HAWAII OFFENSE

Iosefa has settled into a routine: Game on Saturday, soreness on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday … "throughout the week," said Iosefa, who absorbs lower-body tackles nearly every rush. Iosefa’s workload has increased now that he moonlights as the wildcat. The Warriors do not disguise their intent when Iosefa takes the direct snap. Seven times against UNLV, the Warriors ran a made-for-Iosefa formation in which tight end Tui Unga was to the left of the formation, Harold Moleni was on the right, and H-backs Jordan Pu’u-Robinson and Justin Vele were stacked behind Moleni. The Warriors also have been creative in the backfield. On what can be described as a horizontal draw, Woolsey rolled to his left, then handed off to running back Pereese Joas heading to the right. On another, Woolsey faked a handoff to Vele going to the right. Woolsey then rolled to his right and tossed to Vele, who had curled into the flat. There also was a perimeter version of the pistol, with 5-7 Donnie King hiding behind 6-5 Pu’u-Robinson at the snap, then breaking out to catch the pass from Woolsey. Clarke has been UH’s best blocker, but seniors Afusia and Shigematsu are having terrific seasons. Allen has not allowed a sack this season. Tupai, now healthy, is emerging as a ferocious blocker.

FRESNO STATE OFFENSE (EDGE)

It’s been a season of comebacks for Burrell, who was displaced by Duke graduate Brandon Connette and freshman Zack Greenlee before winning back the QB job. In the past two games, Burrell has thrown seven TD passes on 63 percent accuracy. Right-side receivers Harper (29 career TDs) and Watson often work in tandem, running layered routes. If the secondary doubles on Harper, who can run 40 yards in 4.38 seconds, Watson can cut to the open field. It becomes a triple-threat when Peck gets involved on drag routes. The Bulldogs are skilled in the misnamed "box" screens, which actually are triangle formations, with a receiver catching a quick pass behind two blockers in the flat. Olsen, the check-down receiver, has scored four times on his 10 catches. When healthy, Waller is a mixture of speed and power. He averages 6.7 yards per carry. That bumps to 8.2 yards per third-down rush, when he gains first downs at 91 percent. But Waller has what is termed "issues" with his right shoulder and his availability is iffy. Josh Quezada, a former BYU back, is quicker than Waller and effective on slip screens or routes when he is aligned as a wideout in five-receiver sets. The Bulldogs rely on combo zone blocks to create space for the rushers.

HAWAII DEFENSE

Pick a number between one and four. Marcus Malepeai has played all of them on the defensive line. He has played between the center and guard (1), across the guard (2), in the B gap (3) and shaded inside the tackle (4). Malepeai, who has missed the past three games because of several ailments, might be available Saturday. Malepeai brings strength (405-pound bench press), gap responsibility and system-disrupting violence. Samia and Yap have been dependable this year. Tulimasealii had his best game against UNLV last week. Rush end Luke Shawley (team-high nine QB hurries) is Yap’s heir apparent. Niko Uti and Haani Tulimaiau have filled in on the line. "Those two do the right things over and over," defensive coordinator Kevin Clune said. "It’s a shame Uti’s a senior because he’s really finding his way right now. That’s the way it is in college football sometimes. I wish he had another year. His ceiling is high." Jerrel Jackson was impressive as the nickel-corner before suffering an ankle injury last week. He won’t play Saturday, but he was yet another first-year Warrior to contribute in the secondary. Nelson, Daniel Lewis, Gaetano DeMattei and Jalen Rogers have boosted a secondary that loses only safeties Stevenson and Michael Martin.

FRESNO STATE DEFENSE (EDGE)

The Bulldogs run football’s version of a full-court press. Against Nevada last week, there were plays when as many as 10 Bulldogs were within 8 yards of the line of scrimmage. The Bulldogs have a variety of pressure schemes, including man-to-man press coverages on the receivers and a "Bear" scheme in which they bunch up and go across from the three interior offensive linemen. Lewis (5.5 sacks) is a flex defender who can play as a stand-up pass rusher or step back into coverage. The Bulldogs like to send corner and safety blitzes. Charles Washington, a multi-talented DB, hits like a safety and runs like a corner. He plays both positions. Davison, a high-motor guy, has been the tackle leader in two games this season. Mickelsen, the play-caller, can attack from the middle or edge. The trouble with a press defense is it thins after the first tier. The Bulldogs have relinquished 61 plays of at least 20 yards and 40 30-plus-yard plays. In situations requiring a prevent scheme, the Bulldogs will go with a match-up alignment in which the corners and safeties will be in a four-deep zone and two linebackers will each cover half the underneath area.

HAWAII SPECIAL TEAMS (EDGE)

This season, Harding is averaging more than 12 additional yards per roll on his rugby-styled punts. But against UNLV, Harding came up with a new twist: A booming punt landed near the goal line, then bounced backward, then was downed at the 2. Mind trick? "Charles Xavier," Harding said. "I put backspin on it, which I don’t usually do. I usually turn it and get that extra roll. I kind of done that through the year and they’ve obviously seen that, so I thought I’d change it up and give them something different."

FRESNO STATE SPECIAL TEAMS

The Bulldogs would prefer to limit Smith’s workload on special teams. But he’s so fast (4.42 seconds over 40 yards) and productive (19.5 yards per punt return, accentuated by a 52-yarder against Wyoming) that he is needed at least in a cameo role. Kicker Colin McGuire left the team in early September because of family issues. Kroening (7-for-10 on field goals) and Swanson (58.9 yards per kickoff) are splitting the kicking duties.