HONOLULU – There are no “easy” opponents for the University of Hawaii football program these days, and Saturday’s foe, Wyoming, certainly does not fit into that category.
HONOLULU – There are no “easy” opponents for the University of Hawaii football program these days, and Saturday’s foe, Wyoming, certainly does not fit into that category.
The Cowboys, after all, are 3-2 and defeated Air Force 17-13 earlier this season. And the Falcons later stunned Boise State 28-14.
But as far as Mountain West Conference openers go, Wyoming just might be the right team at the right time for the Rainbow Warriors (1-4) to face at this juncture. At least, close enough.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Aloha Stadium’s Hawaiian Airlines Field, and the game will be televised live statewide on Oceanic Pay-Per-View (Channel 255) and broadcast live on radio via KHLO (850 Am) in East Hawaii.
As much as UH has struggled offensively this season, the Cowboys have not been much better. Hawaii ranks No. 110 out of 125 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in scoring offense, at 19.8 points per game. But Wyoming is worse, at No. 118 (16.4).
In total offense, there also is not much difference: The Rainbow Warriors rank 108th, averaging 336 yards per game; Wyoming is at No. 106 (338.6).
So while this matchup may not light up the Jumbotron or bring the expected crowd of about 20,000 to the edge of their seats with excitement, it just may be the type of game that fits UH’s style and personnel – and thus give the Rainbow Warriors their best chance to win.
The Cowboys also rank 122nd in sacks allowed (4.4 per game), 120th in sacks by (0.60), 119th in tackles for loss, 117th in tackles for loss allowed, 111th in first downs gained, 110th in kickoff return coverage, 106th in fourth-down conversions, tied for 104th in red-zone offense, tied for 102nd in turnover margin and 102nd in turnovers gained.
In other words, Wyoming is very beatable, and may be an ideal opponent to help offset UH’s offensive woes.
The Cowboys do have an effective running back in Shaun Wick, who is averaging 97.8 yards per game. And first-year head coach Craig Bohl has an impressive resume when it comes to winning – he built North Dakota State into a dominant Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse, guiding the Bison to three straight national titles (2011 through 2013).
Before that, Bohl was linebackers coach at Nebraska when the Cornhuskers won national championships in 1995 and 1997.
Wyoming’s roster also includes two former Hawaii high school standouts from Honolulu: strong safety Tim Kamana (Punahou) and defensive end Siaosi Hala‘api‘api (Kaimuki). Kamana’s father, Carter, is a former standout at Kamehameha and Michigan State.
And having already played at Oregon and Michigan State this season, the Cowboys probably will not be daunted by the half-empty atmosphere at Aloha Stadium.
Still, Wyoming seems to be playing at UH’s level, and is unlikely to put up 59 points on the Rainbow Warriors the way they it did last year. The Cowboys’ season-high point total is 20, and they only did it once (vs. Florida Atlantic).
This game promises to be more of a defensive struggle, where 17 or 20 points may be enough to win.
In other words, just the kind of game Hawaii needs.
RAINBOW WAHINE HIT BIG WEST ROAD: The UH women’s volleyball team heads back to the mainland this weekend for crucial Big West Conference road matches at Cal State Northridge on Friday and Long Beach State on Saturday.
Friday’s showdown is set for 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time, and first serve Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Northridge match will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Prime Ticket (Oceanic Ch. 228).
The Rainbow Wahine (12-3 overall, 4-0 Big West) are ranked No. 21 in the latest AVCA poll and are No. 17 in the season’s first Ratings Percentage Index released this week. Cal State Northridge (11-4, 2-1) is No. 20 in the RPI and Long Beach State (13-4, 3-0) is at No. 38.
SOCCER TEAM OPENS BIG WEST ROAD SCHEDULE: The UH women’s soccer team also will be in California this weekend, but a bit up the coast for Big West road games at UC Santa Barbara on Friday and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Sunday.
Friday’s game is set for 4 p.m. HST, and Sunday’s game will kick off at 9 a.m.
Hawaii (6-6, 1-1) leads all Big West teams in goals with 25, led by sophomore Storm Kenui’s five. The Rainbow Wahine are coming off a 2-1 overtime home victory over UC Riverside last Sunday, with Krystal Pascua scoring the winning goal in the 103rd minute.
UC Santa Barbara is 6-5-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big West; Cal Poly SLO is 6-7, 1-1.