Gold was the motivational carrot for the University of Hawaii football team’s top-of-the-depth-chart players on Monday.

After breaking training camp on Saturday, the Rainbow Warriors conducted their first practice with scout players simulating UCLA’s offensive and defensive schemes. The Warriors’ Aug. 28 season opener is against the Bruins in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

“We wear the same gold jerseys every week for the scout team,” coach Todd Graham said. “It’s great development for those guys (to go against UH’s starters). And it’s a sign it’s game week. That’s how we need to approach it. We had a good day today.”

Graham said the top offense and defense practiced against each other for 20 minutes. In the other 11-on-11 sessions, the scouts provided the competition.

The scouts “definitely brought it today,” starting cornerback Cortez Davis said. “We have some good looks out there, some really good guys giving their all. They’re on scout, but they’re working to get on special teams, and also get on the field. It’s good competition out here.”

In the week leading to a game, UH’s practices on Tuesday and Wednesday are physical, with the defense focusing on tackling, tracking ball-carriers and obliterating blocks. With an extra week of practice ahead of the UCLA game, Graham said, the Warriors will have four “Tuesday” practices and four “Wednesday” practices.

Graham was pleased with the 14 practices of the recently completed training camp, particularly the two scrimmages. “One the defense dominated,” Graham said, “and one the offense dominated. That’s usually a good sign.”

In Saturday’s scrimmage, starting quarterback Chevan Cordeiro and freshman backup Brayden Schager were impressive, according to Graham.

“Got the ball out on time, made the right reads,” Graham said. “Both quarterbacks played extremely well. Proud of how we executed. Didn’t have stupid penalties.”

This summer, the Warriors have worked on matching the quick-tempo offenses that Graham unleashed successfully at previous coaching jobs.

“For the first time,” Graham said of Saturday’s scrimmage, “we really were explosive offensively. We’re really starting to look like it’s supposed to look. I’m very pleased from that standpoint.”

Graham said a two-deep chart will be solidified next week. “We’re pretty much rolling,” Graham said. “We know who we’ve got (with) each one of our personnel groups, one and two, and going from there.”

Graham said the playing rotation will expand, especially on the defensive line. “We don’t have a one and two defensive line,” Graham said. “All those guys are going to play. If you’re on the two-deep on the D-line, you’re starting.”