UH vs Idaho Wrap-Ups

KGMB and KHNL have video highlights from Hawaii's 49-17 victory over Idaho.

Jason Kaneshiro has a game summary and stats.

Here's Kaneshiro's wrap-up of the game.

McMackin admitted to some trepidation over the offense maintaining its timing during the week off following a 42-point outing in a win over New Mexico State.

But it didn't take long for the Warriors to put that to rest.

Hawaii quarterback Greg Alexander completed 14 of 24 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns, two going to receiver Malcolm Lane, as UH rolled up 356 total yards while holding Idaho to 219.

"Greg Alexander's really bringing us together," McMackin said. "The package is just opening up to him and he's exciting everybody. The offense has a swagger now."

Here an excerpt about the defensive line's strategy, from Stephen Tsai's wrap-up:

The game plan called for the Warriors to sent blitzers from different points at Enderle, who was without his go-to receiver. Eddie Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury last week.

But that changed when the Vandals blocked the blitzing linebackers. Also, the Warriors' best defensive back, Ryan Mouton, suffered a high-ankle sprain in the first quarter. Mouton made his first start at free safety, a position that used his quickness as the last line of defense and freed a linebacker to blitz.

After Mouton left, the Warriors called off the blitz, and turned to the defensive linemen to hound Enderle.

"It was just four-man pressure," defensive end David Veikune said. "The coaches emphasized that. We did a lot of stunts. Stunts with d-ends and tackles. Stunts with two tackles. Basic stunts. It wasn't rocket science."

The defensive line ended up with seven sacks.

Seniors Keala Watson and Josh Leonard led the charge with two sacks each, blowing up the interior of the Vandals offensive line repeatedly. Both saw limited playing time two weeks ago against New Mexico State, and the long layoff between games had them antsy to get back on the field.

"We were all jacked up ready to play coming off a bye week where we were sitting around watching football instead of playing," Watson said. "This week we brought the mentality that we all wanted to make something happen."

Michael Tsai has more about the defense.

"When you go a week without playing football, it kind of puts poison in your blood," said senior left tackle Keala Watson. "Guys were running around making plays, just putting their bodies in the line of fire to help the team out. Defensively, we came out to play tonight. We try to do that every game, but tonight was special."

The Star-Bulletin has some news and notes about Ryan Mouton's ankle injury, Solomon Elimimian's career tackles total, Greg Alexander's no-INT streak and Kama Bailey's performance.

Michael Tsai and Kalani Takase have some news and notes about former Damien teammates Kama Bailey and Kealoha Pilares, Alexander's streak, Richard Torres, injuries, etc.

Nick Abramo has the Idaho perspective of the game.

Kalani Takase writes about Greg Alexander's performance.

Lane caught his second TD pass on the Warriors' first possession of the second half, on a 36-yard pass. Alexander threaded the needle on the play, delivering the ball just past the outstretched hands of Vandals safety Virdell Larkins.

"That was very good," Rolovich said. "He checked the safety, he liked the read — he did everything right — and as he has success, he's seeing how things are working and things that we talk about are starting to work and I think he's going to be on a roll for the rest of the year."

Dave Reardon writes how Alexander has grown into the starting QB role.

Alexander isn't as outgoing as was Brennan, but he's emerged as a leader. His patience and quiet confidence are just what this team needed to ride out some rough spots in the middle of the season, including that loss that shouldn't have happened at Utah State.

"It's a tribute to him that he was still learning (after getting benched following the opener)," Rolovich said. "It's a tribute to his character. When Inoke and Tyler were getting the reps, every time I looked at him he was paying attention, taking mental notes."

And Ferd Lewis writes about Alexander's progress.

Yet for the growing bundle of yards and touchdowns, there is another number that underlines Alexander's mounting comfort and advancing acumen as the Warriors' triggerman. It is the 116 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. After throwing two in a touchdown-less start at Florida, he's authored eight touchdowns and been without an interception.

"That," said head coach Greg McMackin, "is what we were hoping to see from him and it comes with game (repetitions)."