Scouting Hawaii: What Wyoming Can Expect From the Rainbow Warriors

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Hawaii quarterback with Micah Alejado (12). Photo courtesy of Hawai‘i Athletics.

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Wyoming has spent the first three weeks of the season searching for consistency.

Now the Cowboys have a different challenge.

Hawaii comes to War Memorial Stadium on Gold Out and homecoming Saturday with sophomore quarterback Micah Alejado and a passing game that has shown it can move the ball.

The Rainbow Warriors are 1-2 overall and 0-1 in Mountain West play after beating New Mexico State 29-19 on Sept. 12. Wyoming is also 1-2 following a 24-10 loss at Central Michigan.

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Hawaii's offense starts with Alejado.

"Coach Chang does a great job. Got a really good quarterback with Micah Alejado and the rest of their team," Sawvel said his Monday press conference. "Defensively they’ve got some good active players and it will a big challenge."

Alejado leads Hawaii's offense

Alejado has completed 81 passes for 794 yards through three games, averaging 264.7 yards per game. He has thrown two touchdowns and one interception.

He had his best game of the season against New Mexico State, completing 33 of 45 passes for 346 yards.

Tama Uiliata caught 10 passes for 107 yards, Kainoa Carvalho had nine catches for 82 yards and Audric Harris finished with 105 yards on four receptions, including a 55-yard gain.

Spreading the ball out gives Wyoming several players to account for in the secondary.

The Cowboys have allowed opponents to complete 62.7 percent of their passes through three games, with six touchdowns and two interceptions.

Getting pressure on Alejado without leaving Hawaii's receivers in favorable matchups will be important.

Wyoming can't ignore the run

Running back DeVon Rice hasn't put up huge numbers, but he gives Hawaii another option.

Rice has 42 carries for 167 yards and three touchdowns. He scored twice against New Mexico State.

Wyoming is coming off its worst performance against the run this season after allowing Central Michigan to rush for 339 yards.

The Cowboys have allowed 632 rushing yards through three games, or 210.7 per game.

Hawaii throws the ball much more than Central Michigan, but Rice could become a factor if Wyoming puts too much attention on Alejado and the receivers.

Hawaii has been up and down

The Rainbow Warriors haven't been the same offensive team every week.

They scored 20 points in the fourth quarter of a 37-27 loss at Stanford, then failed to score a touchdown in a 21-6 loss to UNLV.

Against New Mexico State, Hawaii built a 16-0 lead before the Aggies came back to tie the game at 19. The Rainbow Warriors answered by scoring the final 10 points.

Hawaii also went into the playbook for a touchdown when Uiliata took a snap at quarterback and threw a seven-yard pass to Frank Abreu on fourth down.

Turnovers remain a concern for Wyoming

Wyoming's offense has its own problems to fix.

Quarterback Tyler Hughes has completed 44 of 75 passes for 452 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions. The Cowboys have also lost three fumbles.

That's eight turnovers in three games.

Wyoming is averaging 306.3 yards and 14.7 points per game and hasn't scored more than 21 points this season.

The Cowboys have had more success running the football.

Hughes leads the team with 156 rushing yards. Samuel "Tote" Harris has 134 yards and Markell Holman has 132. Holman is averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Hawaii linebacker Jamih Otis is one player Wyoming will have to watch. He recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass against New Mexico State.

What to watch

Wyoming's defense can't allow Alejado to get comfortable.

Hawaii has enough options at receiver to make the Cowboys defend the entire field, and Rice gives the Rainbow Warriors enough of a running game that Wyoming can't sell out against the pass.

On the other side, Wyoming needs to take care of the football and sustain drives, not to mention getting off to a fast start.

The Cowboys have eight turnovers through three games. Giving Alejado and Hawai‘i additional possessions Saturday is something Wyoming cannot afford.