HONOLULU - Hawai`i is coming off a bye week after a 28-35 opening day loss to Florida Atlantic on Sept. 4 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Quarterback Timmy Chang threw for 302 yards and two scores on 38-of-66 passing, while slot receiver Chad Owens hauled in 13 catches for 89 yards and a TD.

Chang and the 10 returning starters on offense, hope to rebound this week and return to national status having averaged 488.1 yards of total offense (1st in the WAC, 6th nationally) a year ago.

The Warrior defense allowed just 19 points through three quarters of play, but was unable to stop FAU tight end Anthony Crissinger-Hill who caught 15 passes for 183 yards and two scores, including the game-tying touchdown with 23 seconds left to play in regulation.

This week, the Warriors open Western Athletic Conference play at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. The teams have met just five times before and the Owls lead the all-time series, 3-2.

Chang struggled against Rice in his early years, but has recently led the Warriors to two wins in the last two seasons. Since 2000, Chang has thrown for 1,355 yards and seven touchdowns on 129-of-237 passing, but also posts nine interceptions, eight of them coming in the first two seasons. Chang's 2001 season came to a hault against Rice when he fractured his right wrist in the fourth quarter, earning him a medical hardship to gain another year of eligibility.

Rice is also coming off a week of rest after defeating area rival Houston, 10-7, to re-gain possession of the "Bayou Bucket." The Owls bring the difficult-to-defend Triple Option offense led by senior quarterback Greg Henderson, who rushed for 73 yards in the opener, and senior fullback Ed Bailey, who added 57 yards and the Owls' only touchdown against Houston.

The Owl defense is led by junior defensive end John Syptak and weakside linebacker Adam Herrin, who combined for 18 tackles, including four for-a-loss (-25), and two sacks (-22) two weeks ago.

Rice got off to a slow start in 2003, but ended up winning their last three contests to finish with a 5-7 overall and 5-3 WAC record (tied 4th). They have won four in a row and hope to use the experience of 14 returning starters and 13 others who started at least one game in 2003, to avenge two losses to the Warriors in the last two seasons.

Saturday night's game against the Owls will be the last as Western Athletic Conference opponents as Rice will depart the for Conference USA effective July 1, 2005. Other WAC teams departing to C-USA include SMU, UTEP and Tulsa.

GAME 2
Hawai`i (0-1, 0-0 WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE) at RICE (1-0, 0-0 WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE)

GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, 7:05 p.m.
Rice Stadium - Houston, TX (70,000)

TELEVISION
Live statewide on K5-The Home Team (KFVE channel 5) Television via Sportswest with Trey Bender calling the action and color analyst Nate Griffin. The game is also available nationally on ESPN Game Plan.

RADIO
Live on KKEA Sportsradio 1420 AM with Bobby Curran calling the action and Robert Kekaula providing color. Don Robbs will host the pregame and halftime shows. Live to the Neighbor Islands on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA Hilo, and KQNG Kauai.

WEBCAST
Listen live on the internet at KKEA1420AM.com

- UH -