Facing a key third down late in the third quarter after cutting a 28-point deficit to 10, Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry dropped back to attempt his second pass of the game.
And then he just stopped.
Perry said he heard a whistle and also saw his teammates slow up on the play. Hawaii came charging in and Perry was bear hugged by Zeno Choi and Panei Pavihi. A sack was called and Navy had to punt.
“I heard a whistle and I stopped, looked around, guys were stopping, so I’m waiting for the ref to step in and say something about that, but I guess it never happened,” Perry said. “That was that. An unfortunate play.”
Added Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo: “That third down was huge. I’ve been coaching 29 years and had never seen that before. Our whole team stopped. Our guys said they heard a whistle.”
’Bows keep island chain on helmets
A Twitter poll by Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich on Monday asked whether the island chain should remain on the UH football helmets.
The 63 percent of the 5,244 votes in the poll who said “yes” and the 30 percent who answered, “better leave em on, haole!” were rewarded, as UH kept the same helmet design from last week’s win over Colorado State.
The island chain in green stretched across the left side of UH’s black helmet with the green “H” logo on the right.
UH brings back player introductions
For the first time since the Sugar Bowl season of 2007, Hawaii individually announced its defensive starters prior to kickoff.
Senior lineman Zeno Choi was the first Warrior announced and each player ran through a tunnel of supporters and military servicemen and women.
The rest of the team quickly followed behind, with defensive lineman Kamuela Borden, an ‘Iolani alumnus, holding the Hawaiian flag and senior KK Padello, a Mililani graduate, carrying the American flag.
Hawaii had traditionally announced its defensive starters before every home game until Greg McMackin took over for June Jones in 2008.
Makekau makes first start for Navy
Sophomore Keoni-Kordell Makekau, an ‘Iolani alumnus, made his first start with the Midshipmen.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound slotback lined up in the backfield and didn’t get a touch on Navy’s first drive — a three-and-out.
Makekau, who played in 12 games last year and rushed for 109 yards on 16 carries, ran once for 21 yards and was the target of Navy’s first pass attempt of the game in the third quarter that fell incomplete in the end zone.
“It was pretty weird,” Makekau said. “Growing up coming to UH games, seeing the intensity, I really felt that today.”
Backup defensive tackle Alema Kapoi, a Kamehameha alumnus, also played for Navy. Backup right tackle Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa, a Campbell graduate, was in uniform but did not play.
No yellow to be seen
Only three penalties were called the entire game.
Hawaii was whistled for a false start in the first quarter and Navy was completely clean until two flags were thrown in the fourth quarter.
One was a targeting penalty on cornerback Cameron Kinley, who was ejected from the game and will have to sit out the first half of next week’s home opener against Memphis.
