RAPID REACTION: LaTech 31, Hawaii 14
Here are three quick takeaways from Hawaii’s 31-14 loss to Louisiana Tech in the SoFi Hawaii Bowl. UH finishes its season 8-6 overall and is now 4-4 all-time in Hawaii Bowl games.
LENGTHY QB BATTLE ON TAP FOR THE OFFSEASON
Both Hawaii quarterbacks, sophomore Cole McDonald and freshman Chevan Cordeiro, played extensively against Louisiana Tech and neither stood out.
That makes the offseason an intriguing one for the most important position in the run-and-shoot offense.
McDonald got the start and was 10-for-20 for 85 yards with a touchdown and two picks, while Cordeiro, who gave Hawaii a 7-3 lead with a 24-yard TD pass to Jason-Matthew Sharsh in the second quarter, finished 7-for-14 for 83 yards and an interception.
Cordeiro came off the bench to throw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a win over UNLV that saved Hawaii’s bowl chances, but didn’t play in the road win at San Diego State to end the regular season.
Saturday was his fourth appearance this season, keeping him eligible for a redshirt year.
McDonald started the season hot with 24 touchdown passes in his first six games but closed the year with seven TD’s and seven interceptions over his final five games.
After watching Saturday’s bowl game, nothing seems set in the stone for the future. Expect a lengthy battle in the offseason between the two, which might not be a bad thing for head coach Nick Rolovich.
URSUA’S ABSENCE MAKES BIG DIFFERENCE
Hawaii’s leading receiver, junior John Ursua, did not play in Saturday’s SoFi Hawaii Bowl with a hamstring injury.
The announcement was made right before kickoff.
His absence on the field didn’t help against a Bulldogs defense that racked up a Hawaii Bowl-record nine sacks. Often, it came on plays in which the first read wasn’t there for either McDonald or Cordeiro. By the time they checked it down to the next read, there was a defender in the backfield.
Ursua finished his junior season with 1,343 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. The first-team All-Mountain West selection was named to the Associated Press and USA Today midseason All-America second team and was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award given to the nation’s top receiver.
The Kailua-Kona native still has a year of eligibility remaining but could possibly declare for the NFL Draft and forego his senior season.
He currently ranks seventh in career touchdown catches (24) at UH and ninth in career receptions (189) and receiving yards (2,662).
WARRIORS LOSE THEIR COMPOSURE
It was a bad time for Hawaii to get undisciplined on the field.
Hawaii was whistled for a season-high 12 penalties for a loss of 140 yards, including four 15-yard flags in four plays late in the second quarter.
UH led 7-3 and had just forced its third LaTech turnover in the first half, getting the ball at the Bulldogs’ 40 with 1:37 on the clock.
Junior J.R. Hensley was whistled for an unsportsmanlike penalty, but UH managed a first down two plays later on a Louisiana Tech face-mask penalty.
The yardage came right back when freshman offensive lineman Solo Vaipulu was whistled for taking off his helmet while on the field following the flag on LaTech’s Jaylon Ferguson, who set the NCAA career sack record with 45.
Vaipulu was then called for a personal foul on the next play and an unsportsmanlike penalty by another UH player resulted in the ball moving back to the UH 31 for a first-and-40 snap.
The 7-3 lead at halftime was nice, but penalties kept UH from possibly extending it to 10-3 or even 14-3, which would have changed the game to open the second half.
VERY … & … I MEAN VERY … DISAPPOINTED IN THE COMPOSURE / DISCIPLINE ON THE FIELD … I’m one of those fans who does not accept / tolerate Personal Foul penalties … ESPECIALLY DEAD BALL FOULS …
San Diego State came out flat against Ohio. I thought, I hope Hawaii comes out ready to play. Ahhh…..but they did not. Very disappointing.
J.R. Hensley is a disgrace to Hawai’i! They should strip him of being a team captain. Most undisciplined player on the team. I swear he makes the most bone headed penalties every single game!! And it always kills the team’s momentum.
Stephen, Uahinui will be the sleeper QB…. 6’3 220 with a laser accurate arm. Don’t know why he’s overlooked….
My bad… Billy…
The problem is that Rolo has created a QB battle! He’s seen enough to know what both can do already. Yet what? He will make them compete again to what end? He’a gonna see them perofrm the same way. And coaches are biased like anybody else.
I want Rolo. To start making some good decisions. As coach, fans and players and pundits and associate coaches depend on you to make. A. Decision.
Tonight’s QB duck-duck-goose seemed to look just like that—a game of duck, duck, goose. And is the o-line on Christmas vacation already?
The only positive thig is that we can relate to this game from a Hawaii point-of-view: Auwe.
Don’t let anyone tell you how to think about today in UH sports history. You have an opinion. You have an INFORMED opinion.
The problem last night was the inability of our offensive line to create and hold a pocket to allow our quarterbacks to execute consistently. The reason that the o-line lost its cool was its frustration and embarrassment. One thing for sure, we need the o-line to focus on executing a solid run-blocking scheme.
Unfortunately, the guys were outmatched last night against SEC quality players who had had 3-4 weeks to prepare for a single game. Rested and healthy that defense would execute well against the best teams in college football. I just wish we could recruit pass rushers like that.
agree with 5, o line not able to hold.
The better team won, but the Warriors’ performance was dismal.
Don’t want to heap anymore negatives on the Warriors but . . . very, very disappointed overall.
They still had an eternity in the start of the 4th quarter. But I guess no Cordeiro again.
Dance with me was the theme of the game. It showed.
And as usual, Penei Pavihi #33 LB failed in the crunch time when they needed a 4th down. To many chances for La. Tech. kept their offense in the game.
Now I ask, who is John Ursua? I think they answered that.
A no one.
Share the disappointment expressed by others. Not so much that we lost, but how we lost — 12 penalties, 140 yards, and getting blitzed in the 3rd quarter — while we could not decide who should play QB. Outclassed and out coached.
Mele Kalikimaka UH Nation~ Still, “All in all” I think the Hawai’i Rainbow Warrior football program is on the up swing~ Yes, no question the Hawaii Bowl game performance was a bit confusing. However, I feel Rolo has done a great job this season with the revitalization of the Run-N-Shoot. With the current/returning talent and the new signee’s reporting to camp in 2019? Offensively, this up swing should continue.
Now, there’s definitely a QB competition brewing and that’s a good thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cordiero is the starter in 2019~ He’s proven in his worth this past season by leading UH to a couple important victories.
However, in my eyes, Hawai’i needs to get better on Defense. “Defense wins Championships.” Too many track meets (and hang on victories) in 2018.
Best of Everything UH Nation and Mele Kalikimaka! Da u808man~
A disgrace to Hawaii…??? You obviously don’t know much about football sir! Why a disgarce, because he is a red head from the main land? There isn’t a player on this club that han’t made stupid mistakes. JR Hensley is probably one of the most UNDERRATED players on this team just by the virtue e of being an Olineman. JR keep doing you man! Most of the people at Hawaii who actually understand football know the value you bring to this club and look forward to your possibilities in the future.