Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. for Saturday’s football game between the University of Hawaii and San Jose State at Aloha Stadium.

It will be the earliest scheduled start for a Rainbow Warrior home game since the 11:05 a.m. start against Brigham Young on Dec. 8, 2001. Two nationally televised games in 2005 listed 1:05 p.m. kickoffs.

Spectrum Sports will produce the pay-per-view telecast.

The game initially was to be played at San Jose’s CEFCU Stadium. But Santa Clara County’s newly implemented coronavirus-related restrictions forced the game to relocate. Several other sites were considered, including the two stadiums in Las Vegas, before an agreement was reached on Tuesday morning to move the game to Aloha Stadium.

The change of venue will not impact next year’s Mountain West rotation, meaning San Jose State also will travel to Hawaii in 2021.

Tufaga makes long trip daily

It did not seem so long ago when linebacker Isaiah Tufaga would awaken at 4:30 in the morning to travel to school from his family’s home in Laie.

It actually was this morning.

“I’m still out in Laie making that drive,” Tufaga said. “I’m pretty used to it. Back in high school (Saint Louis School), it was pretty tough catching the bus here and there, catching rides with family. Now that I’m older, I can drive. It’s pretty nice.”

Tufaga was an All-State linebacker who attended Oregon State for a year, playing nine games and starting three in 2018. “I think going away prepared me and matured me a lot,” Tufaga said.

He then decided to transfer to UH, where he redshirted in 2019.

“The decision to come home was pretty easy for me,” Tufaga said. “Although I was playing a lot at Oregon State, I felt I needed to be home just to gain a little confidence in my game. I think coming home was one of the best decisions I made.”

Tufaga, who is 6 feet 1 and 225 pounds, shares time with weak-side linebacker Jeremiah Pritchard. When Pritchard suffered a tweak against Nevada, Tufaga played the rest of the game. Including his time on special teams, Tufaga estimated he played nearly 70 snaps.

“My role is becoming a little bigger as the season goes on,” Tufaga said. “I’m starting to gain a little more trust from my coaches and the players.”

Phillips handyman on defensive line

DJuan Matthews’ role is every role. Defensive line coach Danny Phillips has referred to Matthews as “the swinging door” because of his versatility.

“I usually play everything on the D-line,” Matthews said. “Wherever they need me, I’ll play it. Whatever it takes for me and my team, we’re going to do it.”

Matthews and Justus Tavai rotate at end in the Warriors’ three-man front. But when defensive tackle Jonah Laulu exited the Nevada game with an ailment, Matthews also played the 3-technique. And nose tackle.

“I let my technique take over,” Matthews said. “Coach Phillips is a good coach who teaches technique. I just use my technique and come off the ball.”

At 5-11 and 275, Matthews relies on quickness and strength (400-pound bench press) to barrel through double blocks. The past game, Matthews, aligned as a right end, chased Nevada quarterback Carson Strong from the pocket to the opposite sideline.

“I’m always running to the ball because you never know what could happen,” Matthews said.