SAN JOSE, Calif. >> When Augie T enters a room, laughter is expected.

When the rail is discussed, controversy is expected.

And when the University of Hawaii football team faces a short-yardage situation, running back Steven Lakalaka is expected to get the ball.

In the Rainbow Warriors’ first five games, Lakalaka achieved a first down on each of his fourth-down rushes. In the red zone, he is averaging 4.69 yards per carry and has scored five touchdowns. In the past two seasons, he has had only five negative-yard rushes in 105 carries.

UH slotback Dylan Collie agreed with a reporter’s assessment that Lakalaka would be high-value player in fantasy football.

“I’d take Laks,” Collie said, smiling. “Laks would be a great flex player. He brings sure points. He can get a good 15 points a week. That’s what you get out of Laks.”

Was there any doubt who would receive the handoff when Lakalaka was summoned for a fourth-and-1 play during Saturday’s road game against San Jose State?

“When we need a first down, he’s getting it,” right guard Leo Koloamatangi said.

Lakalaka said: “It’s kind of a chess game. They see a new running back coming in, and he’s bigger than the rest, and they expect him to try to run the ball on fourth-and-1.”

Quarterback Dru Brown did indeed give the ball to Lakalaka, who was running to the left. And, just as quickly, Brown pulled the ball back, then took off around right end for what would be a 62-yard touchdown.

Head coach Nick Rolovich had given Brown the option of giving the ball to Lakalaka or keeping it. Brown, who reads the defense, often does not decide until just before the exchange. What makes the deception work is that Lakalaka does not know for certain what Brown will do.

In that situation, Lakalaka said, “I didn’t know until he pulled it.”

Lakalaka and Brown work on the will-he-or-won’t-he exchange every practice. Brown will alert Lakalaka to the possibility of pulling back the handoff.

“I have to keep my pocket open,” Lakalaka said, “and be patient. The play can go both ways. I can run it or he can pull it and run it. We all have to react to the defense.”

There was no Plan B when the Warriors faced another fourth-and-1 at the San Jose State 35.

But just before the snap, the Spartans were called for delay of game on the defense. In UH’s system, center Asotui Eli, not Brown, calls the cadences. The Spartans were shouting before the snap to try to confuse the Warriors.

“Oh, well, it ended up going bad for them,” Eli said.

On the next play, Lakalaka raced through the middle for a 30-yard touchdown.

“I followed Leo (Koloamatangi),” Lakalaka said, “and ran up the gut as fast as I could. The O-line did its job. The whole game they were stopping our run. It was a matter of time they made a mistake and we capitalized.”