LIHU‘E — This would be no time for the Warriors to begin breaking traditions. The University of Hawai‘i football squad closes out its 2010 Western Athletic Conference schedule today with a road battle against the New Mexico State Aggies (10
LIHU‘E — This would be no time for the Warriors to begin breaking traditions.
The University of Hawai‘i football squad closes out its 2010 Western Athletic Conference schedule today with a road battle against the New Mexico State Aggies (10 a.m. Hawaiian, 1 p.m. local).
Hawai‘i (8-3, 6-1 WAC) is looking to secure at least a tie for first place in the conference, after Nevada (11-1, 6-1 WAC) shocked Boise State in overtime, 34-31, Friday night. The only WAC defeat UH has suffered to this point came at the hands of a then-unbeaten Boise State (10-1, 6-1 WAC).
All the historical data suggests that the Warriors should roll for their ninth win of the season, adding on to the most wins under head coach Greg McMackin, who had not yet eclipsed seven in his first two seasons at the helm in Honolulu.
UH has never lost to New Mexico State, leading the series 6-0 and averaging 41.5 points a game against the Aggies.
It has also been a very strong team late in the season, compiling a 15-2 record in November since 2006.
Those trends, combined with this year’s struggling Aggies squad (2-9, 1-6 WAC) typically equate to the type of success UH has had this season against other struggling conference opponents like San Jose State (a 41-7 win), Idaho (45-10) and Utah State (45-7).
A familiar face to some of the Warriors will be looking at them from the opposition as former Leilehua High School quarterback Andrew Manley will get the start for the Aggies. Manley has started the past two games, throwing for 436 yards and one touchdown combined.
His counterpart, also a Leilehua grad, is coming off of the best day a UH quarterback has ever had, as Bryant Moniz broke the school record for passing yards with 560 against SJSU in Saturday’s 41-7 win. The total topped the previous record by just a yard, as Colt Brennan went for 559 in 2006.
Moniz leads the nation’s top-ranked passing attack, the quarterback averaging 357.6 passing yards a game, tops in the country. One of his favorite targets has good memories of New Mexico State, as receiver Greg Salas went off for 196 yards on 16 catches in last season’s 24-6 home win over the Aggies.
Salas was one of 10 semifinalists for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is presented to the nation’s top receiver. Chad Owens was the last UH receiver to be named a semifinalist in 2004. The list was narrowed to three finalists this week, with Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon and South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery remaining in contention.
Salas entered the week ranked second in the country with 126.4 receiving yards per game. The senior is a mere 74 yards away from breaking Jason Rivers’ career total of 3,919 yards.
Much of the team’s improvement in 2010 has been on defense, as the Warriors have defined the idea of an opportunistic unit. UH leads the nation in turnovers forced with 31. That has propelled the team to a No. 3 national ranking in turnover margin, averaging a 1.18 advantage each week.
Safety Mana Silva is second in the nation with seven interceptions. He has 13 for his career, tying him with Keone Jardine and Kelvin Millhouse for first in UH history.
Four players — Silva, Corey Paredes, Jeramy Bryant and Aaron Brown — have logged multiple interceptions in a game this season. Paredes, the nation’s fifth-leading tackler, was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week after each of back-to-back wins over Nevada and Utah State.
The Warriors over three touchdowns more per game than the Aggies, a team that is also giving up an average of 37.7 points a week. The UH offense should capitalize early and often, leading to the team’s fourth season of at least seven WAC victories since 2002.
