ANNAPOLIS, Md. » Of all of Scott Harding’s roles, the most difficult was as a spectator.

The University of Hawaii’s most versatile football player suffered an injury to his left thigh on the game’s third play and did not return for the remainder of a 42-28 loss to Navy on Saturday.

"I just got hit, a defenseless hit," said Harding, who was flattened by cornerback Brenden Clements on a pass to the flats. "He hit me on the (left) thigh. It was a helmet to the thigh. It hurt pretty bad."

At first, Harding tried to ride it out, treating it as if it were charlie horse.

"We tried to keep it warm and stretch it out," Harding said. "I couldn’t put much weight on it at all. It was one of those deep contusions, down to the bone."

It was a triple loss for the Rainbow Warriors. Harding is a punter, punt returner and slotback.

Ruben Guzman averaged 27.7 yards on three punts. His longest was 32 yards. Two of the Midshipmen’s post-punt drives started at their 49 and 48.

Donnie King fumbled on a 1-yard punt return. The Warriors opted not to challenge whether King was down before losing the football. On the ensuing play, the Warriors did not offer much resistance on Navy’s 26-yard scoring pass.

Harding, who entered as the Warriors’ leading receiver, would have been the primary target against Navy’s soft-zone defense. Billy Ray Stutzmann moved from wideout to inside receiver in Harding’s absence. Stutzmann caught four passes for 31 yards.

Losing Harding, coach Norm Chow said, "really hurt us, especially with the (special) teams. We planned on using him to punt (and) the punt returns (because of) how sure-handed he is."

Harding admittedly was frustrated.

Of spending the game on the sideline, Harding said, "I hated it. It was the longest game I ever sat through. It was tough, especially when you lose. I felt I could I have helped. I felt I was part of the reason we didn’t win tonight. That’s how it is. It’s rough."

The Warriors are scheduled to return to Honolulu tonight. Harding said his plans call for more treatment.

"I have to ice it, and get the muscle back to its normal self," Harding said.

"Obviously, it’s pretty bruised up right now. I’ll settle the bruising down. I’ll rest it, and I should be fine for the next week."

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Read Stephen Tsai’s Warrior Beat at staradvertiser.com/warriorbeat