Last night at midnight, I tuned into the UCA / Hawaii ball game that was being televised on channel 42. I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with UCA and the way they were able to shut down Hawaii’s offense and force a turnover on their first possession. I was also impressed at how UCA was able to bring the ball down the field and put it in the end zone.
This is going to be an exciting season for UCA and I hope to make it over to a lot of their games this season. Just seeing them do that well against a much larger school really impressed me. Of course I fell asleep shortly before halftime and didn’t wake up until 4am so finding out that Hawaii pulled it out surprised me.
To my knowledge Nathan Dick, transfer from the Razorbacks, didn’t get to play any last night. I have heard rumors that he was injured so that might have been the case. I am not a big fan of anything from the Houston Nutt era infiltrating UCA…
Rodney Bradley made a leaping grab of Greg Alexander’s 8-yard pass in the back of the end zone with 1:22 left tonight to give Hawai’i a pulsating season-opening 25-20 victory over Central Arkansas at Aloha Stadium.
The Warriors appeared to be doomed after slotback Kealoha Pilares was stripped of the football at the doorstep of the goal line with about 7 minutes remaining. But the Warriors forced the Bears to punt on their ensuing possession and took over at their 26 with 2:26 to play.
Alexander then threw to slotback Greg Salas in the left flat. Salas eluded a would-be tackler, then looped to the right and cut back across the field. He was finally tackled at the 8 after a 66-yard gain. Three plays later, Alexander rolled to his right and threw high to Bradley, who made the leaping catch.
Central Arkansas’ last possession ended when blitzing linebacker Corey Paredes hit quarterback Robbie Park just before he released a pass, and nickelback Richard Torres recovered at the Bears’ 2 with 1:02 left. Hawai’i then ran out the clock.
Brent Grimes scored on a 1-yard run with 10 minutes left to help the Bears regain the lead at 20-19. It was Grimes’ third touchdown of the game. The Warriors had taken a 19-14 lead on Alexander’s 3-yard scoring pass to Pilares and Scott Enos’ 36-yard field goal.
The Bears dominated nearly every phase in the first half in establishing a 14-9 lead.
Central Arkansas is a probationary member of Division I-AA, which offers fewer scholarships and usually has a considerably smaller budget than Division I programs.Still, the Bears, who lost several key offensive players from last year’s 10-2 team, made the right plays at the right time in controlling the first half. Central Arkansas mixed a power running game with a spread passing attack that often featured up to five receivers.
Even when the Bears appeared to set up a running play — going with two tight ends — they still managed to complete a pass to the lone receiver. The Warriors entered with concerns on defense. Their defensive leader, middle linebacker Brashton Satele, underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last week.
Their lone returning full-time starter, defensive right end Fetaiagogo "John" Fonoti, was not on the game’s active roster because of a bruised left kneecap. Yet it was the Warriors’ much-heralded offense that struggled. Their first five possessions ended with two lost fumbles (both by Alexander), an interception and two punts.
The Warriors’ opening drive was abbreviated to two plays. Alexander was sacked by defensive end Larry Hart. Defensive end Markell Carter recovered at the UH 22.
Four plays later, against a five-man stacked front, Grimes found an opening on the right side for a 1-yard touchdown run. The Warriors closed to 7-2 when Daniel Herrington snapped the football over the head of punter Jonathan Beard. Beard chased down the ball at the 2, and kicked it out of the end zone for a safety.
But the Warriors, who would receive the ensuing free kick, squandered a scoring opportunity when safety Pieri Feazell intercepted an Alexander pass in the end zone.
In their first possession of the second quarter, the Bears drove to the UH 4. From there, Park threw a screen to Grimes in the right flat. Grimes caught the ball at the 4, and weaved his way into the end zone for a 14-2 lead.
The Warriors cut the deficit to 14-9 on Alexander’s 4-yard scoring pass to Salas at the end of a crossing route. Salas, who had moved from left wideout to slotback in spring training, had sustained the drive with a 44-yard, catch-and-sprint play.
Park, a fifth-year senior but first-year starter, completed 12 of 17 first-half passes for 113 yards. In the first half, Alexander was 9 of 16 for 132 yards, although 63 of those yards came on the Warriors’ touchdown drive.
Warriors escape with 25-20 victory over Central Arkansas | HonoluluAdvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser
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