Hawai'i Game Notes | San José State Game Notes | VIDEO: Pre-Game Interviews

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football squad remains at home on Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium in the second of a three-game home stand to close out the season, taking on San José State on Saturday evening. For viewers in Hawai'i, the game will be broadcasted on Oceanic Pay-Per-View (Digital Ch. 255 and HD Ch. 1255) and Hawaiian Telcom Pay-Per-View (Ch. 969).
 
The first consecutive home games of the season, the Rainbow Warriors look to pull ahead in a long-standing series that has been close since its inception in 1936 at old Honolulu Stadium.

Saturday marks the 38th meeting between the Rainbow Warriors and Spartans and final Mountain West contest of the year, in a series that sits in an 18-18-1 tie coming into Saturday's Mountain West tilt. While SJSU may hold the slight 12-11 series advantage in Honolulu, UH defeated the Spartans in California last season with a crucial streak-ending shutout.
 
After a setback by air against Fresno State, the Rainbow Warriors expect to see a big run game from the Spartans, as UH continues to search for its first Mountain West win of the year with its final opportunity at hand—in the third game with interim head coach Chris Naeole leading the team.
 
Game #12
Who: San José State (4-6, 3-3 MW) at Hawai'i (2-9, 0-7 MW)
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where: Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium (50,000)
Television: Televised live locally in O'ahu and statewide on Oceanic Pay-Per-View (Digital Ch. 255 and HD Ch. 1255) and Hawaiian Telcom Pay-Per-View (Ch. 969), with Robert Kekaula (play-by-play) and Rich Miano (analyst).
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Bobby Curran (play-by-play) and John Veneri (analyst). Chris Hart and Gary Dickman host the "Countdown To Kickoff" beginning at 4:00 p.m., and also the halftime show. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona, KTOH on Kaua'i, and KNWJ in Pago Pago, American Samoa. In addition, the game is available on satellite radio on XM 203 and Sirius 93.
Steaming Video: Live video for those outside of the Hawaiian Islands at www.theMW.com
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on www.espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats provided by HawaiiAthletics.com
Series Information: 38th meeting, tied at 18-18-1, SJSU leads 12-11 in Honolulu

Game Sponsor: The California Hotel & Casino is the game sponsor and will award a Vacations Hawaii Trip for Two to Las Vegas during the halftime promotional contest (register at Gate 3). One lucky fan will compete in the "California Hotel & Casino Field Goal Kick" promotion during pre-game (register at Gate 3) and a UH student will compete in the "California Hotel & Casino Quarter Back Challenge" for the chance to win a Vacations Hawaii Trip to Las Vegas during the first timeout of the fourth quarter. Fans are encouraged to visit the Xtreme Fun Zone before the game in the parking lot across from the stadium ticket office. Also, register at Gate 4 or 6 to win the "Best Seats In the House", compliments of Papa John's Pizza Hawaii and NAPA. The Farmers Hawaii Supa Bowzooka will be launching T-shirts into the stands between the first and second quarters.

Band/Anthem: The National Anthem/Hawaii Pono'i will be sung by Karen Keawehawaii Halftime University of Hawai'i Band in "Faire la Nouba: The Music of Cirque Du Soleil"


Game Storylines: Former consensus All-American and 12-year NFL lineman Chris Naeole leads the team in his second home game as interim head coach. He is 0-2 so far this season…UH is riding an eight-game losing streak and has dropped three straight at home. SJSU has fallen in the past two games. Last year, UH snapped a school-record 17 consecutive road loss streak with a 13-0 shutout at SJSU…The last three games of the series have been decided by less than 13 points…A loss on Saturday would extend the Mountain West losing streak to nine games…Despite a typically stout pass defense, the Rainbow Warriors have allowed over 200 yards passing in each of the past two games…Running back Paul Harris has had four 100+ yard games this season, including the last two games, and needs 213 yards to reach 1,000 yards rushing this season—he would become the first over 1k since 2010 and only the second since 1992…UH used both quarterbacks Ikaika Woolsey and Max Wittek versus Fresno State and amassed 245 yards passing.

Series in Brief
One of the closest series for UH, tied at 18-18-1, the Rainbow Warriors and Spartans have put on some nailbiters in the last few years, including two overtime games and last season's 13-0 UH win in California, which marked a historic feat dating back to 1996—SJSU was the first team in 18 years to be shut-out despite not attempting a single punt.
 
Across the last five years, the teams have seen mini-streaks, with UH winning two straight in 2009-10 and SJSU coming back with two of its own in 2011 and '13. Right now, the ball is in UH's court after the 2014 victory.
 
UH has been the only team to really get on a roll in the series, reeling off seven consecutive wins from 2001 to 2007.
 
These old foes first met in 1936 in Honolulu, with SJSU starting the trend in a 13-8 victory, also winning 7-6 in 1937 at old Honolulu Stadium. The teams meet on November 21 for the second time in the series history.
 
Keys in Running
Over the past two weeks, UH offense has seen a more balanced look, aided by the mobility of recently-appointed starting quarterback Ikaika Woolsey. The Rainbow Warriors have seen much greater success utilizing the run, which has also paid dividends in the passing game.
 
Running back Paul Harris has rushed for 100 yards in each of the past two contests, going for a career-best 190 yards at UNLV and coming back to Aloha Stadium for 126 against Fresno State.
 
Across the UNLV and FS games, UH has rushed for 191 and 192 yards as a unit, respectively, also passing for 187 and 245 yards in the two MW contests. While Harris is the feature back, injuries in the corps have hampered his rest time. Melvin Davis has seen the most reps in reserve with 219 yards on 59 carries, but his power running style has left him banged up in his first year at UH. Battling a lingering injury, junior Steven Lakalaka was out of commission for the past four games, but looks to possibly be back to work on Saturday.
 
Harris Ranks eighth in the conference in yards per carry (5.5) and seventh in yards per game, accumulating 787 yards, surpassing Lakalaka's 2014 team-leading numbers (679) with two games to go.
 
Under Center
In some of the toughest games this season, UH was limited to under 200 yards passing, including four of the last six outings, but the Rainbow Warriors broke up the trend against Fresno State with a 245-yard, two-quarterback mark.
 
After Naeole was named interim head coach, he was quick mix things up, giving the first start to junior Ikaika Woolsey, who started 12 games in 2014. Going out first against UNLV and Fresno State, Woolsey made his first consecutive starts since last season. While the offensive numbers improved, particularly the run game, the result did not, prompting a mid-game switch to Wittek against Fresno State.
 
On the season, Woolsey has completed 52-of-108 passes for 590 yards, throwing for two touchdowns, but five interceptions. His competition this season has been transfer Max Wittek, who started eight of the team's 11 games this season and has accumulated 1,542 yards on 128-of-271 passing, registering seven touchdowns with 15 interceptions. Relieving in the second half against Fresno State, Wittek completed 12-of-29 passes for 153 yards, with two (2) interceptions.
 
With freshman Aaron Zwahlen likely to maintain his redshirt, the other option in the stable for UH is redshirt freshman Beau Reilly, still working back to form after his two-year church mission to São Paulo, Brazil.

Staff Connections
UH defensive coordinator Tom Mason and SJSU offensive coordinator Al Borges coached together at Portland State from 1986-1992, then at Boise State for the 1993-1994 seasons where current UH coach Don Bailey was also the wide receivers coach with Borges at Boise State.
 
UH special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Jake Cookus was a grad assistant at Kentucky under current San Jose State head coach Ron Caragher.