When Hawaii defensive coordinator Dave Aranda spoke the hallowed words, the sack party was on.
"Pass rush."
The Warriors sacked Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen seven times in the second half, including a key back-to-back sequence near the start of the fourth quarter, to preserve a 34-17 win at Aloha Stadium on Saturday.
"Once we got them where they had to throw it, then we were able to let our guys pass rush. Our guys don’t do that so much, so that when we say, "rush the passer," they get pretty fired up about it, and we don’t have to switch a 300-pound guy out," a hoarse Aranda said.
They weren’t of the hard-hitting variety, but UH’s swarming style was effective nonetheless.
UH’s defensive line was already pumped up over pregame talk that Colorado would throw a figurative first punch by running the ball down UH’s throat. Instead, the line had the last word by getting to the source of the Buffaloes attack.
Junior right end Paipai Falemalu posted two sacks for 14 yards, while linemen Vaughn Meatoga, Zach Masch, Geordon Hanohano and Liko Satele were all credited with solo sacks. Freshman cornerback Mike Sellers got in on the sack act, too, once UH blunted Colorado’s ground game and tight ends.
"First of all, it felt good to just hit someone else," said Falemalu, who credited the secondary for giving the line time to get to Hansen. "It felt REAL good to get all those back-to-back sacks."
The last time UH posted seven sacks was against Idaho in 2008.
Colorado pulled within 24-17 on a field goal with 14:51 left in the game, and got the ball back in their own territory for a potential game-tying drive. That’s when the game turned in UH’s favor for good.
Falemalu, flanked by teammates, got to Hansen first for a loss of 6 yards. The Buffaloes responded with a new alignment, one that sent Aranda into a near-panic up in the booth.
He ordered the use of UH’s final timeout with 11:25 to play, a gambit he exhaled in relief about afterward.
Out of the timeout, Meatoga met Hansen with a 7-yard sack, knocking Colorado back to its own 8.
Meatoga took unadulterated delight in the result.
"You get a bunch of ticked-off guys," Meatoga said. "(Line) Coach Tony (Tuioti) says, in Polynesian culture, you’re taught to be respectful. In the papers this whole week, we really didn’t say much. We respected what they did to us last year (a 31-13 defeat). We felt they disrespected us, and he said in the Polynesian culture, when people disrespect you, it’s a whole different story."
On Colorado’s final possession, UH sacked Hansen on three of four plays.
Colorado’s final rushing total of 17 yards — 73 gained and 56 lost — was testament to the defense’s desire to close the game strong, unlike the unravelling that occurred in the second half last year.
"We had flashbacks," tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu said. "But we’re a swarming defense. When we smell blood, we’re just attacking all day long. That’s our whole motto, keep hunting, keep going. Don’t let up."
