Hawai'i (4-2, 2-1 WAC) returned home after a convincing 68-37 win at Fresno State Saturday only to feel the shock wave by the 6.6 scale earthquake, which hit the islands Sunday morning.

But its business as usual for Warrior head coach June Jones and the Warriors, with two days of on-field practice before departing for Las Cruces, N.M., to meet New Mexico State in a Western Athletic Conference match up Saturday night (Oct. 21) at Aggie Memorial Stadium (30,343).

The Warriors are chasing perennial WAC champion, No. 18 Boise State, for the league title. The Broncos defeated New Mexico State Sunday night, 40-28, and have stops at Idaho, San Jose State and Nevada, while facing Fresno State and Utah State at home, on the remaining schedule.

Hawai'i is coming off one of its biggest roads wins in the June Jones era, scoring an all-time road-high 68 points against the rival Bulldogs last week. Quarterback Colt Brennan continues to pick apart opponent defenses. The junior threw for 409 yards and five touchdowns in last week's win. More importantly, Brennan completed 82 percent of his pass attempts (32 of 39), earning his second straight WAC Offensive Player of the Week honor. Brennan has completed 98 of 127 passes (77 percent) for 1,239 yards and 14 against one interception. He has a current streak of 89 passes without an interception.

Meanwhile, the Warrior offense finally claimed the nation's top spot, averaging 525.2 yards of total offense per game. Hawai'i is also ranked second nationally in passing (420.8), and fourth in scoring offense (41.0).

Starting receivers Davone Bess, Ian Sample, Jason Rivers, and Ross Dickerson, along with running back Nate Ilaoa, provide the fuel for the Warrior attack. Bess leads the nation in reception per game for the third straight week (8.17) and top the Warrior list with 49 receptions for 569 yards and six touchdowns.

Sample has moved into the big-play category, having caught three long passes 43-63-47) for touchdowns in each of his last three games. Rivers is second on the team with 355 yards (26 receptions) and four touchdowns, while Dickerson broke out for a career-best 10 receptions for 115 yards and one score last week.

Hawa'i's defense has tightened up loose ends in the last few games, forcing eight turnovers in its last three games (4 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles). Safety Leonard Peters scored his second touchdown of the year on a 54-yard interception return last week. Hawai'i has scored 35 points off turnovers in its last three outings.

New Mexico State (2-4, 0-2 WAC)has lost its last three games by an average of 8.7 points. Head Coach Hal Mumme is likely the only team in America to pass the ball more times than Hawai'i's four-wide Run-and-Shoot offense. The Aggies lead the nation in pass offense averaging 433.5 yards per game.

Quarterback Chase Holbrook is also the nation's leader in total offense, averaging 409.7 yards per game) and also posts a league-leading 424.0 passing yards per game. Holbrook, a sophomore, is coming off a stellar performance against Boise State, passing for 526 yards. He has completed 216-of-318 pass attempts for 2,577 yards and 18 touchdowns against seven interceptions in six games this season.

Four Aggie receivers are among the WAC leaders in receiving yards per game, including top dog Chris Williams (115.2, 2nd nationally), fourth-ranked Derek Dubois (80.7, 24th nationally), sixth-ranked A.J. Harris (66th nationally), and seventh-ranked Nick Cleaver (61.7, 44th nationally). Williams is also fourth nationally averaging 7.50 receptions per game. The sophomore leads the Aggies with 46 receptions for 726 yards and five touchdowns.

Running back Jeremiah Williams, also a sophomore, leads the Aggie rushing attack with 268 yards and four touchdowns on 57 carries.

Linebacker Tim McManigal anchors the Aggie defense averaging 9.2 tackles per game. NMSU defensive coordinator Woody Widenhofer's bunch ranks sixth in the league in total defense (385.3), third in rushing defense (131.3), and ninth against the pass (253.7).

The versatile Chris Williams also leads the league in kickoff return average (23.9), 0.4 points above Hawai'i's Ross Dickerson (23.5).

This will be the third meting with the Warriors and Aggies, the first in Las Cruces, NM. Hawai'i won the first two meetings, 35-20 in 1978, and 49-28 in 2005.

GAME 7
SATURDAY, OCT. 21, 2006, 6:05 PM
AGGIE MEMORIAL STADIUM
LAS CRUCES, NM (30,343)
HAWAI'I (4-2, 2-1 WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE)
AT
NEW MEXICO STATE (2-4, 0-2 WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE)

TELEVISION: Live statewide (at 2:05 p.m. Hawai'i time) on Oceanic Cable Pay-Per-View digital channel 256 with Jim Leahey (play-by-play), Jim Donovan (analyst) and Russell Yamanoha (analyst). Call (808) 625-8100 on Oahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. PPV delayed broadcast Saturday, Oct. 21 at 6:00 p.m. Delayed broadcast Saturday, Oct. 21 at 9:30 p.m. on KFVE channel 5. Rebroadcast, Sunday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. on KFVE channel 5.

RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420 with Bobby Curran (play-by-play) and Robert Kekaula (color). Don Robbs hosts the "Warrior Warm-up" beginning at 5:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. Hawai'i time), and also the halftime show. Neighbor island simulcasts can be heard live on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kauai.

AUDIO WEBCAST: Live on the web at espn1420am.com

WARRIOR TRAVEL PLANS: The team will depart Honolulu on Wednesday, Oct. 18 aboard Aloha Airlines (charter) at 6:50 p.m. The team will depart immediately after the game aboard Aloha Airlines (charter), scheduled to arrive in Honolulu at 6:29 a.m. Sunday.

WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly clear with lows in the mid 40s and highs in the mid 70s.

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