Timmy Chang praises UH team, says ‘we have to all play better’

The Hawaii football team did not have time for the pain.

The morning after Saturday’s 23-21 loss to Fresno State, the UH coaches were on their second viewing of videos of that Mountain West opener and crafting plans for this week’s road game against Air Force.

“The faith and the hope is that everything is going to be OK,” head coach Timmy Chang said of the 3-2 Warriors. “It’s all about how we respond. The thing about our locker room that’s really unique and different is these guys care about being better.”

After the game, quarterback Micah Alejado and linebacker Jamih Otis, who scored on a 37-yard fumble return, addressed their teammates.

“I was proud of how they fought,” Chang said, “and the growth they continue to show as young men. They’re not perfect, but they continue to grow and show fight, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”

After sitting out two games while recovering from a foot injury, Alejado had an uneven return. He was 28-for-47 for 219 yards, but was intercepted three times and absorbed four sacks. Alejado was hit late several times, with some of the strikes at knee-level. The Bulldogs had one pick-6 and nearly a second except cornerback Al’zillion Hamilton stepped out of bounds at the UH 12.

But in their only trip into the red zone on 12 possessions, Alejado fired a 10-yard scoring pass to Blaze Kamoku to close the Warriors to 23-21 with 10 seconds left. Alejado’s conversion pass could not be secured by wideout Brandon White on a crossing pattern.

“The guys kept on believing,” Chang said of that final 12-play, 77-yard drive.

Of the Warriors’ offensive struggles, Chang said, “in these three hours, it wasn’t the best decision making. We have to all play better. I’ve got to be better.”

But Chang noted the Warriors were statistically better after the intermission when they gained 233 of their 308 yards. They averaged 3.3 yards per play in the first half.

And Chang emphasized his confidence in Alejado, a second-year freshman.

“He’s the guy,” Chang said. “He’s our guy. He’s Hawaii’s guy. He’s my guy. He’ll be good.”

For the third week in a row, the Warriors were without injured slotback Nick Cenacle, last year’s leading receiver. The Warriors have not had their top O-line play together this season. Left tackle Dean Briski, whose mother recently passed away, was held out of the game. Boogie Henderson made his first start as Briski’s replacement.

Chang praised Kansei Matsuzawa, whose two field goals extended his streak to 13 in a row to open the season, tying Rigo Sanchez’s mark in 2016.

“Kansei continues to be perfect and sound,” Chang said. “He’s 13-for-13. But that’s 13 (potential) touchdowns we’re leaving off the board. It’s great that he’s sound, but at the same time, it’s us not putting up 13 touchdowns.”

Once again, the Warriors controlled a prolific running attack. The Bulldogs, whose offensive playbook is 300 pages, entered averaging 202.5 rushing yards per game. The Warriors held the Bulldogs to 71 yards oi 32 carries.

The defense accounted for the Warriors’ 9-0 lead. D-lineman De’Jon Benton’s strip-sack led to a safety. Later, Otis produced a scoop-and-score on an incomplete lateral that was deemed a fumble.

Benton, who transferred from New Mexico in January, continued his dominance. Aligned as a nose tackle in the Warriors’ bear formation, Benton was across Jacob Spomer, considered one of the nation’s top centers.

“De’Jon is a different dude,” D-line coach Jeff Reinebold said. “He is an intentional football player. He comes to play. His preparation (last) week was outstanding. He’s the guy who sets the bar and sets the emotional standard for the group.”

On one play, Benton chased down running back Bryson Donselson on a 35-yard run. The play was nullified because of a holding penalty.