UH vs Nevada Wrap-Ups

Before we get to the game summaries and analysis, here's a great article by Michael Tsai about the state of the UH football progam.

Senior Inoke Funaki, whose time at UH has been marked by extreme highs and lows, said he and his teammates are doing their best to salvage the remainder of the season. Still, he said, the experience of the past six weeks weighs heavily on the players.

"We're trying to dig deep but you can just feel it," he said. "We're trying to plug away but there are a lot of things — the losses, the injuries — going on subconsciously. It can be mentally draining.

"Sometimes it's like watching yourself go downhill," he said. "Once one bad thing happens — like we turn the ball over or we give up a big play — it's like 'Not again!' Your heart drops."

Yet, Funaki said, where other teams may fracture, the Warriors have drawn closer.

And here are the wrap-ups of UH's 31-21 loss to Nevada...

Warriors fall victim to own mistakes in losing sixth in a row, by Stephen Tsai

Fifteen minutes after the final whistle, quarterback Bryant Moniz was inconsolable, his brown eyes moistened with emotion, his voice reduced to a quiver. Moniz was slumped over a laundry bin, awaiting his turn to explain yet another error-filled setback for the Warriors.

"I'm just bummed," said Moniz, whose two interceptions — including one in the end zone — trumped a performance in which he threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns. "I take this loss on myself. Those two picks turned into two (Nevada) touchdowns. I could throw 40 good passes. But if two aren't there, that could make a difference. The only numbers that matter are on the scoreboard."

Running back Alex Green approached Moniz, offering a pat on the back.

"It's not on Mo," Green said. "We're all in it together."

Indeed. Mistakes? The Warriors made more than a few.

They dropped three passes.

Two of Alex Dunnachie's punts traveled 7 and 10 yards.

After recovering punt returner Vai Taua's fumble at the Wolf Pack 42, the Warriors unveiled a pass play they were keeping secret until a special occasion. On a delayed route, slotback Greg Salas caught a pass in the open field and scored an apparent touchdown. But a holding penalty on left tackle Aaron Kia nullified the score.

In the end, Hawaii falls flat at Nevada, by Jason Kaneshiro

The game was far more competitive than the Warriors' blowout loss to Boise State at home a week earlier, which provided some bright spots but also added to the sting.

"It's so frustrating," running back Alex Green said. "We practice hard all week, we come out there and bust our tails in the game and it's still a loss. It's frustrating. We just have to keep working harder and harder and harder."

Loss taxes Taylor, by Jason Kaneshiro

Taylor began the season as the starter at the Z receiver, but has been laboring since spraining his ankle against UNLV. The injury continues to bother him, though not as much as the Warriors' skid.

"I'm still fighting through that right now," Taylor said. "For the most part, it's still there. That's something I'm going to be dealing with the whole year. I just have to keep sucking it up."

UH's Taylor shows ability to fill Bradley's big shoes, by Ferd Lewis. From that article, it looks like Alex Green may see more playing time:

After running for a UH season-high 70 yards on 10 carries, Green has the coaches reevaluating who will start at the position Saturday against Utah State.

"As a coaching staff, we're going to have some discussions," said head coach Greg McMackin. "But he ran the ball real hard and we'd like to find a way to get him in there more."

Short snaps, by Jason Kaneshiro

Hawaii free safety Richard Torres left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. UH head coach Greg McMackin said the hamstring was torn.

Dammit.

Warriors fall short against Wolf Pack, by Chris Muller of the Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada comes back to beat Hawaii, by Joe Santoro of the Lahontan Valley News

Defense staves off fright to beat Hawaii, by Dan Hinxman of the Reno Gazette-Journal

Pack receivers hit milestones on quiet day, by Hinxman

Miller's late-game pick gives Nevada momentum for good, by Lauren Gustus of the Reno Gazette-Journal

Tormey enjoys trip back to Reno, by Chris Murray of the Reno Gazette-Journal

Video: Nevada vs. Hawaii post-game press conference, from The Nevada Sagebrush

Video: Nevada vs. Hawaii football highlights, from The Nevada Sagebrush

Photo Gallery: Oct. 31 Hawaii football game, from The Nevada Sagebrush

Wolf Pack has its eye on Hawaii Bowl appearance, by Ferd Lewis

Hawaii just can't seem to shake the ghosts of its past, by Ferd Lewis

The Wolf Pack, meanwhile, took advantage of both UH turnovers (interceptions) to set up touchdowns.

For the most telling tale on UH's plight this season you need look no further than that. Opponents have scored on all of UH's last eight turnovers while the Warriors have scored on but three of their foes' 14 all season.