UH vs Nevada Wrap-Ups

HawaiiAthletics.com has a recap of the Warriors' 38-31 victory over Nevada. The article includes links to a box score, notes and post-game quotes. Here's one from Solomon Elimimian:

“I knew it was going to be a tough game tonight. It feels good to break the tackles record, that was really big to me. But overall this game had some big moments and we made some plays that we needed to make. The offense really picked up the defense at the end.”

NevadaWolfPack.com has a game summary with links to stats and post-game notes.

Here's an excerpt about Malcolm Lane's TD, from Stephen Tsai's game summary:

Facing a third-and-1, the Warriors had two choices: 1) Call a running play, then summon Kelly; 2) go for the touchdown.

UH head coach Greg McMackin, in consultation with Lee and quarterback coach Nick Rolovich, decided to go "all in."

"Yep. Why not, man?" McMackin said. "I'm a defensive guy. Let's get it on. Everybody throws it against me. Why can't I throw it against somebody else? Let's go to score."

But he also hedged his bet.

"We figured if it was incomplete, we'd rush guys on (for the field goal)," McMackin said.

Jason Kaneshiro's game summary has some video from the post-game press conference.

This other Kaneshiro wrap-up has a photo slideshow.

Dan Hinxman of the Reno Gazette-Journal writes that Nevada found another strange way to lose.

The Wolf Pack, which is beginning to make a habit of losing close games, had two 100-yard rushers, piled up nearly 500 yards of offense, limited the Hawaii Warriors to 28 rushing yards, intercepted two passes and had six quarterback sacks.

And yet when Hawaii quarterback Greg Alexander hit receiver Malcolm Lane on a 24-yard corner route with 20 seconds left to play, the Pack dropped a 38-31 decision on a rainy Saturday night in front of 33,020 fans at Aloha Stadium.

“It’s getting old,” said Pack running back Vai Taua, who had 160 yards rushing, including a career-long 79-yard touchdown, and combined with quarterback Colin Kaepernick for 299 rushing yards. “We’ve got to be able to pull these close ones out.”

Nick Abramo has more about Nevada's big game on the ground.

Brian McInnis writes about Greg Alexander's big game through the air.

If Alexander had any self-doubt remaining following the season-opening drubbing he took as the Warriors starter in Hawaii's 56-10 loss at Florida, none was evident on the field last night. He was holding out for such an opportunity to provide redemption before the season waned.

"That's what I was hoping for," the 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior college transfer said. "Things went the way they did (Aug. 30 at Gainesville), but I've learned a lot over the past six weeks or whatever it's been. Just taking advantage of the opportunity, I've learned a lot from Inoke, he's done a fantastic job, and Tyler, he's talked to me a lot."

Michael Tsai has more about Alexander.

Alexander said watching the game from the sidelines and paying attention to his coaches' instructions have helped him "see" the game in a much more sophisticated way. He displayed that knowledge last night by remaining patient in the pocket, making his reads in sequence and running when the opportunity presented itself. Recognizing the hard-press corner alignments of the defense, he repeatedly found Washington in single-coverage situations.

"He just came in and led us down the field the whole second half," Washington said. "It's not easy to do that when you don't get a lot of reps. You have to be mentally strong and focused, and that's what he did."

Ferd Lewis writes about Malcolm Lane rising to the occasion.

First wide receiver Malcolm Lane looked himself sternly in the mirror and then, Monday, he told his University of Hawai'i coaches pointedly:
"This is my time to step up, to make plays for this team, to play to my capabilities," as Lane pointedly put it.

So, when quarterback Greg Alexander's pass arched high into the right corner of the end zone in the waning seconds last night, the game — and maybe the season — on the line for the Warriors, "I just knew my time had come," Lane said.

Stacy Kaneshiro writes about Michael Washington rising to the challenge.

What helped, Washington said, was changing his pass routes to use his speed.

"At the beginning, I had a lot of flat routes," he said. "It's hard to get the ball out of the flat when you have to block and make the turn. But Coach Mack (Greg McMackin) challenged me to make a play. Make the first guy miss and that's what we did. The game plan this week was to attack down field. That's what we're used to. That's what Hawai'i's used to. I made plays today going downfield. I utilized my speed."

And Leila Wai has some news and notes about Aaron Bain returning punts, Solomon Elimimian breaking the school record for career tackles, David Farmer scoring a touchdown, etc.

UPDATE: Woops, I missed Dave Reardon's Further Review column about the changes made for this game.

Moving Ryan Mouton to slot looked like a mistake early on, as the defense missed its best player and Mouton didn't do much on offense in the first half.

But he got comfortable later, and it was like the old days back at Katy High School in Texas when he dominated on both sides of the ball.

And the man he displaced, Aaron Bain, well he may have found a home at punt returner now.

Right now there is no starting quarterback - that's to be discussed today. McMackin says it won't be up for grabs every week; he really wants to settle on somebody long-term.

For now, how can you deny Alexander?