Wolf Pack looks to slow down Hawaii, Brennan

The last time UNR had a game following a bye week, the Wolf Pack responded the way coach Chris Ault hoped.

That was Sept. 29 when it handled UNLV, 27-20. After having last week off, UNR returns to the field Friday at Mackay Stadium.

But this time, the opponent is far superior and the stakes are much higher.

If the Wolf Pack can slow down quarterback Colt Brennan and the Hawaii offense, it would give the team a huge boost in its quest for the postseason and in securing one of the Western Athletic Conference's three bowl bids.

"We practiced very intensely last week," Ault said Monday. "We hit every day and we have so many things to do defensively, we need all the time we can to prepare."

UNR (5-4 overall, 3-2 WAC), has won three straight; Hawaii has never won in Reno, going 0-3.

The Warriors, who are undefeated (9-0 overall, 6-0 WAC) and are ranked No. 13 by the Associated Press, have a talented group, even if Brennan is nicked up (he suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's 37-30 win over Fresno State).

Ault is concerned about his defense, which has been prone to giving up the big play all season.

"We've haven't been instinctive on defense all year," he said. "We've been chasing, ever since that first game against Nebraska.

"The key thing is you have to limit the big play and use your offense to keep them off the field."

Ault's problem is that quarterback Colin Kaepernick has become a big-play person himself. That could mean more time for the defense to deal with Brennan.

Since taking over for the injured Nick Graziano Oct. 6, Kaepernick has produced 1,677 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns.

Hawaii is the nation's highest scoring offense averaging 50 points a game.

"We have to find a way to slow them down and make some plays on defense," Ault said.

Senior defensive tackle Matt Hines knows the defense needs to come up big.

"We've got to get pressure on (Brennan)," he said. "We can't let him sit there in the pocket and give him time. Otherwise, he'll pick us apart."

Hines said the players know what's riding on the outcome of Friday's nationally televised game.

"You don't want to dwell on it, but we understand there's more to this game than usual," he said.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2913.