Back to work for Rainbow Warriors

The Rainbow Warriors were missing a few starters on Tuesday as they began their on-field preparations for Saturday’s game against UC Davis, including left tackle Ben Clarke.

“He’s hurting a little bit so we’ll have to wait and see,” UH head coach Norm Chow said of Clarke’s absence.

Clarke has started all 39 games in his UH career, at center his first two years and tackle last year and this season. Leo Koloamatangi, listed as the backup at both tackle spots, worked with the first unit on the left side on Tuesday.

Receiver Quinton Pedroza and safety Trayvon Henderson were also out of action on Tuesday and Chow said the coaches would know more on their status later in the day. Pedroza’s absence elevated freshman Devan Stubblefield in the receiver rotation.

Tight end Tui Unga and linebacker Julian Gener attended practice but didn’t not participate. Gener was held out against Ohio State due to a bleeding issue. Chow said Gener was told not to practice until a second meeting with a doctor “and they’ll make some kind of decision.”

As for Tuesday’s practice, Chow said the Rainbow Warriors were “a little sluggish” in their first session since returning to campus following last Saturday’s 38-0 loss at top-ranked Ohio State.

Along with the drops on offense that contributed to an 8-for-26 passing performance last week, Chow noted a couple on defense as well in an otherwise spirited performance on that side of the ball.

“We still made a lot of mistakes, but the effort was tremendous,” Chow said.

“In fact (former UH head coach) Bob Wagner was at the game and I looked over at him and said, ‘we can’t catch the ball on offense and we can’t catch it on defense either.’ ”

Offensive coordinator Don Bailey said the Warriors “are trying to do what we’re telling them to do. We’re getting great effort from them, but we just have to put everything together and it’s a work in progress.”