HAWAII OFFENSE

LWO—12 Keelan Ewaliko 5-11 200 Sr.
SB—23 Dylan Collie 5-10 175 Jr.
LT—50 Dejon Allen 6-3 290 Sr.
LG—51 John Wa‘a 6-4 315 Sr.
C—65 Asotui Eli 6-4 305 Jr.
RG—57 J.R. Hensley 6-5 310 So.
RT—60 Chris Posa 6-4 290 Sr.
SB—5 John Ursua 5-10 165 So.
RWO—80 Ammon Barker 6-4 215 Sr.
QB—2 Dru Brown 6-0 200 Jr.
RB—22 Diocemy Saint Juste 5-8 195 Sr.

In this uneven season, there have been two constants: 1) the Warriors are 0-5 in pregame coin tosses, and 2) they have had poor starts. The Warriors are scoreless on their five opening drives, averaging 5.8 plays and 14.2 yards. Their average first offensive play of every game is minus-2.8 yards. The Warriors have scored 14 first-quarter points this season, and none in the past three games. They are averaging 5.5 yards per play in the first quarter, 6.85 yards thereafter. Through self-scouting and rewritten play scripts, quarterback Dru Brown said, “We’re well on our way to figuring that out.” The Warriors have found ways to adjust to personnel dilemmas. In last week’s game against Colorado State, the two best blockers — Dejon Allen and Fred Ulu-Perry — were unavailable because of ailments. Ulu-Perry aggravated an injury during warm-ups. But Chris Posa, who was expected to rest an ailment, played both tackle positions. Reserve lineman Matt Norman also was pressed into duty. Brown was hit only two times and was six of 10 (including a throwaway) on out-of-pocket passes. “There’s a chemistry with the offensive line,” Brown said. “They can just plug-and-play with the seven or eight guys we have and there’s no drop-off. I love it when I’m not getting hit and I get time in the pocket.” The Warriors also are coping with tight end Metuisela ’Unga’s season-ending injury. Co-starter Dakota Torres is healthy again, H-back Kaiwi Chung has embraced an expanded role, and Kade Greeley is emerging as a stretch tight end.

HAWAII DEFENSE

DE—97 Meffy Koloamatangi 6-5 240 Sr.
NT—91 Samiuela Akoteu 6-2 320 So.
DT—98 Viane Moala 6-7 290 So.
DE—3 David Manoa 6-3 240 Sr.
LB—27 Solomon Matautia 6-1 230 So.
MLB—31 Jahlani Tavai 6-4 235 Jr.
LB—44 Russell Williams Jr. 6-1 230 Sr.
CB—19 Eugene Ford 6-2 195 Fr.
FS—39 Trayvon Henderson 6-0 200 Sr.
SS—4 Daniel Lewis Jr. 5-11 180 Jr.
CB—18 Rojesterman Farris II 6-1 180 So.

In the first two Mountain West games, the defense was hindered by suspensions and then ailments. Against Colorado State, the Warriors hit quarterback Nick Stevens two times on 22 pass plays and three rushes. Stevens was 3-for-3 on out-of-pocket passes. For the division opener, the emphasis is on tackling — they missed 14 against CSU, including two in the backfield — resurrecting the pass rush (15 sacks in the first four games, none last week) and limiting the chunk plays. The Warriors have allowed 12 rushes of at least 20 yards, and 17 completions of 25-plus yards. Of the 96 pass completions this year, 59.4 percent resulted in first downs. Opponents also are 6-for-6 on third-and-short passes. The Warriors have no takeaways in the past three games. The Warriors hope to create pressure out of multiple schemes. The Warriors have attacked out of 4-3, 3-4 and 3-3-5 formations. Middle linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who is capable of aligning at every spot in the tackle box, has 51 tackles, including 5.5 for losses. The Warriors have expanded the rotation in the secondary. Jay Dominique might earn playing time at rover. Keala Santiago is expected to spell Trayvon Henderson, or be used in a three-safety alignment. Terrence Sayles, an Army veteran who graduated from high school 10 years ago, will get significant reps at corner. “From 8 to 2,” Sayles joked of his ascent on the depth chart.

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

PK/KO—94 Ryan Meskell 6-0 180 So.
PK—46 Alex Trifonovitch 6-1 180 So.
LS/SS—1 Noah Borden 6-1 215 Jr.
P/H—99 Stan Gaudion 6-3 210 Fr.
KR—12 Keelan Ewaliko 5-11 200 Sr.
PR—5 John Ursua 5-10 165 So.

Stan Gaudion has displayed multiple skills as a second-year freshman from Australia. He has not mishandled a snap on kick placements. He is averaging 42.1 yards per punt with a blend of hanging kicks and line drives off roll-outs. Against CSU, he averaged 14.0 extra yards on bounces. The Warriors have committed six penalties on special teams the past two games after only one in the first three games.

NEVADA OFFENSE

WO—17 Brendan O’Leary-Orange 6-4 210 So.
LT—73 Austin Corbett 6-4 305 Sr.
LG—62 Anthony Palomares 6-2 295 Jr.
C—64 Sean Krepsz 6-5 325 Jr.
RG—77 Ziad Damanhoury 6-6 310 Sr.
RT—71 Jake Nelson 6-4 290 So.
SB—1 McLane Mannix 5-10 175 Fr
WO—19 Wyatt Demps 6-4 200 Sr.
H-B—88 Brandon Scott 6-3 225 Jr.
QB—6 Ty Gangi 6-2 210 Jr.
RB—5 Jaxson Kincaide 5-8 195 So.

Head coach Jay Norvell’s first-year plan was to build the passing game with the hiring of offensive coordinator Matt Mumme (whose father was co-creator of the Air Raid Offense) and receivers coach Tim Chang (a former Warrior quarterback who is listed four times in the NCAA record book). But construction problems began this summer when 1,000-yard rusher James Butler earned a degree in three years and transferred to Iowa. The Pack has shuffled quarterbacks. David Cornwell, a graduate transfer from Alabama, entered training camp as the No. 1 quarterback and exited as a reserve. He did not play until the second quarter of the fourth game, throwing for 97 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Three days later, he quit the team. Kaymen Cureton started two games but was pulled after a quarter in the latter appearance. Ty Gangi, who started the first two games, was back in the lineup last week. He earns his fourth start after throwing for 253 yards. “Gangi is a competitor,” said slotback McLane Mannix, a true freshman. “He never gets down. He lost the job in spring ball, then they told him he was going to be second string in fall camp. He just never gave up.” Mannix, who emerged after Washington State transfer Kaleb Fossum suffered a dislocated knee, is averaging 16.7 yards on 23 catches. Wyatt Demps, who is Nevada’s tallest receiver at 6-4, is a threat on fades, slants and 50-50 jump balls. The availability of tight end Brandon Scott, who is listed as questionable, is key. Scott aligns as a flex blocker, in a split-back formation, or behind the running back. While Nevada employs three-receiver sets, it also has retro plays in which it will align in the pistol formation (with the running back directly behind the quarterback).

NEVADA DEFENSE

DT—95 Patrick Choudja 6-4 250 Sr.
NT—96 Hausia Sekona 6-0 290 So.
DE—90 Malik Reed 6-1 250 Jr.
SLB—50 Austin Paulhus 6-0 230 Sr.
MLB—7 Gabriel Sewell 5-11 235 So.
WLB—34 Travis Wilson 6-1 220 Sr.
Ban—2 Asauni Rufus 5-11 190 Jr.
LCB—18 Elijah Moody 5-11 175 Jr.
FS—5 Dameon Baber 5-10 205 Jr.
SS—8 Jaden Sawyer 6-0 200 Sr.
RCB—1 Vosean Crumbie 6-1 195 Jr.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, who was hired in December, implemented the 3-3-5 stack defense that is used effectively at San Diego State and Boise State. Casteel mastered his version during stints with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia and Arizona. At its base, the attacking scheme features three defensive linemen spread wide with three linebackers stacked 3 yards behind. The wide splits provide coverage against perimeter runs and flat routes. The rover (Asauni Rufus) is a hybrid who can blitz, defend the inside receiver or drop into coverage. Of Rufus’ 32 tackles, five have been for negative yards. With only six in the tackle box, versatility is a requirement for the linemen, who often charge at angles. Patrick Choudia, who usually shades an offensive tackle, has the lateral quickness to cut off edge rushes. Nose tackle Hausia Sekona is equally skilled in holding the point and spinning into the backfield. Middle linebacker Gabriel Sewell appears to be healthy after tweaking an ankle last week. Austin Paulhus can slide into the middle if needed. The Pack prefers to play corners in press coverages with the safeties in a two-deep zone. But despite dropping as many as six defenders into pass coverage, Nevada has struggled, allowing 334.0 passing yards per game, giving up 18 completions of 25-plus yards, and making only three interceptions.

NEVADA SPECIALISTS

PK—48 Spencer Pettit 5-9 180 So.
LS/SS—42 Wes Farnsworth 6-1 230 Jr.
P/H—35 Quinton Conaway 6-0 200 So.
KR—14 Berdale Robins 5-8 160 Fr.
PR—1 Vosean Crumbie 6-1 195 Jr.

In the opener, Northwestern’s average drive started at its 23 following kickoffs. In the four games since then, opponents’ average drive starts at the 34 on Nevada kickoffs. Nephi Sewell was named the Pack’s top specialist after forcing and recovering a fumble last week. Spencer Petitt has converted three of four field-goal attempts, but has not had a 3-pointer the past three games.