Game Day: Rainbow Warriors at San Jose State

HAWAII OFFENSE

Several years ago, Craig Stutzmann wondered if there was a way to expand on the zone-read offense Chip Kelly masterfully ran at Oregon, if plays could be pushed more downfield. Emory & Henry College, where Stutzmann was the offensive coordinator at the time, proved to be a suitable lab. Away from scrutiny, the Division III school in Virginia even had an encouraging motto: “Increase in excellence.”

Stutzmann helped launch a version of the read-pass option known as the spread-and-shred. As UH’s quarterbacks coach, Stutzmann’s schemes are woven into head coach Nick Rolovich’s run-and-shoot offense. The RPO have been used up to 25 percent of the Warriors’ plays this season. The wrinkle gives quarterback Cole McDonald the freedom to take off on draws into an abandoned middle or scoot to the perimeter on naked counters.

McDonald is averaging 7.68 yards on designed runs this season. “I think (Rolovich’s) version of the run-and-shoot is interesting because it has an element it hasn’t had before, and that’s running the quarterback,” San Jose State coach Brent Brennan said. “He’s a good runner. He’s a really good dual-threat player.”

Dayton Furuta, a 5-foot-11, 250-pound running back, also opens the way for the passing game and McDonald’s keepers. Furuta draws defenders with his powerful runs into the heart of a defense. Furuta also has assisted on two rushing touchdowns this season. Last week, aligning as a fullback in a power-I formation, Furuta led the way on Fred Holly III’s scoring run. Two weeks ago, when slotback John Ursua took the snap as a wildcat, Furuta pushed him across the goal line.

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 III 6-0 200 So.

HAWAII DEFENSE

During walk-through sessions, the defense resembles a wedding reception’s electric slide — players are following the motions of the person in front of them during practice runs. The idea is that the best way for backups to learn is to stand behind the starters going through on-field assignments. The method is helpful for a defense that has used 37 players and 18 different starters this season.

“Guys go down, and it’s got to be the next man up,” defensive coordinator Corey Batoon said. “It’s come true a couple times at a couple different positions where guys who have been backups and, in one play, they’re thrust into a role that requires them to be ready to go. And they have been.” By logging hundreds of reps in practices, several reserves have made easy adjustments into the lineup.

Kendall Hune, who transferred from Eastern Arizona College this summer, has 14 tackles, tied for second among defensive linemen. Weak-side linebacker Scheyenne Sanitoa made his first start last week. Kana‘i Picanco, a walk-on, has played both inside-linebacker positions. “I just do my job when my name gets called,” said Picanco, a Damien School graduate who played two seasons at Pima Community College. With no post-JC scholarship offers, he joined UH last year. Growing up in Kahaluu, Picanco said he followed the UH careers of area standouts Corey Paredes and Blaze Soares.

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—96 Kaimana Padello 6-0 215 Jr.

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

The Warriors’ man for all positions — Justice Augafa — appears to have found a place as an aggressive return specialist. Of six kickoffs into the end zone, Augafa has returned four. He also is averaging 12.0 yards per punt return. Augafa’s expanded role enables Cedric Byrd to focus more energy as the starting right slotback. Since joining UH a year ago, Augafa has practiced at nickelback, running back and wideout.

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.

KR/PR—82 Justice Augafa 5-11 200 Jr.

SAN JOSE STATE OFFENSE

The three-quarterback rotation has had dizzying results. Josh Love, who is expected to make his third start, has completed 52.4 percent of his first-half passes, but is 38.9 percent after the intermission. In three seasons, Love has nine TDs against 15 interceptions. Montel Aaron has been clutch, completing 73.3 percent of his third-down passes. Michael Carrillo has played in two games, both second-half appearances.

“I think we’re still going to rotate them,” coach Brent Brennan said. “I think that’s a good thing for us until one of them knocks it out of the park.” Brennan said the competition promotes “pressurized” practices, which is useful because “that’s how the games are.”

In the opener, Tyler Nevens rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns, but was assisted off the field following a fumble-causing hit. He has not played since, but remains as the Spartans’ leading rusher. Two freshmen — Brendan Manigo and Michael Harris III — made their debuts last week.

Josh Oliver is the nation’s top pass-catching tight end. He has 19 grabs, of which 13 have resulted in first downs. On third down, five of his seven catches exceeded the yards-to-gain marker. It is a remarkable transformation for a tight end who was mostly a blocker as a freshman and sophomore. He had seven catches his first two years, and 54 receptions in 13 games the next two seasons. “In this offense, it’s cool because they like to put the tight end everywhere,” Oliver said. “We’re always in different formations, maybe motioning, maybe not.”

WR—9 Justin Holmes 6-2 219 Sr.

LT—55 Jackson Snyder 6-5 289 So.

LG—79 Troy Kowalski 6-5 307 Jr.

C—57 Trevor Robbins 6-4 284 So.

RG—72 Jake Colman 6-3 308 Sr.

RT—78 Deano Motes 6-5 275 Jr.

TE—89 Josh Oliver 6-5 250 Sr.

WR—84 Bailey Gaither 6-1 178 Jr.

WR—11 JaQuan Blackwell 6-0 192 So.

QB—12 Josh Love 6-2 205 Jr.

RB—20 Malike Roberson 5-8 184 Sr.

SAN JOSE STATE DEFENSE

The Spartans have yielded 391.7 passing yards per game, including 13.4 yards per reception. “I feel in this day and age, in terms of yards, it’s going to be inflated, because the way the game is changing,” nose tackle Boogie Roberts said. “I feel the numbers sometimes can be misconstrued. … When teams are throwing 50 times, yards are going to come.”

In three games, the Spartans have six interceptions, matching the total of 2017. Cornerback Dakari Monroe has two picks and six pass breakups. The Spartans are allowing an average of 26.7 points in the first half, and 10.0 points after that.

The all-senior defensive line is led by Roberts, a charismatic point defender. He earned his nickname “Boogie” when he was 5. “My coaches would say, when a quarterback came up to the line, his eyes got big like he’d seen the Boogie Man,” Roberts said. “It just stuck with me.” He said his college diploma reads, “Boogie Roberts.” He has made a name for himself as a multi-skilled threat who can hold the point or attack it, fill a gap or create one. Four of his nine tackles have been in the backfield. “It’s a tough duty, but I’m used to it,” Roberts said of playing nose. “I’m the center of the defense.” Roberts credits his flexibility to hot-yoga classes. “I really think it’s harder than the workouts we do,” Roberts said.

DE—9 Bryson Bridges 6-3 266 Sr.

NT—Boogie Roberts 6-2 294 Sr.

DE—4 Sailosi Latu 6-2 327 Sr.

LB—11 Jesse Osuna 6-0 225 Jr.

LB—45 Kyle Harmon 6-0 225 Fr.

LB—31 Ethan Aguayo 6-2 220 Jr.

LB—5 Jamal Scott 6-2 237 Sr.

CB—19 Dakari Monroe 5-11 190 Jr.

CB—2 John Toussaint 6-0 187 Sr.

S—3 Tre Webb 6-2 194 So.

S—27 Jonathan Lenard 6-1 180 So.

SAN JOSE STATE SPECIALISTS

As a soccer player whose father followed the Dallas Cowboys, it was no stretch as to how Bryce Crawford became interested in place-kicking. And when a Heritage High (Frisco, Texas) coach suggested becoming more marketable, Crawford took up punting. Now Crawford handles kickoffs, place-kicks (four-of-five on field-goal attempts), and punts (43.0 per launch) for the Spartans. He keeps limber by stretching up to 30 minutes before going to sleep and for about 15 minutes after awakening.

PK/P—38 Bryce Crawford 6-3 244 Sr.

LS—50 Harrison Hoffman 6-4 232 Jr.

H—49 Brian Papazian 6-1 190 Fr.

KR—24 Zamore Zigler 5-10 171 Jr.

PR—22 Thai Cottrell 5-7 176 Sr.