Day 12 Wrap-Ups: Warrior Bowl, Nasca, AhSoon, Salas

Dave Reardon has some details about this Saturday's "Warrior Bowl."

McMackin said Funaki and Graunke, who are battling for No. 1 status, will both play extensively Saturday.

"The quarterbacks aren't going to be live (targets for tackling), but they're going to play (a lot)," McMackin said. "And the good receivers are gonna play. We want to get a lot of looks at (Funaki and Graunke). They've been battling, they've been real close all spring. There'll be live bullets out there because the secondary will be going full speed."

Reardon profiles walk-on receiver Nate Nasca.

Nasca's speed did the killing yesterday at spring practice. He slipped behind the safeties two plays in a row during the team period for big gains. The second catch was a tough one where he held on despite hard contact with the ground.

"Some guys, when you put them on the football field, they slow down," receivers assistant Craig Stutzmann said. "This guy doesn't. He works hard and he's quick as a cat out there. He's very coachable."

Dayton Morinaga talks to offensive lineman Keith AhSoon, who's making the switch from tackle to guard while recovering from a calf injury.

AhSoon said he injured his left calf during the first week of spring practices. Sophomore Bryson "Bulla" Ginlack replaced AhSoon as the first-team left guard over the past two weeks of drills.

"I was actually happy for him when he was filling in for me," AhSoon said. "I think Bulla is the most improved guy on the whole O-line."

Yesterday, AhSoon reclaimed his spot with the starting unit.

The article also has some Warrior Bowl details, a section on Nate Nasca, and Ryan Mouton talking about becoming a triple threat.

"I think I can catch passes," he said. "I really would like to talk to the coaches about playing offense, too. Some receiver, I don't see why not?"

Yeah, why not?

Ferd Lewis has a column about receiver Greg Salas, who is poised to step into the limelight after waiting in the wings.

For when somebody has learned Salas is on the University of Hawai'i football team, their response to him invariably has been: " 'You play football?' "

Well, yes, although, "I don't look like a football player, especially if you see me in street clothes," the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Salas sheepishly admits.

"He's known that as soon as Jason Rivers left he was going to be the guy (at left wideout)," quarterback Tyler Graunke said. "And, he's made himself a really good receiver. He's worked hard to make himself one. You'll see. He's worked on what he needs to — strength and speed — and doesn't make the same mistake twice. "

In their Sports Notebook, Brian McInnis and Dave Reardon write about Keith AhSoon and David Farmer practicing again as they recover from injuries. They also have injury updates on Camron Carmona, Rocky Savaiigaea, Korey Reynolds, Alonzo Chopp and Ben Noy, who may be out for a while with a likely torn ACL.