Warriors expect fighting spirit and strong running Panthers

Ignore the classification in the lower divisions.

A tough football battle is expected when Northern Iowa and Hawaii meet at the Ching Complex on Saturday night.

The visiting Panthers average 245.3 rushing yards per game and 5.9 yards per carry. They average 6'4″ and 300 pounds on the offensive line. Running back Tye Edwards, 6'4″ and 220 pounds, averaged 115.7 yards per game and 8.9 yards per carry. Edwards' running mate, Amauri Pesek-Hickson, is 6'2″ and 240 pounds.

“They're big everywhere,” said Jeff Reinebold, who coaches the Rainbow Warriors' defensive tackles. “I mean, their coaches are big.”

The Panthers, who are the 19th-ranked FCS team in the Coaches Poll, went to Nebraska's Memorial Stadium last week and didn't let it bother them. Despite the 35-7 loss, the Panthers controlled the clock for 38 minutes and 7 seconds.

“They played in front of 85,000 crazy fans dressed in red and it didn't faze them at all,” Reinebold said. “The game wasn't too big for them. They played through it.”

Despite all the movement and towering receivers spaced far apart, the Panthers' plan is simple. “They're going to line up and come right at you,” UH assistant head coach Chris Brown said. “I like that. That's just my kind of fight. You look a guy in the eye and throw your fists in the air, and the toughest guy wins.”

UH defensive tackle Ezra Evaimalo said, “This is going to be a big week to show your manhood, I can tell you that honestly. You've got to go out there and play fast and physical. If you don't, this team is going to run us into the dirt. This team is a great team. It doesn't matter what league or division they're in. This team comes to play. We've got to go out there and start like we know they're going to play hard, because they do.”

In their first two games, the Warriors held Delaware State to 104 rushing yards and UCLA to 71 yards on 20 carries. But last week they gave up 257 yards on the ground in a 31-13 loss to Sam Houston. At practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, the scout team simulated the Panthers' offense with a physical approach in drills against the Warriors' best defense. Reinebold said the rigor of the drills was designed with UNI in mind.

“When you get between the ropes with (the Panthers), you've got two options very soon,” Reinebold said. “You either get hit and fight back. Or you get hit and go to the corner and wait for the ref to wave his hands over you. I expect we're going to fight back. That's what you want from your guys. You want them to fight and compete. I think both teams will compete. It's going to be a great game.”

When UH's defensive scheme allows the edges to be bracketed, the opposing running backs are directed to the middle linebacker.

Jamih Otis, who shares midfield duties with Logan Taylor, said: “We like these tough running games. It's just a battle of the big boys. We say it's a bar fight. This is one of those games where the action is tough and there's a lot of excitement. That's the kind of game we live for.”

Brown, who played middle linebacker for the Warriors in the early 2000s, remembered playing against impressive offensive lines and tough running backs.

“For a Mike linebacker, this is a dream,” Brown said. “You're going to have busted shoulders. All your fingers are going to feel busted because these guys are coming right at you. It's that kind of brutal game. But this is a linebacker's dream. This is a D-lineman's dream. This is the game that defines who is tough. … If there's one game that defines Hawaii football, it's this one. Hawaii football is always known for being tough, especially on defense. This is the game to test it. Can we stop their run? Can we slow them down? Can we give them a run for their money?”