GameDay: UH at Fresno State

Stephen Tsai has a gameday preview with breakdowns of the offense, defense and specialists of both teams.

Jason Kaneshiro's gameday preview has breakdowns, stats, probable starters and this key matchup:

Hawaii DTs vs. Fresno State interior linemen
Hawaii's ability to hold its ground in the middle of the line of scrimmage will be a key to slowing the Bulldog ground game.

That task will fall primarily on tackles Josh Leonard and Keala Watson with the goal to stand firm and occupy the blockers, allowing the Warrior linebackers to flow to the ball. Leonard and Watson will get relief from Fale Laeli, Vaughn Meatoga and Tuika Tufaga.

The Bulldogs are expected to start three sophomores in the middle of the line - guards Devan Cunningham (6-6, 350) and Andrew Jackson (6-5, 295) and center Joe Bernardi (6-2, 290). They've helped clear the way for a Bulldogs rushing attack (180 yards per game) that can seize control of a game.

"You're talking about 300 or 600 pounds depending on if it's a single block or a double team," defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe said. "They're a power team so you're going to see a lot of double teams on our tackles and them trying to drive them into the 'backers."

Daniel Lyght of the Fresno Bee takes a look at key matchups, advantages and keys to victory in his gameday preview.

Hawaii wins if ...

It can hold Fresno State to less than 100 yards rushing. The Fresno State offense is designed to run first, and with receivers Marlon Moore and Devon Wylie banged up, the passing game might need the running game to bolster it.

It can reverse its turnover margin drastically. The Warriors have turned it over 17 times and forced just two. The Bulldogs have turned over the ball four times in four games.

Fresno State wins if ...

The Bulldogs jump ahead early and continue to take care of the football, which isn't a given if the weather turns bad.

The running game goes for more than 200 yards. Hawaii's linebackers and defensive line could be the strength of the defense, so if the Bulldogs can run, they should be able to pass also.

Lyght also writes that Fresno running back Ryan Mathews, the nation's 10th leading rusher, will not play in today's game due to a knee injury.

Mathews did not practice this week, said Hill, who added the injury was not major and he hopes Mathews returns Oct. 11 against Idaho.

"He's a great player and having him out of the lineup hurts, but we have other backs that have to step up and they will," Hill said.

Kaneshiro has some quotes from Fresno coach Pat Hill about facing UH.

"It was a real tough game for us (at UCLA) and this is going to be a tough football game," Hill said. "Hawaii and Wisconsin are the best two defenses we've played and we've played some pretty good teams."

While Hill has been impressed with Hawaii's defense, there's a bit more uncertainty in preparing for a Warrior offense adjusting to the strengths of mobile quarterback Inoke Funaki.

"I don't know what they're going to do, but we'll adjust as the game goes on," Hill said.

Chawan Cut compiles last night's news from KHON, KGMB and KITV. Greg McMackin, David Veikune, Ron Lee, Inoke Funaki, Kealoha Pilares, Keala Watson and Calvin Roberts talk about the game.



Looks like the Golden Screwdriver Trophy is sort of official!

To symbolize the rivalry between the University of Hawai'i and Fresno State, a San Joaquin Valley radio station asked its listeners to design and deliver a trophy to go to the winner of the football game between the two schools.

It is to be called the "Golden Screwdriver" KFIG said in recognition of the controversy that has followed UH's 31-21 victory over the Bulldogs in 2002.

But FSU athletic department spokesman Steve Weakland yesterday said the contest "is not recognized by the school ... there will be no presentation."

Boooooo!!!!

The Golden Screwdriver originated on the SportsHawaii and WSN message boards back in 2004. Sportshawaii's Ubercow even made an animation of the trophy, but it's no longer online. Here's more background info.

On a related note, the Fresno Bee's Matt James misses June Jones, and lists reasons why.

So remember him today. Remember the man who claimed there'd been a screwdriver thrown from the stands, then wouldn't stop jabbing Fresno with it.

It's a shame he's gone, 2,700 miles away today in Florida, fully engrossed in his latest restoration project: Trying to make Southern Methodist look something like a football team.

I miss Jones because he could take a risk on a quarterback who even Colorado didn't want and turn him into a Heisman candidate.

I miss Jones because he could get in a public beef with his athletic director, then ditch his school for more money, and still be considered the good guy.

In a Q&A with Daniel Lyght, Pat Hill discusses the pro scouts who are in Fresno to look at UH players.

I think their defense with nine seniors is awesome. We've had pro scouts here all week to watch Hawaii. They have four guys they're looking at really close. Hawaii is loaded on defense. It might be the best defensive team they've had since I've been here.

Which four guys are the scouts looking at?

They like the two linebackers [Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard], one defensive end [David Veikune] and a corner who's a really good player [Ryan Mouton]. I think defensively, this is a great challenge for us.

Stephen Tsai writes about how tough a place Fresno is for opposing teams.

Hawai'i running back David Farmer had heard the stories about the tough-as-leather Fresno State football fans. All true, said Farmer, recalling the 2006 game, the last time the Warriors had played in Bulldog Stadium.

"As we were walking up the tunnel to halftime," Farmer said, "a little 6-year-old boy walked out of the line and came up to me and said: 'Hey, No. 48, you (bleepin') suck!"

And Ferd Lewis writes that it's time for the Warriors to make a stand.

It took UH 29 seasons to win its first outright WAC championship in football and a scant 29 days into this season the Warriors have already begun to be forgotten and written off. Two games into the WAC (this is their second) they are in danger of being out of the running to defend that title.

So, what you'd like to see from the Warriors in today's 4 p.m. (Hawai'i time) game at Fresno State is some type of reminder that they were champions just 10 months ago and might be at least a factor in this season's race.