UH vs USC Wrap-Ups

Warrior Football Succumbs To USC, 49-36 from HawaiiAthletics.com has a game summary along with links to a box score, post-game notes and quotes.

Warriors put up fight, by Russell Tolentino of Ka Leo

"Defensively we got a lot of work to do,” McMackin said. “We’ve got to take a look at everything.”

However, the Warrior offense had a promising debut, posting 588 yards of total offense while wide receivers senior Greg Salas (124 yards), senior Kealoha Pilares (176 yards and three touchdowns) and junior Royce Pollard (106 yards) each caught over 100 receiving yards.

“Our offense played outstanding,” McMackin said. “They gained 588 yards against a good football team.”

“Give (Hawai‘i) some credit, they did play lights out on offense today,” first-year USC head coach Lane Kiffin said.

Brushed off, by Stephen Tsai has some injury news

A sideline radio report said Moniz suffered a "slight concussion." After the game, Moniz, who was wearing a jacket, said he does not believe he suffered a concussion. Offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said Moniz was "dinged up," and that his condition would be evaluated during the next few days. The Warriors do not play again until the Sept. 11 road game against Army.

Two other Warriors suffered physical setbacks. Left wideout Rodney Bradley has an apparent leg injury that will be evaluated. Defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga suffered a strained right shoulder in the first half. But he received treatment, and then returned to the game.

On the Warrior Beat, Tsai writes that Bradley might have a broken rib.

People in the know said left wideout Rodney Bradley might have suffered a broken rib will trying to make a diving catch. Bradley reportedly was coughing up some blood

Austin comes through in relief, by Jason Kaneshiro

The third-stringer -- last seen in UH's overtime win at San Jose State last November -- had been limited to mental reps since the top two tiers were settled early in fall camp. But he hit three of his first four throws, ending his first drive by finding Pilares across the middle for a 65-yard touchdown, cutting the USC lead to 42-30 with 6:48 left.

After another USC touchdown, the duo hooked up again on a 30-yard touchdown to cap the scoring.

"The receivers did a great job of getting open and our O-line, man, they played a hell of a game," Austin said. "I had a lot of time in the pocket."

Trojans always had an answer, by Brian McInnis

"Everything from spring ball to fall camp led me to believe that we'd be further along," defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said. "A lot of the issues with our play stemmed not from what they were doing, but what we were inflicting upon ourselves. ... There were some things we've got to correct. Tackling is one of them."

Johnson's 4 touchdowns knock Hawaii's socks off, by Billy Hull

"(Hawaii) is not a great matchup for us on defense," Kiffin said. "We got spread out all over the field.

"I'm very disappointed because we didn't (win) in the style we want to."

Warrior notebook, by the Star-Advertiser staff

"It's great for us as a (special teams) unit. I think we had a pretty good game. We were 100 percent on all of our kicks, so that was a confidence for all of us going into the next game," said Enos, who went 12-for-19 on field goals last year.

Sophomore punter Alex Dunnachie was also impressive, going for 50 and 52 yards on his first two punts. The Australian averaged 39.2 yards on 42 punts as a freshman. He was up to 43.3 yesterday.

Gritty Warriors have plenty to build on for rest of season, by Ferd Lewis

So, there is a starting point for things to fix up before heading out on the 11,000-mile round trip to Army and Colorado. There are uses for those two extra days the Warriors gained by playing this one on a Thursday instead of the traditional Saturday.

But there also is a sigh of relief, if not high-fives all around, that the offensive line, heretofore the biggest question hanging over the Warriors, acquitted itself quite well. UH quarterbacks were sacked twice and the running game produced 129 yards, a 4.4-yard average per carry against probably the best defensive front the Warriors will confront this season. Both Alex Green and Chizzy Dimude averaged more than 7 yards per tote.

O-line question answered, red-zone issues remain, by Dave Reardon

The mood was somber postgame for Hawaii, but the Warriors came away from their 49-36 loss to USC with a well-earned sense of confidence for the remaining 12 -- no, make that 13 -- games, this team is surely Hawaii Bowl-bound.

The biggest question was answered in the affirmative for the Warriors -- yes, the offensive line would block well enough to make the run-and-shoot go. It paved the way for 588 yards (64 more than for the Parade All-Americans).