The University of Hawaii football team travels to Logan, Utah, this week for the first leg of its drive to remain alive.
The Rainbow Warriors are 1-2 against Mountain West Conference opponents, sitting at fifth place in the six-team West Division. But the Warriors still have a pulse in their title hopes if they win their next five games — all against MWC teams — to close the regular season. Each team plays an eight-game league schedule.
In the Warriors’ best-case scenario to claim the West championship:
>> The Warriors would need to beat Utah State, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State and Wyoming. Three of those games are on the road — and in elevation.
>> San Diego State (3-0) also would need to lose to Fresno State or Boise State.
>> Fresno State (3-1), whose lone league loss was against UH, would need to lose to Boise State or New Mexico.
>> Nevada (2-1), which beat UH, would have to lose two against three opponents (UNLV, Air Force and Colorado State).
>> San Jose State (2-2), which also defeated the Warriors, would have to lose to Wyoming, Utah State or Fresno State.
The Warriors broke even, at 4-4, after Saturday’s nonconference victory over New Mexico State. In that game, backup running back Dedrick Parson rushed for three touchdowns, freshman quarterback Brayden Schager completed 86.2% of his passes, Calvin Turner overcame an injured figure to score on a 75-yard dash, and linebacker Darius Muasau and defensive back Khoury Bethley each had a pick-6.
“I’m excited to get back on the winning track,” UH coach Todd Graham said, “and onward to Utah State.”
The Aggies are atop the Mountain Division at 3-1.
The Warriors are wishful that three starters — quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, running back Dae Dae Hunter and linebacker Penei Pavihi — will be available this weekend. Cordeiro, who is not fully healed from an upper-body injury, was ruled out during pregame warmups. Schager is 2-1 as a starter. Hunter’s absence opened the way for Parson, a transfer from Howard, to make his first FBS start.
Graham said the Warriors will work on tightening their defense — there were breakdowns on NMSU running back Juwan Price’s two long touchdowns — and repairing punt-return play. Against NMSU, Turner did not field a punt that bounced from the UH 22 to the 8. The Warriors’ ensuing drive stalled, and their punt gave the Aggies possession at the UH 40.
“There’s a lot of hidden yardage there — hundreds of yards this season that we’ve got to eliminate,” Graham said.
The Warrior lost a fumble when a punt short-hopped returner Koali Nishigaya.
“That’s our job as coaches, get guys prepared,” Graham said. “We’ve got to do a better job of that. … We’ve just struggled to have someone who’s a natural catching punts. We’ve struggled with that.”
