Hawaii vs Eastern Illinois Newspaper Wrap-Ups

Ukjent Person, the Mad Swede, has a wrap-up with a lot of quotes from Colt Brennan. Sounds like they were having fun out there.

"The defense was bouncing around, making it hard to read," Brennan said. "We fell back on what we know and what we're taught. I would throw the ball, and somebody would be right there to catch it. I don't think we played the best we can play. But we made the plays when we needed to make the plays. Luckily, the ball was in our court. The ball bounced our way. Did I leave out any other basketball analogies?"

Sounds like the defense was having fun too.

The Panthers combined for 8-of-21 passing for 57 yards. Starter Mike Donato was 2 of 8 for 15 yards.

"The quarterback was running for his life," inside linebacker Adam Leonard said. "It's hard for a quarterback to put the pass on the money when he's running around."

Purcell said: "He looked like he was scared. I would be a little scared if I saw Ikaika coming off the edge."

The Warriors ended up with a season-high three interceptions.

Dave Reardon's wrap up has this quote from Colt:

"This is a level we were never on last year," said Brennan, who led the nation in touchdown passes in his first year in June Jones' offense last fall.

I hope this means Colt will throw for 350 yards in every first half, so Graunke and Funaki can play a lot!

In a Leila Wai article highlighting Inoke Funaki's first night holding kicks, we find out why The Graunke didn't play.

Funaki was also slated as the immediate backup to Colt Brennan instead of usual No. 2 Tyler Graunke, who was benched because he missed classes.

Tyler! Be cool, stay in school! Wai also talks to Funaki about his second half stint at QB.

"It helped to build my confidence," Funaki said of the long tosses to Rivers and Lane. "That I could do it, if I just stay in there and go through my reads, just do what coach told me to do.

"It was all right, but all that lingers is the stuff I missed. I know there are some good things we did, but I think it's just me. I get down on myself. We had some good plays but all I remember is the stuff I missed."

Jason Kaneshiro highlights Ian Sample's big night last night.

"I felt like Ian Sample was one of our most consistent wideouts for a couple of years," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "Unfortunately, he hurt his knee last year, but he's a good football player. ... I was happy he had some success, because I think it'll just snowball from here."

Way to go Ian!

Dayton Morinaga highlights the performance of C.J. Hawthorne, who got a start at corner.

"I wouldn't say I justified anything," Hawthorne said. "But I feel like I got my opportunity to play and I made some plays."

Hawthorne got the first interception of his Hawai'i career in the third quarter of last night's game. It came off a tipped pass, and he dived to the turf to make the interception.

The same article also gives an update on The Juggernaut.

Hawai'i reserve running back Reagan Mauia was not in uniform last night, but he said it had nothing to do with an injury.

"Coach told me just to rest for this game and be ready for the next one," said Mauia, who is considered the team's best blocking running back. "It's a long season, so I'm fine with it."

That's good news. I just think he would've had a HUGE night last night! Oh well.

And finally, the Star-Bulletin staff finds out that Michael Malala is nuts!

The play of the night may have come early in the opening quarter on Hawaii's first kickoff of the game. Senior safety Michael Malala, putting the psycho in special teams, decided not to try to bust the return wedge, but to jump right over it. He took off like a running back hoping to leap over the pile and into the end zone. He hit someone's head, went over in a somersault and took out the Eastern Illinois return man by hitting the ballcarrier in the head with his foot on a flying leap. It looked like something out of a kung fu movie.

I hope somebody has video of it!

UPDATE: Forgot to add that EIU wouldn't mind coming back again and again. This article also has a lot of pictures.

Here's a link to a video of the post-game press conference, posted by the Honolulu Advertiser.

And finally again, Kalani Simpson is already geared up for the Nevada game. It should be a good one!