Hawaii Returns Home to Face Aggies

By Fred Guzman

Maybe, a bit of home cooking will help the Hawaii football team get its season back on track. UH plays at Aloha Stadium on Saturday for the first time in nearly a month when it faces New Mexico State on.  During that span, Hawaii showed promise in a 44-26 win at LaTech and followed that up with a turnover-filled 28-27 loss at San Jose State.

At 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the WAC, this game is critical for UH on two fronts.  It needs to get to seven wins to become bewl eligible and must handle the likes of the Aggies if it hopes to compete for the WAC title.

And now is the time to begin tht move. After playing four of six games on the road, Hawaii will play five of its remaining seven regular-season games at Aloha Stadium.

New Mexico State has been down so long that  3-3 represents an up for the Aggies, who an feature six Hawaii players on the roster and are coming off a 31-24 win over Idaho.

Junior tailback Kenny Turner led the way by rushing for 171 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.  He has reached triple digits in each of the last three games.

Turner’s emergence coincides with a change in offensive philosophy by the Aggies after Andrew Manley, the quarterbck from Leilehua, suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Manley made the trip to Hawaii, and will serve as an honorary captain for the Aggies.  But an anticipated passing duel between former Mules will not take place.  UH starter Bryant Moniz also attended Leilehua, leading the Mules to a state title.