Game Day: Hawaii vs Utah State

It's homecoming. What better night to start the miraculous five-game winning streak as foretold by the hairy oracle, woot woot!

Treating last five games as playoffs, by Stephen Tsai

To be sure, it is a pretty-please wish for the Warriors to win out. They have lost six in a row, their longest winless skid since the 0-12 1998 season.

But their next three opponents — Utah State, New Mexico State and San Jose State — have a combined WAC record of 2-9. UH's past five WAC opponents are a combined 18-6.

"Our backs are against the wall," defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga said. "We can't afford any slip-ups. Once we remember how it feels to win, I'm sure everybody will get that confidence back."

UH defense to be tested, by Tsai has breakdowns of the offense, defense and specialists of both teams.

Desperate times at Aloha Stadium, by Jason Kaneshiro

Over the years, homecoming has indeed become a time for celebration for Hawaii.

The Warriors have been victorious on homecoming night each of the past seven years. Rarely, though, have they been in greater need of a win than they are today.

Warriors still seek bowl bid, from the AP via The Maui News

''We have to go 5-for-5,'' said Warriors quarterback Bryant Moniz. ''Coming off a six-game losing streak, I know that pretty much sounds impossible. But everybody in that locker room believes in it, and as long as we believe we can do it, we're going to do our best to do it.''

Aggies face another hungry football team, by Jared Eborn of The Deseret News

Aggies hope to take care of business, by Wade Denniston of The Herald Journal

One thing USU’s defense will really be keying on today is the Warriors’ screen game.

“Their main play is the screen game and that’s what we have to stop,” Coleman said. “They’re averaging 12 yards every play on the screen game, so if we go in there and stop the screen game and make them throw the ball deep down the field, we have an advantage on that.

“Our coaches have got a great game plan going in to stop the screen game and to plug up the holes. ... We have a great game plan going in and we’ll be fine as long as we get it done up front.”

Aggies not giving up during tough season, by Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah State has one of the most explosive offenses in the Western Athletic Conference. Robert Turbin, the sophomore running back, is close to eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, and junior quarterback Diondre Borel, in addition to being the dual threat that he is, has thrown 11 touchdown passes and just one interception this year.

UH's 2-6 mark makes a win tonight a must, by Dave Reardon

The thing is, UH fans are not used to this. And if Hawaii does not win tonight, the critics who were slightly muffled by a less-than-lopsided loss at Nevada will become as strident as protesters at a health care reform town meeting.

That's why it's a must win. If UH doesn't win it will get ugly around here, because people care so much about this team, and have funny ways of showing it.

I ASKED offensive coordinator Ron Lee about UH's failure to score anything other than a safety in any third quarter since the season-opening win against Central Arkansas. He said it's not about adjustments, but experience and execution.

Red zone woes? It's about time and space. When an offense that spreads it out is squeezed into a small space, the margin for error is much less.

Warriors can laugh off critics with win, by Ferd Lewis

It has been a painful eight weeks for the Warriors. And not just because of the mounting injuries. Though, to be sure the accumulated ankles, knees, hamstrings and pinkie fingers have hurt, too.

But we're talking about the insults that have been added to injury. The slings and arrows of public opinion that have turned into a fusillade amid the six-game losing streak.

The jeers from the stands at once-lowly Idaho after a 35-23 defeat were one thing. So, too, the barbs of "bottom of the WAC!" — and worse — hurled at the Warriors in the wake of a 31-21 loss at Nevada last week. All occurring thousands of miles from home.

But the prankster post at Honolulu Police Department headquarters, purporting to be an official police report, that poked fun at UH's unfamiliarity with the goal line in a 2-6 (0-5 WAC) season underlines just how much the Warriors need a win tonight.