UH was hoping to have its entire No. 1 offensive unit available or the first time this season. Last week, QB1 Micah Alejado and center Ethan Spencer returned to the lineup, but left tackle Dean Briski was held out following the death of his mother. Second-year freshman Boogie Henderson made his first start in place of Briski. UH had hoped to get the last piece back in the person of slotback Nick Cenacle, last year’s leading receiver, wishful that he would be fully healed from a knee injury that kept him out three weeks. But Cenacle didn’t make the trip, and instead, Tama Uiliata, who has eight catches on 12 targets in the past two games, will make his fourth start. Alejado had an uneven performance in last week’s loss to Fresno State. He was intercepted three times, including a pick-6, but led a late scoring drive. There also was miscommunication on an errant shotgun snap. “Coming back from an injury and getting thrown into it, people forget Fresno State is a good team,” QB coach Chad Kapanui said. “It was humbling for us offensively.” Alejado said he has recovered from an ankle/foot injury. “After the first scramble out of the pocket, that’s when I knew it was good,” said Alejado, who gained 47 yards on eight non-sack rushes. Kapanui echoed head coach Timmy Chang’s endorsement of Alejado. “He has great leadership,” Kapanui said of Alejado. “Just knowing the whole offense and what we’re trying to do. You can see the difference in how the team runs when he’s in the huddle. He can move the ball. He’s ready for a bounce-back.” O-line coach Derek Fa‘avi said the blockers have embraced the “next-man-up, no-flinching” approach. Faavi said left guard Zhen Sotelo has been “a hammer for us.” Judah Kaeo has been an effective sub for Spencer and right guard Kuao Peihopa. To counter Air Force’s chaos-causing stunts and loops, the Warriors are sticking to the three-S method: stance, steps, strikes.
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