While expressing admiration for New Mexico State quarterback Andrew Manley, Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin said the Warriors will try to pressure the 2010 Leilehua High graduate in Saturday’s meeting between the teams.

"There are certain times you go after guys," McMackin said. "I learned a long time ago, if a guy’s a rookie, you go after him. We’ll mix up things. We’ll mix up coverages. We’ll try to confuse him."

McMackin said he has "respect" for the prospect he tried to recruit for more than a year. Manley took an unofficial visit to UH in 2008.

McMackin said he had a standing scholarship offer to Manley. In the summer of 2009, UH was pursuing four high school quarterbacks. Each was told a 2010 scholarship would go to the first to accept. That turned out to be Kevin Spain of Arizona. Spain is redshirting this season after undergoing shoulder surgery in August.

McMackin said Manley turned down a second UH offer — to grayshirt, which would have meant joining the Warriors in January 2011. Instead, Manley accepted a scholarship from the Aggies. Manley is listed as the Aggies’ starting quarterback this week.

"He’ll be a great quarterback," McMackin said. "He already is for them. … I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a good kid, too."

The Warriors, who blitzed 38 percent of the time in a 41-7 victory over San Jose State, are expected to continue that aggressive style against the Aggies.

"We’re going to go after his tail," McMackin said. "We’re going to come after him every way we can. Not because he’s Andrew Manley. Because he’s a freshman quarterback. I’d go after any freshman quarterback."

UH pulling for Nevada

This Friday, the Warriors will have the Pack mentality.

The Warriors will be rooting for Nevada in its nationally televised showdown against Boise State.

A Wolf Pack victory would mean UH, Boise State and Nevada would each have one Western Athletic Conference loss. The WAC does not use a tie-breaking system; in the event of a tie, each would be considered a co-champion.

"I cheer for Nevada all the way," McMackin said. "I hope they kick (Boise State’s) tail because (should the Warriors beat the Aggies) that would make us co-champions. On our rings, we’d just put ‘champions’ because ‘co’ is too many letters."

Green at 705 rush yards

Running back Alex Green has a shot at becoming the program’s first single-season 1,000-yard rusher since the Warriors implemented the four-wide passing attack in 1999.

This season, Green has 705 rushing yards, 285 short of Nate Ilaoa’s 990 in 2006.

Green, a senior from Portland, Ore., needs to average 95.33 yards in the final three games to surpass Ilaoa’s mark. In the past six games, Green has averaged 92.2 yards per game.

"I’m not thinking about that," Green said. "I just want to help the team win."