LIVE BLOG: Hawaii 27, Northern Iowa 24, final
Hawaii finally gets a break from the Pac-12 on Saturday night as the Warriors look to secure their first win of the season. FCS-member Northern Iowa comes to town for its second game of the season after losing 31-23. Live updates from tonight’s game will follow below.
Northern Iowa gets the ball first but is three and out as inside linebacker Simon Poti hits quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen twice in three plays.
Running back Steven Lakalaka picks up 9 and 12 yards on his first two carries but UH has to punt after quarterback Ikaika Woolsey is sacked on third down by Isaac Ales and Ronelle McNeil. Panthers take over at their own 13. Two solid runs to start for Lakalaka and then UH goes away from him for three plays in a row.
UNI trying to pound away with David Johnson at running back. Third down and a bad snap sends the ball toward the end zone. It’s loose and Beau Yap recovers it in the end zone. Touchdown Hawaii. UH 7, UNI 0, 10:19, Q1.
Strong start for the UH D, which is back on the field. Defensive back Gaetano Demattei with a tackle for a loss but the Panthers pick up a first down as Ne’Quan Phillips is called for a pass interference. Billy Williams runs a cross over the middle on third down that goes for 58 yards. Panthers first-and-goal at the 6. Taz Stevenson makes a touchdown-saving tackle at the goal line on second down. Play is reviewed and stands as called. Third-and-goal from the 1. Kollmorgen sneaks it in over the right side. Touchdown Panthers. Killer third-down play for the UH defense on the pass to Williams. UH 7, UNI 7, 6:38, Q1.
Keelan Ewaliko with a nice 32-yard return on the kickoff. Showed some burst which is nice to see on a kickoff for UH. Lakalaka with two runs for 7 yards to make it third-and-3. Woolsey rolls out to the right and is incomplete. Three-and-out for UH. Looked like his first option was open there. Harding punt is downed at the UNI 11.
Hawaii gives up a first down but forces a punt. Third-and-7 and UH rushes through while dropping 8. Pass out of the backfield to Johnson is stopped well short. Nice bounce-back series for the D. Harding fair catches at the UH 35.
Hawaii with a third-and-1 after two Lakalaka runs and a killer false start penalty is blown on Dejon Allen. Woolsey rolls left now and his throw is incomplete as UH will punt again after another three-and-out. Bad punt off the side of Harding’s foot and UNI takes over with good field position at its own 40.
Tight end Braden Lehman is slow to get up after getting drilled by three different UH guys. First quarter ends with UNI facing third-and-12 at midfield. Poti, Stevenson, Yap standing out on D for UH so far. Woolsey is 0-for-3 passing. Lakalaka averaging over 6 yards a carry on six carries.
UNI receiver burns DB Jalen Rogers deep down the sideline on third-and-long but the pass is overthrown. Poti saved a touchdown there getting to the quarterback just in time to hurry the throw. Hawaii takes over on the 16.
Woolsey’s first pass is dropped by Harold Moleni. Deep ball down the sideline is caught by Marcus Kemp. Great deep ball from Woolsey puts the ball at the UNI 39 after a 50-yard completion. Reverse to Ewaliko is good for 17 yards. Key third-and-7 from the 17. Pass to Ammon Barker in the end zone is low. UH has to settle for a field-goal try. Tyler Hadden is good from 36 yards. UH 10, UNI 7, 12:48, Q2.
Panthers go three-and-out as Dee Maggitt makes a great play on the ball on third down to break up the pass.
UH gives it right back on a three-and-out. 5-yard completion on first down to set up the run but Dominique Small is stuffed on third-and-1 on a very slow developing run.
Injury update for UH: Steven Lakalaka (shoulder). His return is probable. LB Tevita Lataimua (right foot) is done for the game.
Meanwhile UH fakes the punt and Lakalaka is back in running for a first down. Now a fumble by Small on the next play and the Panthers recover. DB Tim Kilfoy with the big hit to force the fumble and McNeil on the recovery. UNI ball first-and-10 on the UH 42 as Small was shaken up on the play.
Big three-and-out for UH as Shawley and Poti again come up with big stops. UH dodges a bullet as the Panthers punt. UH takes over on its 20.
UH goes deep on the first play. Woolsey scrambles right and hits Harding on a 52-yard bomb down the sideline. Career-long reception for Harding. Now a 15-yard comeback rout to Quinton Pedroza for another first down. Inside the red zone. Wheel rout to Moleni for a 15-yard touchdown pass and just like that, huge momentum swing. Panthers go from great field position to giving up an 80-yard TD drive in four plays. First career TD pass for Woolsey. UH 17, UNI 7, 6:37, Q2.
Charles Brown with a 48-yard kick return for the Panthers to put the ball on the UH 48. Long pass is broken up by Maggitt, who has played well. Jeremy Castro busts through the line with his speed and sacks Kollmorgen for a big loss. Third-and-19 and UNI calls timeout. Pass is complete but short of the marker and the Panthers punt. UH ball at the 20.
Woolsey’s first TD pass came on throw No. 132. Three straight incomplete passes as Kemp drops what should have been a first down. Hawaii punts with 5:05 remaining in the half.
UNI makes a switch at QB. In comes senior Brion Carnes who looks like more of a runner. Option keeper on the first play for 11 and a first. QB draw picks up 5 yards on the next play. Phillips breaks up a slant on third down and UNI will try a 52-yard field goal. Panthers call timeout and decide to punt. Ball is downed on the 1.
UH goes pass first and Woolsey is complete to Kemp for 7 yards to get some breathing room. Pedroza with a dangerous pass over the middle but Pedroza snags it for 11 yards. UH with a 2-minute drill and Woolsey is effective, completing an 8-yard pass to Moleni for another first down. OL Sean Shigematsu is down on the play but is able to get up and slowly walk off. Kemp with a big catch on third down to move the chains. After a timeout, Barker gets wide open deep but Woolsey overthrows him by a good 5 yards. Third-and-6 and tight end Justin Vele gets a 7-yard reception for another first down. Fourth-and-3 on the UNI 41 with 32 seconds left and UH goes for it. Woolsey is sacked by Adam Reth and the Panthers take over.
UH goes soft on defense and Brett LeMaster makes two big catches to give the Panthers a field-goal try. 41-yard field goal by Michael Schmadeke is good and UH gives away three at the end of the half but leads 17-10.
HALFTIME LEADERS
UNI
David Johnson 11 carries, 31 yds
Sawyer Kollmorgen 9-15, 144 yds
Brett LeMasters 3 rec, 32 yds
UH
Steven Lakalaka 11 carries, 47 yds
Ikaika Woolsey 12-24, 193 yds, TD
Marcus Kemp 3 rec, 65 yds
Hawaii receives to start the second half. Only a 22-yard return by Ewaliko, but he just has the look. Good burst, stop-and-go speed, tough. I think UH has its kick returner. Bad start for UH which is flagged twice and goes three-and-out. Fortunately for UH, Harding delivers a career-long 64-yard punt. UNI backed up on its 18.
First run goes for negative yards as Kennedy Tulimasealii busts through the line to make a tackle in the backfield. UNI with a three-and-out of its own.
Harding with a nice punt return inside Panthers territory at the 41. Lakalaka converts a fourth-and-1 with a 4-yard run. Hawaii runs twice for negative-11 yards however and is forced to punt. Harding boots it out of bounds at the 6.
Game has slowed to a crawl. Panthers to start with a pass over the middle that Williams drops or else it would have been a big gain. UNI calls for a screen right where UH blitzs a corner and a big play possibility instead goes for nothing as Poti makes a great tackle. Rogers breaks up a catch on third down and UNI will punt. Two great individual plays on defense by the Warriors.
Another three-and-out for UH as the Warriors are back to looking abysmal on offense. UNI ball on the 20. Punters are the busiest guys on the field right now.
Now UNI with a three-and-out. UH defense keeping Hawaii in front. Monster games by Poti and Tulimasealii. UH ball on its 42 and UH makes a QB change.
Jeremy Higgins in at QB. Four-yard completion on his first throw and Lakalaka with a spin move to pick up 8 for the first down. UH playing with a little energy all of a sudden. Drive ends however as confusion between receivers results in an incomplete pass. Hawaii downs the punt at the 1. I like UH’s chances in a punting contest.
Northern Iowa will punt from its own 4. I am tired of writing the word punt. Line-drive punt and Harding returns it up to the 30. UH better get points here.
Handoff to Lakalaka who goes in the hole, bounces out to the left and there’s nobody there. Thirty yards to the end zone. Touchdown Hawaii. Career-long run for Lakalaka, who gives UH a 24-10 lead with :37 seconds left in the third quarter.
UNI opens up with a 25-yard pass to LeMaster. Third quarter is over. Punt count for both teams combined is 19.
Fourth quarter begins with a 19-yard completion to Charles Brown. Kevin Vereen Jr. with a step but the ball is overthrown for what could have been six. Screen pass to Johnson for 17 puts the ball on the UH 11. Vereen Jr. hauls in a 9-yard touchdown pass and the Panthers answer to make it 24-17 with 13:16 to go.
UH takes over on the 20. Big third down and Higgins throws complete to Barker for 15 yards. Higgins seems to get the ball out quicker on his reads. Makes up for arm strength. Now UH goes with three straight runs and Lakalaka is stopped on third down. Hawaii will punt. Feel free to start second-guessing the play calling there.
Harding with his ninth punt of the game and UNI takes over on its 19.
Lakalaka with his second 100-yard game in his career. 24 carries for 104 yards. Panthers with the ball. Shawley with another hit on the QB. He has played well tonight. Third-and-9 for NIU. TJ Taimatuia with a hurry and it’s way incomplete. Good stop for the UH defense.
Hawaii ball first-and-10 at its 41. Attendance is 21,750.
UH runs twice for 3 yards and its now third-and-7. Higgins misses Barker over the middle and it’s a three-and-out. Punt No. 22 overall and 10 for UH coming up. Hawaii is now 3-for-17 on third downs.
UNI first-and-10 at the 23. Johnson with a 12-yard reception for a first down. UH has held Johnson to 48 yards on 16 carries. Two bad throws and now the Panthers will punt.
Hawaii has ran the ball on every first-down play in the second half and does it again as Lakalaka picks up 2. A Saint Juste run makes it third-and-4. Another series of two runs to set up a third down UH hasn’t been able to convert. Some confusion before the play and it’s another three-and-out.
Harding with another rugby punt and it’s off the punt returners leg. Phillips recovers and UH has the ball first-and-10 on the 20. UH with another dive up the middle for no yards and the boos erupt from the stands. Now UH with a false start.
Third-and-8 form the 18 and Hawaii runs a dive up the middle to lose a yard. Playing for the field goal and Hadden is in. A 37-yard field goal sneaks through the uprights and Hawaii is ahead 27-17 with 3:19 remaining.
Tight deadline tonight so I’ve got to head down to the field. Final score will be updated.
UNI touchdown on an 11-yard pass play from Kollmorgen to RB Darrian Miller with 1:56 left, plus PAT kick, makes it 27-24 UH.
Onside kick coming up from Northern Iowa.
Harding recovers for UH.
Big first down on a pass play from Higgins to Vele. 1:22 left and counting.
UH opts against taking a knee on the ensuing play. Lakalaka carries up the middle and fumbles, but UH recovers.
UH hangs on to win, 27-24.
Kimpira!
let’s GO Rainbow Warrior’s
BOOM Lakalaka
Live blog?
Dunno what the difference between this and the WB would be.
Hi wafan 🙂 Does it refresh for us?
Hi pcwarrior and kawika49, too 🙂
jk about the refresh for us
Hehe
What the heck is going on with the OL for the ‘Bows?
Oh I see. The top portion got the game going get longer n longer…
We got the ball back!
Huzzah!
Us 7 : them 0
Woohoo 7-0 way to go D
Huzzah!
Great job, Beau!!!
Huh. Now I do not have to listen to the terrible radio play-by-play.
Yes!!! Defensive TD!!!!
Cool, they got God Bless the USA blaring from the stadium speakers, this week of 09/11/2001 memorial.
Think the Warriors will pull this one off . . .
Is that right? There’s a Chad Owens on UNI?
TD UNI.
Did not touch the ground.
Tied at 7!!!
Just needed this here —
Today’s WB: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/warrior-beat/game-day-northern-iowa/
Here we go with the mistakes.
Also, Woolsey. Woozy again.
So what do you guys think? Does UH make a change at QB during this game?
Billy. Might take a miracle or injury to change that.
Das 3
Run Woolsey!!! RUN!!!
10-7, Hawaiii
#23 they need to take out the religious guys. Obviously praying does not work. Too buch time praying not enough time practicing catching the ball.
*much
am glad to see that the D is doing their job.
Whooo hooo.
Hawaii 17
UNI 7
good to see so many other warriors getting a chance to play.
interesting to see that uni has a chad owens
A Grease’ll 2nd that, whitey. Really good. Really balanced.
This blog has a great summary of the first half. Bravo . . . is it Billy.
Get your post-party ready, UH fans.
half time
17-10
Need momentum to start the 2nd half.
Robert Kekaula and whoever else is there with him have got to be the worst announcers in UH athletics history.
somehow the warrior coaches are not using their basic knowledge, but are depending on hunches. with less than 30 seconds left and ball on the 41, why not punt and don’t give away field position?? again mo shifts from the warriors to the opposition. instead of 10 pts at the half, now 1 td.
this is the 3rd game in a row the coaches have given the momentum to the opposition.
Go Bows!!!!
2nd half starting . . .
yep. UH offense is still terrible.
WHOA!!!! HIGGINS BEING PUT IN!!!!
This is some weird coaching. WinnIng, change the QB. Woolsey was actually doing decently.
TD Hawaiii!
HI 24
UNI 10
I’m sorry. I know that UH just scored, but this game is unwatchable. Except for scott harding and his magnificent punts.
Im sorry but Dee Maggitt should not be starting. I rather see Barry Higdon or Anthony Pierce play. Shoot where is Nick Nelson?
Yeah. It really seems like Dee Maggitt gives up A LOT of touchdowns. Higgins also looks better than woolsey, even though he throws like a girl.
I wish the band would just plain stop playing the Rocky theme. Sounds like a damn telethon is running.
Ah. This will be a good win, folks.
the D is shining brightly tonight.
How about throwing on 1st or 2nd down?
3 and out is not good.
someone needs to create a blog that posts dumb quotes that robert kekaula says during games. it can be called kekaulaisms.
Whoa! Fumble. Hawaii got the ball!
Throw the ball!!!! Higgins has some touch!!
no creativity by the UH coaches on offense is putting huge pressure on the D.
Heeheh, 4-Prong. That is a great idea considering that I can barely hear the guy. A wrtitten/log narrative will capture all Kekaulaisms. Who’s the Einstein with him in the booth?
“higgins to throw… nice soft touch… incomplete.
“He’s like adrian peterson in the sense that he’s wearing purple.”
Running on 2nd and 15? And 3rd and 15?
I almost wish UH would lose again so Chow and his predictable and creatively inert brand of ball would just go away. UH has lots of talent…but its not being put to very good use offensively. On the other hand the defense is doing all they have been asked to do and more. If we had an offense of any merit we might actually be 3-0 to start this season. As is..I really believe Chow needs to go do something else.
fantastic play calling by UH coaches, 2 runs, pass, punt. 2 runs, pass, punt. 2 runs, pass, punt.
chicken grease: i have no idea who his buddy in the booth is, but he’s saying some real dumb stuff too. like “higgins is the only guy who could make mariota sit on the bench.”
The most exciting player on the offense is scott harding… when he’s punting.
Ahahahahahah, 4-Prong, crack me up!!!
Hawaii 27
UNI 17.
Fans are boo’g for some stupid reason. Yeah, Stadium beer sales need to end.
Bobby Curran cannot do play by play well. He drifts..forgets that we cannot see he game, doesn’t set the ball half the time….I can’t listen to him.
Well, it looks like the Warriors will beat the girls school for the blind tonight. Let’s see what they can do from here on out. Especially on the road. Not impressive at all. A squeak win at best. Offense disorganized, defense, slow. Chow, well, he’s chow….as usual.
@4prong, 58
What the he.. was that about. Talk about stupid commentating! Jeesh.
Easy to win against a Div II team and when half the players are couch potatoes.
Bwaaaahhh!
Crap. UNI scores! Panthers still in it!!!!
Hawaii 27
UNI 24
Sheesh, Higgins sucks ass. Jordyn Wynn too. As soon as you think the D is doing good, pfft…. TD UNI. Good job Coaches.
I never thought I’d say it, but we need an experienced OC/QB coach…….JJ? Get rid of that kid.
Ah, cool!!! Scott Harding in the hero! Prevents the onside attempt.
Er, IS the hero.
I wanted to believe that Norm’s struggles were because of injuries and a lack of talent. But at this point, one simply has to question his coaching abilities. If another lackluster season happens, I gotta believe that Norm has to go. I hope UH then gives Rolo a shot. Spread + pistol would make for some exciting football. I love Niumatalolo too, and his presence would most definitely help with recruiting Polynesian players… But I don’t want to see Wagner’s option offense again.
this game will be won or lost by the offensive coaches. with less than 2 minutes and if they do not control the ball, it will be a really long season.
The UH secondary looks terrible. Like, Dee Maggitt. It really seems like the only thing he does is let receivers blow by him. Those are all touchdowns if they were playing a decent FBS team.
here we go again with fantastic play calling, run, run, pass, punt.
hooray, the coaches used some creativity.
WTF??? Fire the play caller. Who are we the Dallas cowboys?
I said it once and I’ll say it again. Robert kekaula needs to get out of the tv booth and go back on the radio with Bobby . Robert sounds like Kermit the frog and he need’s to come up with his own phrases and stop using Chris Berman’s “he can go all the way”.
A win!!!
Heh. pcwarrior says it best.
Congratulations to the Warriors for their first win of the season. the warriors played well, especially on defense, but the coaches will need Sunday to look at their game plans, player substitutions, etc. a lot of warriors got to play tonight and they did well. luke s looks like a d player. ewaliko was very good, but limited by the coaches.
Norm. Never has a name been more appropriate in regards to the offensive play calling… “Something that is usual, typical, standard.” Same ‘ol same ‘ol.
Finally a win but please media people don’t blow it up like they won the Superbowl or something. Remember it was vs a DIV 1AA school!!!!!
Yeah nice win against a high school team
Nest up — PAC-12; LOOK OUT. HI ready!
An ugly win is better than a magnificent loss.
Process vs outcome.
A win is a win. That is the only Stat that counts. Great job warriors!
Hear, hear all post-win positive comments!
Northern Iowa despite being a FCS opponent was a legit opponent. A top 10 FCS program that has been giving FBS opponents a hard time the past couple of years. The main fact is Hawai’i won and thats all that matters.
I’ve never felt so disgusted after a win ever….
Norm Chow is supposed to be some offensive guru but all I see are steps backwards from the day he took over.
He talks about field possession game, yet he went for it on 4th down close to midfield in the 1st half. He subs Higgins in only to run the ball every single time. Then when he has a chance to kneel, he runs more plays and we almost turn it over. He hasn’t recruited QBs or the appropriate skill position players to flourish offensively. We don’t have D1 RBs. Our play book is as thin as it gets. We continue to hear excuses about Woolsey only being a sophomore when in reality it is his 4th year and he’s the same age as Marcus Mariota. Are we supposed to believe Woolsey will magically become accurate as he ages?
Rather be down with UH Warriors today than lose like USC Trojans today.
I would not be too harsh on the secondary. We missed two of our top two db’s tonite. Trayvon Henderson did not play(don’t know why) and Nick Nelson was injured and was in street clothes.
Marrell Jackson played the whole game and we had to use that DeMattei guy as the nickelback. Losing our top safety and our starting corner in nickel packages hurt our secondary IMHO.
Well… It’s a win.
I see that UH’s QBs are now completing a whopping 46% for the year. At this point it’s pretty damn clear that the biggest issue this team has is at QB. After game 3, the OLine has gotten better, and Lakalaka showed me he can handle #1 RB duties until Iosefa is back. I can live with the defense we have even though it’s far from perfect. I can’t get a real good read on the WRs because the QBs can’t get them the ball.
Scott Harding may never play a down in the NFL but he may very well be the most unique player to every play college football. Maybe he could fill in at nickel since a tackle or int are about the only things he didn’t record in the stat sheet.
Harding’s night included:
A 52yd reception;
7 of 11 punts downed inside the 20 (one on the 1yd line);
7 punt returns for 76yds (10.9yd avg)
Recovered UNI’s onside kick to essentially seal the win.
The good:
Hawaii actually won a game. And lets not act like this FCS opponent wasn’t good because we all knew they are a good team. Thats why I predicted a 30-31 1 point victory because Northern Iowa has 18 returning starters, NFL prospects, beat McNeese State last season who almost beat ranked #19 Nebraska at Nebraska 31-24 last week. The same Nebraska that whipped DeRutyer’s Fresno State at Fresno 55-19. This is the FCS Northern Iowa team that almost beat Iowa at home 2 weeks ago 31-23. Had 2 weeks to game plan and prepare for Hawaii. And we all know that Iowa is a BCS big boy school that probably better than Hawaii is right now. So lets not discount the win because teams like Northern Iowa and McNeese State can keep up with BCS big boys and they proved it many times this season. So good on the boys on the win.
The bad:
I agree with Jeezy33, What the… why put in Higgins to just hand off the ball to Lakalaka over and over. Might as well kept Woolsey in to that? The Special Teams and Defense won the game, period. Yap and Nequan forced turnovers was the difference in the game. The Offense with either QB Woolsey or Higgins didn’t make a difference. With Iosefa the offense has no threat with all the RB’s injured, now is the time to move that Louisiana Bayou Bad Boy Speedster Daniel Lewis to RB!
It’s not a question of a win is a win, but the offensive passing game is stuck in neutral. I expected a lot more productive offense by the 3rd game of the season. Tonight’s win was compliments of the defense and special teams.
Trying to find ways to quantify the improvements on the OLine, which isn’t easy since they don’t log in many stats as a group. So here’s what I used and it does appear the OLine has improved…
2012 Yards per Rush = 3.0
2013 Yards per Rush = 3.2
2014 Yards per Rush = 3.4
** UH is likely to increase 2014 avg once they get into MW play as MW front 7’s won’t have the size and speed of UW or OSU.
** 3.4 ypc isn’t great but there is a positive trend over the past few years
2012 Sacks+QB Hits per game = 5.67
2013 Sacks+QB Hits per game = 5.25
2014 Sacks+QB Hits per game = 4.67
** this is a very good trend as the UH QBs haven’t been harassed like the previous seasons. After watching the 3 games this year, it’s a noticeable improvement even without seeing the numbers.
The only stat I that would be important but I haven’t spent the time on is # of penalties on OLine, specifically holding as it is associated with being beaten, but going off of memory, there haven’t been many holding penalties this season. Just here and there like most teams.
I must mention again that Clune has been worth every penny. With the QBs misfiring badly, the defense has held up well considering they’re on the field a lot.
Just piling on the QB play some more with stats…
-Woosley went 2-8 (25%) 14yds, 1 sack and zero 3rd down conversions on pass attempts tonight.
-Woosley is now 14-37 (38%), 2 sacks, and 9 conversions (23% of drop backs) on 3rd down.
The only real positive with the QB is that there has been only 1 interception thrown in spite of a dismal completion percentage. If the completion rate doesn’t improve drastically, the INTs will eventually pile up.
Another nod to OLine as I just noticed that they only have given up 2 sacks on 3rd down this year, which is very good considering the opponent is anticipating for pass and/or is blitzing.
Just checked vegasinsider and had no idea the spread went from -1 to -4.5/5 by kickoff. Looking at the line movement timeline, you would have needed to have your ticket about an hour before kickoff to still have UH -2.5 or better. At about 30 min to kickoff, depending on location, the line moved over -3 and UNI became the winning side ATS.
Just had to make sure we hit 100 on this post
Even though higgins throws like a girl and the ball seems to stay in the air for an awfully long time, at least he’s kind of accurate with the football. Is taylor graham permanently in the dog house now?