It started out not bad for the struggling University of Hawaii football team … pretty good, actually.

The Rainbow Warriors showed signs of life in the first quarter against Fresno State on Saturday night — more than you’d expect from a struggling team, one that came into the game at 3-6, winning just one of its previous seven.

“They were excited to play,” coach Nick Rolovich said.

UH even scored first, for the first time in more than a month. That was back when John Ursua was still healthy and leading the nation in pass receiving.

And Saturday’s opponent was no pushover. The Bulldogs have established themselves as one of the best teams in the Mountain West. They didn’t panic after falling behind early and dominated the middle quarters, scoring four touchdowns and a field goal while UH did nothing, and then held off a Warriors rally to win 31-21.

Was this result more about UH’s lack of execution, or Fresno State’s ability?

“I think we’re better than 99 yards in the first half,” said Rolovich, obviously disappointed about a misfiring offense after the one drive that put them in front after trading a few punts let them start at their own 46.

Freshman receiver Kumoku Noa — who is showing signs of future stardom — capped it with a 7-yard TD reception from Dru Brown.

That was one of the few highlights for the UH quarterback who has regressed when it comes to turnovers. He lost a fumble and threw an interception, both at critical junctures.

Brown has not played horribly, but he’s been off his game for a while now. He hasn’t been the same player who was great at the end of last season, leading the offense to three wins in a row, including the Hawaii Bowl. It looked like Brown was going to continue to improve after he led Hawaii on a late game-winning drive at UMass to start the season.

But it’s become clear the Rainbows need to see who else they’ve got at quarterback, in game situations.

No. 2 Cole McDonald, a second-year freshman, has had some very limited spot duty here-and-there, often for a special option running play. In five games he’s completed two of four passes for 4 yards and a touchdown and he’s rushed eight times for 93 yards and a score.

Let’s see what he can do for an entire quarter and go from there.

Rolovich said he’s open to the idea of more playing time for McDonald in these final two games. Maybe he doesn’t take Brown’s starting job, but regardless it makes sense to get him some experience now.

“Dru gives us the best chance to win,” Rolovich said. “But (McDonald) shows another skill set. Yeah, I think that’s not a bad thought.”

Of course, if McDonald had consistently displayed All-America-level ability in practice he’d be playing and maybe even starting by now. But there is also that idea that perhaps he’s a gamer, a guy who is at his best on Saturday night under the bright lights.

“I think there’s a process, and you like to see enough in practice (to warrant playing him in a game more),” Rolovich said.

As for other positions, UH has had so many injuries that lots of young backups have been forced into extensive game situations. “That has kind of happened on its own out of necessity,” Rolovich said. “I don’t know how many linemen we have left.”

It comes down to depth, and programs in transition such as this one with a second-year head coach often must deal with a lack of it.

No one player, by himself, ever makes or breaks a football team. But when you lose your best at a position, there is often a trickle-down effect that impacts the entire team.

Every game we see situations where Ursua would have gone for a long gain. Every game we see situations where tight end Tui ’Unga might have been the best choice for a high pass in the end zone.

Execution becomes more difficult when the players who were expected to make the plays are not available.

The philosophy of “next man up” will mean more in a season or two when Hawaii has the kind of depth it developed after several years in the June Jones era.

That works a lot better when that next man has some experience. There’s no bowl game for UH this year, but it does have a chance to give its No. 2 quarterback some serious playing time that might pay off in the future.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.