Story by
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser
How UH football matches up with Northern Illinois
- Story byThe Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- How UH football matches up with Northern Illinois
When the Warriors broke spring ball in March, the expectation was the aerial attack would rebound from wideouts Jackson Harris and Brandon White transfering and slotback Nick Cenacle and Karsyn Pupunu completing their eligibility. The Warriors brought in tall and quick wideouts and expected a speedy recovery for slotback Pofele Ashlock, who underwent knee surgery in March. But wideout Robert Haynes suffered a season-ending injury; Tre' Griffiths missed three games with an ankle issue; Carson Brown is recovering from a shoulder ailment, and Ashlock has yet to be medically cleared. In the first four games, Virginia Tech transfer Devin Alves had four receptions on 12 targets. He averaged less than a yard on post-catch runs. But in the past three games, Alves is at 68.8% when targeted, with a yards-after-catch average of 7.1. Two of his receptions went for 58 and 47 yards. "It's always a process that just takes time," receivers coach Jared Ursua said of Alves. "I wish it could have happened like Pofele, where you burst on the scene Week Zero (in 2023) against Vanderbilt in an SEC stadium and defy all odds and go have a huge performance. It didn't happen the first five weeks (for Alves). Now he's beginning to get confidence." After playing the X on the left side in the first four games, Alves, now on the right side, prefers the angle of the passes from left-handed QB Micah Alejado. "They formed a trust where Micah knows where he's going to be," Ursua said. "Trust is a big part of this offense." Washington transfer Audric Harris is most comfortable at the X. Harris and Alejado are housemates and high school teammates. Titan Lacaden, who bounced between receiver and running back, has moved into the top rotation as a slotback. At 5-6, Lacaden is 8 inches shorter than Ashlock but just as effective on break-off routes. His 92% catch rate on targets is best among Warriors. He has no drops. "It's a beautiful demonstration of patience and self-belief," Ursua said of Lacaden. With center Ethan Spencer out indefinitely because of an injury, utility blocker Judah Kaio takes command of the O-line. "It's recognizing the defensive structure," Kaio said.
It has been a battle of attrition this season. Of the 37 defensive players listed on the active roster, only 13 have appeared in all seven games. Defensive end Josh Sagapolutele, 3-tech Geoffrey Speight, linebackers Wynden Ho'ohuli and Jamih Otis, nickleback Elijah Palmer, safety Kona Moore and cornerback Jaylon Edmond have started every game. Rush end Lester Lagafuaina started the opener, missed two games because of a shoulder injury, returned for three games, and was a DNP last weekend. After moving from D-tackle to end, Luther McCoy suffered a season-ending knee injury. Safety Joenel Figueroa, defensive end Ha'aheo Dela Cruz and cornerback Zion Allen are lost for the season. The injuries provided next-man-up opportunities. Nazaiah Caravallo made his first career start, as Lagafuaina's replacement, against New Mexico. "It was a long journey to get (the start)," Caravallo said. Rush end Noah Wily and hawk linebacker Aisiah "Scoob" Paogofie received a boost in snaps as injury subs and featured players in defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman's pressure packages. The depth has been challenged in the secondary, particularly at corner. After months of appeals, a federal judge declined to grant an order allowing cornerback Caleb "C-Bo" Brown to compete as a sixth-year player. Allen's injury ends his NCAA career. Against UNM, cornerback Jeremiah Hughes played all 62 defensive snaps (three were deemed as "no play" statisically because of penalties). Hughes twice intercepted UNM quarterback Toa Fa'avae. "Just catching the ones they throw to you," said Hughes, who transferred from Michigan State. "I tried to make the best plays for our defense." Kainoa Ontai and freshman Jahren Altura are projected to move into the cornerback rotation. Ontai has family in Hawaii but grew up in Manteca, Calif. After a stint at Modesto College, Ontai accepted a walk-on invitation from UH. "My family said, 'Come play here. We got you. We'll house you.'" Ontai said. "I bet on myself and took a chance."
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There have been a few bright spots on special teams this season. The Warriors have blocked two field-goal attempts and two punts. Kicker Sean Olvera-Harle is 12-for-16, with two of his four misses from 50-plus yards. Olvera-Harle has been playing through health issues. "No excuses, rule No. 2," special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield said. Titan Lacaden, Blaze Kamoku, JuJu Smith, Koa Eldredge, Aisiah "Scoob" Paogofie and Junior "June Bug" Fiaui have led improved coverage units. "The effort is through the roof," Sheffield said. "That's half the battle."
Six months after lamenting the new era of college football's transfer portal and NIL deals, Thomas Hammock resigned as head coach in February to become the Seattle Seahawks' running backs coach. As part of the turnover, Illinois State's Tony Petersen was hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Petersen and co-OC Quinn Sanders tinkered with the spread offense, emphasizing inside-zone blocks to open paths for running back Telly Johnson. But the playbook was adjusted when quarterback Taron "Tyger" Dickens signed in July. With Western Carolina in 2025, Dickens was named to the All-Southern Conference first team after completing an FCS-leading 74.2% of his passes. He had set an NCAA single- game record with 46 completions in a row against Wofford. (He finished 53-for-56). Dickens transferred to North Carolina in February, but three months later, head coach Bill Belichick released him from his obligation. "He got here a week before camp," center Landon Hron said. "None of us knew who would be (QB1) going forward. Eventually, he took over that role at quarterback, and he's on a roll." Despite seven drops by receivers, Dickens is the MWC's most accurate passer (65.8%). On targets up to 9 yards, he has connected at 82.6%. He also is 19-for-20 on middle screens. "Our quarterback is a killer," Hron said. "That's what he does. He wants to get the shots that are going to kill defenses." The past two games, Dickens has averaged 8.2 yards on non-sack rushes. DeAree Rogers, a transfer from Lenoir-Rhyne, has secured 76.6% of the targeted passes from Dickens and is third nationally in receptions (8.17 per game). Hron epitomizes the O-line's hard-hat mentality. He grew up in Hartford, Wis., (16,085 population) and joined the Huskies as a walk-on. Miffed at being bypassed for a scholarship after two years, he challenged the coaches to offer him a conditional one. "I prove myself, I keep it," he recalled saying. "If I don't, you can take it away." Not only is Hron a team captain, he kept the scholarship and paid off his student loans.
As part of his new job as interim head coach, Rob Harley retained his role calling the defensive plays. The Huskies' base is a 4-2-5, but they also can align in a 4-3, 4-4 and, against heavy-personnel offenses, a 6-2. The interior linemen appeared to have abandoned the swim lessons. Montrel Canyon, Amari Washington, Jacob McGhee and Jordan Bellamy are pure bull rushers. The most physical unit is at the second level. Jack Murray graduated a semester early from Brookfield (Wis.) East High, enrolled at NIU in January and by the spring game was wearing the green dot on his helmet as the defensive organizer. Murray is "the toughest guy on defense," senior cornerback Dev'ion Reynolds said. "It's his mentality. No matter up or down, he has the same mentality." There's a battle for the weak-side spot as Murray's linebacker partner. In the first two games, Jashawn Nelson averaged 61 snaps. Then Brady Kerperin, who showed flashes in practices and 31 snaps the first two games, graded higher. The past four games, Kerperin has averaged 53.5 snaps to Nelson's 15.5. Kerperin averaged 10.3 tackles the past three games. "Whoever practices well and has less (missed assignments) and less negative plays is going to get the majority of the snaps," Harley said. "Now every practice becomes that much more crucial. And I think that's where your competition comes in. Those two are now battling every single day until Saturday, and both are getting into the game. Every play they play, not that they're thinking about each other, is to get more snaps." The Huskies usually play two safeties 12 yards off the ball. That helps in doubling an outside receiver, but leaves only Murray in the middle when the safeties both help the cornerbacks. They have yielded six TD runs of 30-plus yards.
With the need for speed, there's no need for fair catches. "I'm a real aggressive returner," said kick returner Dev'ion Reynolds, who has been GPS-timed at 23.7 mph. "If it's in the field of play, I'm going to return it. I believe in my abilities. I've been that way since high school. I haven't had a single fair catch my whole career. I take it out no matter what." Opponents also have been aggressive, producing touchdowns on a kickoff and two punt returns against the Huskies.
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