Game Day: Hawaii vs Navy

Stephen Tsai has some keys to the game, including:

• Score on the opening drive. It might be another 8 minutes before the Warriors get the ball back. Navy is fourth nationally in time of possession, averaging 33 minutes, 38 seconds. UH is 73rd.

• Need big games from Spencer Smith and Mana Silva. They're patrolling the perimeters.

Jason Kaneshiro has a game preview.

After 11 straight weeks of action, the Mids had a bye last week to regroup and prepare for their trip to Hawaii.

"I just hope the rust is gone," Niumatalolo said. "You're always concerned when you're off a week, will you come back as sharp. Hopefully our timing will be there."

Rust and timing were also issues for Hawaii this week as quarterback Bryant Moniz returned to practice. Moniz missed last week's game against San Jose State with sore ribs, but was sharp in practice on Thursday and is expected to return to the starting lineup today.

The game will feature a matchup of opposing offensive philosophies. Hawaii's run-and-shoot offense averages more than 44 passes per game, while Navy's spread option runs the ball on 89 percent of its plays.

"It might be good for the fans to see the contrast between the old and the new, what it used to be like here and what it is now," said Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper, a UH quarterback and slotback when the Rainbow Warriors ran the option in the early 1990s.

That's gonna be fun to watch.

Bill Wagner of HometownAnnapolis.com has a game preview.

Stephen Tsai's preview has breakdowns of the offense, defense and specialists of both teams.

Here's a game preview from the AP.

Navy ranks third in the country in yards rushing per game (282.6). The option has propelled Navy to wins over Wake Forest and Notre Dame this season.

"I don't think anybody stops that offense," McMackin said. "We're not going to stop them. We need to just do the little things and try to get our breaks when we can."

Mike Wise of the Washington Post has a great profile of fellow local boy Ken Niumatalolo.

The Washington Post has some game notes.

And Stephen Tsai writes about the Navy football team's visit to Pearl Harbor.