Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Tonight’s Matchup: Hawaii (1-1) at UNLV (2-1)

WHEN HAWAII HAS THE BALL Hawaii run offense vs. UNLV run defense The pass-happy Warriors use the run mainly to keep the defense somewhat honest. Hawaii has rushed for just 154 yards on 43 attempts (3.6 avg.) in its first two games and ranks 108th in the nation in rushing offense with an average of just 77.0 yards per game. Freshman West Keliikipi (6-1, 266) started the Warriors' 61-32 loss to USC but Hawaii will also use a couple of Dominique Dorsey-like clones in Tennessee transfer Michael Brewster (5-6, 176) and Mike Bass (5-8, 158) as well as versatile senior John West, a former J.C. All-American at Yuba City (Calif.) College whom UNLV also tried to recruit. Rebels allowed Wisconsin just 52 yards rushing on 42 attempts last week which helped make up for an awful 244-yard outing at Kansas.

Edge: UNLV.

Hawaii pass offense vs. UNLV pass defense The key of the game right here. Hawaii had a bad day and still threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns last week against USC, one of the nation's premier defensive clubs. Quarterback Timmy Chang is a master directing June Jones' Run-N-Shoot offense and is hard to sack with his 12-yard drops out of the shotgun. That puts even more pressure on a questionable UNLV secondary that must try to contain the Warriors' excellent group of big-play wide receivers led by Jeremiah Cockheran and Chad Owens. If Hawaii has a weakness it could be a young offensive line that features two freshmen and two sophomores in the starting lineup. Will they be able to do a better job of picking up UNLV's blitz package than Wisconsin's veteran line did? With Chang's accuracy and quick release, it may not matter.

Edge: Hawaii.

WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL UNLV run offense vs. Hawaii run defense The best way to slow down a team that lives and dies by the pass is to keep its offense off the field with long, time-consuming drives. Hawaii ranks just 64th nationally in run defense (143.0 yards per game) and allowed 164 rushing yards and four touchdowns to a USC team that had struggled running the football. However, Hawaii's defensive line, led by tackle Isaac Sopoaga and end Travis LaBoy, is as good as any in the WAC. Junior Dominique Dorsey showed some toughness in rushing for 100 yards on 26 carries at Wisconsin and fullback Dyante Perkins of Bishop Gorman High School has developed into another key weapon.

Edge: UNLV.

UNLV pass offense vs. Hawaii pass defense Hawaii has a veteran secondary that is arguably the best in the WAC and is led by overachieving 5-8 senior safety Hyrum Peters, whom head coach June Jones has compared to former NFL star Blaine Bishop, and senior cornerback Kevin Millhouse, who is getting looks from NFL scouts. The question mark could be a new group of linebackers who seemed to get exploited on crossing routes by USC last week. UNLV's Earvin Johnson made ESPN "SportsCenter" Plays of the Week with another circus TD catch at Wisconsin. Quarterback Kurt Nantkes looks to bounce back from two subpar outings.

Edge: Hawaii. SPECIAL TEAMS If UNLV tackles like it did in Kansas in this area, it could make for a very long night. Hawaii's Chad Owens is one of the nation's premier punt returners who set NCAA records for most return yards in a game (342) and most yards on kickoff returns (249) against a 12-0 BYU two years ago. Freshman Ross Dickerson also is dangerous and had a 100-yard kickoff return against Appalachian State. UNLV punter Gary Cook leads the Mountain West in punting with a 44.6 average and might be well advised to aim for the sidelines tonight. Freshman wide receiver Tremayne Kirkland, who had a sizzling 37-yard punt return at Wisconsin, could be the X-factor here. Both teams have solid placekickers.

Edge: Hawaii. INTANGIBLES UNLV is coming off an emotional 23-5 upset of No. 14 Wisconsin and will be trying to prove it is among the Mountain West elite with a victory against WAC preseason favorite Hawaii. The Warriors have had nothing to do but eat, drink and sleep football while staying over on the mainland this week ... OK, they did put aside three hours for study hall each day and will have about 10,000 fans in the stands that should neutralize UNLV's homefield advantage. Until the Rebels can stop with their Jekyll and Hyde-like performances, the nod goes to the hungrier Warriors.

Edge: Hawaii. COACHING Flip a coin. Hawaii's June Jones and UNLV's John Robinson both resurrected programs that were coming off winless seasons and had the two longest Division I losing streaks in the nation when they both ironically came aboard in 1999. The Warriors had lost 18 straight games while the Rebels had dropped 16 in a row. Now both programs have rebounded and are close to realizing their goals of being Top 25 programs. The winner of tonight's game gets a step closer to that objective. Both have assembled solid and respected coaching staffs to help with their rebuilding projects.

Edge: Even. KEYS TO VICTORY To win, Hawaii must ... 1. Put last week's embarrassing 61-32 loss to USC behind them. The Trojans just might win the national title before its done, so there's no shame in losing to them at the Coliseum.

2. Throw, throw, throw. Hawaii's strength is its passing attack while UNLV's biggest defensive weakness is pass coverage.

3. Stop the run. UNLV's pass offense has sputtered in back-to-back games against Kansas and Wisconsin.

To win, UNLV must ... 1. Run the football, run the clock. The less time Timmy Chang and company have the ball in their hands the better.

2. Take away the home run ball. USC dropped its safeties deep and forced the Warriors to throw short passes with excellent results.

3. Win the special teams battle. Hawaii has some of the best return men in the country who can change the flow of a game on a single play. THE PICK Hawaii 35, UNLV 28. -- Steve Guiremand

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

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