Falemalu and Fonoti, Option, Rivalry, Etc.

Via the Warrior Beat and Star-Bulletin, Paipai Falemalu and John Fonoti are likely out for the UNLV game.

Freshman Paipai Falemalu is out and senior John Fonoti is unlikely to play Saturday against UNLV, Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin said today after practice as the Warriors continue to be plagued by injuries at defensive end.

At left end, junior Jake Heun will make his first Division I start, and Liko Satele will start on the right, the coach said. Elliott Purcell and Bo Montgomery are now No. 2 on the depth chart.

UNLV Rebel Yell has a game preview and a column about how UNLV can beat Hawaii.

If UNLV wants to win on Saturday, they can not fall into Hawaii’s style and try to out-score them. Despite UNLV’s potential to score like they did against Sacramento State, they lacked consistency against Oregon State. With an offense like Hawaii’s, you cannot get suckered into playing their style because they are simply better at it than most of the teams they play.

Instead, UNLV has to focus on two key factors to slow them down:
Defensively, UNLV’s secondary has to bring its best. Don’t be surprised if UNLV uses nickel coverage for most of the night.

Hawaii has three receivers who have at least one touchdown and more than 100 yards receiving through their first two games. Typically, the best way to disrupt a good receiver is to play press coverage. If Hawaii gets off to a fast start, don’t be surprised to see the UNLV defense using this tactic.

The other component to slowing down a potent offense like Hawaii’s is to keep them out of rhythm. An offense like Hawaii’s thrives on being able to get its quarterback in-sync with his receivers. The best way to do this, other than putting pressure on him with blitzes, is to keep him on the bench.

Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review Journal writes about a lack of "aloha spirit" between the two teams.

Ferd Lewis takes a look at the budding rivalry.

Jason Kaneshiro takes a look at the UH defense preparing for UNLV's option.

Stephen Tsai has news and notes about Lametrius Davis reclaiming a starting position, injuries to the defensive ends, and Viliami Nauahi switching to defensive end.

Kaneshiro talks to some of the guys from Hawaii playing for UNLV.

Dave Reardon highlights the young UH special teams players.

And the link to yesterday's story about Alex Green is now working.