High-powered duel: UH hosts No. 19 Nevada

By Fred Guzman

Out of sight, out of mind. The lack of Hawaii football games on live television is the prime reason that, as of yesterday, only 32,000 tickets had been distributed for Saturday’s WAC showdown between Hawaii and 19th-ranked Nevada at 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium.

Ever since the season-opener against Southern California, Hawaii’s games have only been available to most local fans via pay-per-view. So this improving UH team continues to fly under the radar despite posting an impressive 49-27 road victory last week at Fresno State.

Hawaii’s formula for success in compiling records of 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the WAC a 4-2 remains unchanged. It’s based on a highly productive passing game.

Leading the way is much-improved quarterback Bryant Moniz, the 2007 Leilehua High graduate who leads the NCAA in total offense, with 388 yards per game.

By comparison, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, heralded by many as the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy front-runner, is averaging 369 yards.

Moniz is No. 1 in passing yards per game with 374.17 and total passing yards with 2,245, well ahead of Oklahoma State’s Russell Wilson’s 1,802 yards. Moniz also is tied for first with 18 touchdown throws.

Whether Moniz can generate those types of numbers against Nevada will likely determine whether UH can post back-to-back upsets at the expense of a team that has crashed the Top 25 for the only the second time in school history.

Moniz top targets, slotbacks Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares, ranked first and third, respectively

Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick is no slouch, himself. The 6-foot-6 QB is averaging nearly 107 rushing yards per game out of the Wolf Pack’s “pistol” offense . Kaepernick also has worked hard to improve his passing accuracy and it’s paid off. He’s completing 70.7 percent of his throws.