It was two years ago when Hawaii quarterback Chevan Cordeiro celebrated his first NCAA start with a comeback victory over Wyoming at Aloha Stadium.

It will be a reunion of sorts when UH (1-0) faces Wyoming (0-1) in this evening’s Mountain West game at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.

“It was exciting,” Cordeiro said of that debut, “but, I mean, this is just a normal game.”

Cordeiro has changed in the 755 days since last playing the Cowboys. “Back then, I was just going through the motions,” he said. “Now I’m taking everything off the field and on the field more seriously, whether it’s just watching film more, pre-snap reads, everything.”

Wyoming defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel has noticed Cordeiro’s progression as a passer and runner. “He’s really good,” Sawvel said. “There were a couple plays where he took off against Fresno, and people weren’t catching him. That’s a concern. Not all of his rushing yards were manufactured offensive plays. A couple were drop-back passes that he just got out (of the pocket) and took off on. … He’s a unique talent.”

HAWAII OFFENSE

In last week’s opener, play-callers G.J. Kinne and Bo Graham took several pages from Florida State coach — and mentor — Mike Norvell’s playbook to concoct a blend of four- and three-receiver sets, single and split backfields, run-pass option (RPO), run-and-shoot and, even, the triple option … with a twist. In this version, quarterback Chevan Cordeiro has the choice of taking off on draws or bootlegs, handing off to Miles Reed or Dae Dae Hunter, or throw off a rollout. Reed has morphed into a single-cut-and-go runner. Hunter relies on zero-to-blur acceleration. Both are at their best on perimeter-zone runs that can appear to have 20 different looks. Cordeiro has the moxie to throw deep — he did it three times out of his end zone last week — but also shows restraint to throw in front of coverages. Last week, narrow-side wideout Rico Bussey was targeted 12 times, catching eight on out routes, hitches and step-back moves. The wild card is the wildcat — slot/running back Calvin Turner — who is quick, sure-handed, and a surprisingly effective down-field blocker.

WYOMING OFFENSE

For the third year in a row, quarterback Sean Chambers suffered a season-ending injury. This time, his left fibula was fractured on the third play against Nevada. The Cowboys beckoned second-year freshman Levi Williams, who was the starter in last year’s Arizona Bowl. At 6-5 and 240 pounds, Williams is a near body double for Josh Allen, a former Cowboy now with the Buffalo Bills. Last week, Williams scored on a draw that Allen used to run. Williams, who gained more than 20 pounds during the offseason, found a unique training method. In a sitting position on the ground, he pulled a Toyota 4Runner. “There were a lot of times I was running the ball,” Williams said of last week’s game, “I didn’t feel a lot of people wanted to tackle me except the D-linemen.” Against Nevada, Xazavian Valladay had touches on 43% of the Cowboys’ 67 plays. Eric Abojei, a 6-5, 350-pound guard, is quick on pulls.

HAWAII DEFENSE

Head coach Todd Graham, who makes the defensive calls, has assembled a speedy lineup that often employs six defenders with DB backgrounds. There is girth up front, with 300-pounders Blessman Ta‘ala and Justus Tavai at nose and boundary-side end, respectively. Ta‘ala absorbs up to three blockers, while Tavai is a headache for offensive tackles with his bull rushes. While the base is a three-man front — a pure alignment used 19 times against Fresno — the Warriors will move up two players as apparent edge rushers. Quentin Frazier, a hybrid and former safety, and cornerback Cameron Lockridge often will align in the tackle box. Eugene Ford has provided the last line of defense at safety, where he produced two of the Warriors’ three picks last week. Last year, the Warriors did not get their third interception until the fourth game.

WYOMING DEFENSE

Last season, Jake Dickert’s defense allowed 17.8 points per game. But in January, Dickert joined Nick Rolovich’s staff at Washington State, taking along two Wyoming assistant coaches. Earlier this month, five defensive linemen, including three projected starters, opted not to play this season because of concerns over the coronavirus. Defensive end Garrett Crall missed the opener because of a foot injury, and he’s iffy for the UH game. New coordinator Jay Sawvel, who had previous stops at Minnesota and Wake Forest, has installed a defense with four hand-on-the-ground linemen, a mix of four second-level defenders 8 yards from the line of scrimmage, and a free safety 16 yards deep. Victor Jones, a 6-4, 245-pound end who once was recruited by UH, creates chaos with quickness, perimeter bracketing, and long reach in the passing lanes. The Cowboys are rugged in the trenches, with a goal-line stand against Nevada. Except for two breakdowns leading to runs of 29 and 18 yards, the Cowboys gave up 55 yards on 22 other non-sack carries (2.5 yards per rush).

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Today, 3:45 p.m., Fox Sports 1, 1420-AM / 92.7-FM