McDonald to stay in the pocket. McDonald has not been intercepted during his two-season, 153-pass career, including 143 throws this year. McDonald has completed 68.5 percent of his passes, including 47.8 percent on “deep” throws (of at least 20 yards in the air from the line of scrimmage). Deep-throw accuracy of 40 percent is considered to be efficient. “I don’t think anyone can be as accurate as he’s been now,” quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann said of McDonald. “I think it’s also a testament to him putting in the time to understand coverages and concepts.” Stutzmann said McDonald is skilled in looking downfield — widening a defense’s cone of uncertainty — and then picking out receivers on flat, under and corner routes. “And he’s been good about getting the ball out quickly, even with the shovel passes,” Stutzmann said.

LWO—85 Marcus Armstrong-Brown 6-3 210 Sr.

LSB—5 John Ursua 5-10 175 Jr.

LT—75 Ilm Manning 6-4 280 Fr.

LG—57 J.R. Hensley 6-5 310 Jr.

C—63 Taaga Tuulima 6-2 290 So.

RG—60 Solo Vaipulu 6-2 310 Fr.

RT—72 Kohl Levao 6-6 340 Jr.

RSB—6 Cedric Byrd 5-9 170 Jr.

RWO—19 JoJo Ward 5-9 175 Jr.

QB—13 Cole McDonald 6-4 210 So.

RB—21 Fred Holly 6-0 200 So.

HAWAII DEFENSE

Like the Dark Knight, UH coaches have been seeking a “joker” for several years. The dual-skilled position — part end, part linebacker — is a chaos inducer in most modern multiple-look defenses. UH’s answer was found in the middle. With Penei Pavihi, Solomon Matautia, Scheyenne Sanitoa and Kana‘i Picanco emerging as physical inside linebackers, Jahlani Tavai has been allowed to expand outside his middle linebacker designation. The past three games, Tavai has been aligned mostly on the perimeter, where he can storm the backfield as a pass rusher or edge setter, flex into flat coverage, or angle to cut off inside runs. Tavai, who averages a team-high 11.7 tackles per game, is assigned to two position coaches — Mark Banker, who is in charge of the linebackers, and Jacob Yoro, who oversees the hybrid edge defenders. “There’s a lot on his plate … but he’s a great fit on that edge because he can play the run, he can rush the passer, he can drop into coverage.” Banker said. Yoro noted Tavai’s athleticism is “something special, but what people don’t see is his work ethic and his leadership ability. Jahlani is a great teammate, and he comes to work every single day.” Against Army, Tavai was on the field for every defensive snap except the two kneel-downs, a total of 70 plays and more than 40 minutes.

DE—99 Zeno Choi 6-3 280 Sr.

NT—54 Blessman Taala 6-1 310 Fr.

DT—91 Samiuela Akoteu 6-2 280 Jr.

DE—48 Derek Thomas 6-3 225 So.

LB—27 Solomon Matautia 6-1 230 Jr.

LB—31 Jahlani Tavai 6-4 235 Sr.

LB—33 Penei Pavihi 6-2 230 So.

CB—4 Roe Farris 6-1 180 Jr.

S—16 Kalen Hicks 6-3 200 Jr.

S—22 Ikem Okeke 6-0 200 Jr.

CB—20 Zach Wilson 5-11 180 So.

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

Each practice, punter Stan Gaudion walks the sideline working on his drop — the release of the football from his hands to his right foot. The drop impacts a punter’s power, direction and, in Gaudion’s case, the football’s spin. This season, Gaudion’s downed punts are helped by an additional average of 5.8 yards of rolling. Of his 11 punts, only two have been returned, including one for minus-1 yard.

PK—94 Ryan Meskell 6-0 185 Jr.

KO—52 Michael Boyle 6-1 175 Fr.

LS—1 Noah Borden 6-1 220 Sr.

P/H—99 Stan Gaudion 6-3 210 So.

KR/PR—6 Cedric Byrd 5-9 170 Jr.