Rainbow Warriors struggle in 31-13 loss to Sam Houston in road opener

TREVOR CAMELLO / HAWAI’I ATHLETICS UH’s Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen recovered a fumble against Sam Houston State Saturday in Huntsville, Texas.

1 /2 TREVOR CAMELLO / HAWAI’I ATHLETICS UH’s Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen recovered a fumble against Sam Houston State Saturday in Huntsville, Texas.

TREVOR CAMELLO / HAWAI’I ATHLETICS Hawaii’s defense upended a Sam Houston runner, forcing him to lose the ball Saturday.

2 /2 TREVOR CAMELLO / HAWAI’I ATHLETICS Hawaii’s defense upended a Sam Houston runner, forcing him to lose the ball Saturday.

TREVOR CAMELLO / HAWAI’I ATHLETICS UH’s Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen recovered a fumble against Sam Houston State Saturday in Huntsville, Texas.

TREVOR CAMELLO / HAWAI’I ATHLETICS Hawaii’s defense upended a Sam Houston runner, forcing him to lose the ball Saturday.

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS—On a staircase in the corner of Bowers Stadium, Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang sat in despair, his cheeks stained with emotion.

“It’s on me, ” Chang said, softly, repeating a message he delivered to the Rainbow Warriors following Saturday night’s 31-13 loss to Sam Houston. “I have to coach better. That’s really what it comes down to. … The message is : it’s on me as head coach. I have to be better.”

There had been rosy aspirations in the aftermath of the Warriors’ 16-13 setback to UCLA two weeks earlier, and the refreshed optimism when last week’s bye brought improved health for key players. But in sweltering conditions—temperatures and the humidity index were in the 90s at kickoff—the Warriors were underwhelming against a host that only achieved FBS status last year.

The Warriors committed 14 penalties for 122 yards—many sabotaging drives—struggled for consistency to run or pass against a sagging defense, and gave up chunk plays.

Sam Houston’s Hunter Watson, who was a…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rainbow-warriors-struggle-31-13-161100345.html

Author : The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Publish date : 2024-09-15 16:11:00

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