GAME NOTES: A perfect 4-0 for the first time since 1988, the 19th-ranked Hawaii Warriors hit the mainland once again this weekend to challenge the Idaho Vandals in a Western Athletic Conference showdown from the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. Only once this season have the Warriors, now on a five-game win streak dating back to last season, been truly challenged, that coming in a 45-44 overtime decision against Louisiana Tech in the WAC opener in Ruston a few weeks ago. Last Saturday, Hawaii hosted Charleston Southern in the first-ever meeting between the two programs, and completely dominated the affair with a 66-10 outing. As for the Vandals, who are operating under new head coach Robb Akey, their only win of the 2007 campaign came against Cal Poly back on September 8th by a score of 20-13. Since then the team has fallen in back-to- back outings, most recently in a 42-35 contest against Northern Illinois at home. Idaho, which is getting its first taste of league play this season, lost five straight WAC outings to close out the 2006 campaign. Hawaii has won all but one of the previous seven meetings between the two schools, crushing the Vandals a year ago in Honolulu by a final of 68-10. The Warriors have won five in a row over Idaho, with the Vandals lone win coming in a 14-6 decision back in 1960.

Hawaii didn't figure on being challenged in its meeting with Charleston Southern last weekend, which went a long way in the decision to hold star quarterback Colt Brennan out of the contest with an ailing ankle. Taking care of business for the Warriors was Tyler Graunke who hit 22-of-36 passes for 285 yards and three scores, but he was intercepted twice. Getting to see some action late in the contest was Funaki Inoke who also tossed a couple of scoring passes and finished 6-of-9 for 78 yards. Listed as probable for this weekend, Brennan will probably be used only as long as the outcome is still in doubt, which means he should be seated by the time the squads come out for the third quarter. The Heisman hopeful has the passing offense running on all cylinders yet again this season, averaging 461.8 ypg to rank first in the WAC and second in the nation behind only Texas Tech. And even though the rushing attack is producing a mere 81.3 ypg (108th in the country), the Warriors are still second in college football in terms of scoring with 55.8 ppg.

When a team is scoring better than 55 points per game, there's not much call for a staunch defense. Hawaii has seen years in which it has blossomed on the scoreboard but also been lax in limiting opponents, something that has changed a bit this season. But before the Warriors can be proud of the fact that they are ranked second in the conference and 28th in the nation with just 18.5 ppg, they have to remember that taking on the likes of Northern Colorado and Charleston Southern isn't exactly going to put future foes on notice. CSU was allowed 239 yards through the air last weekend, but only registered a single passing touchdown, while the Hawaii defense picked off three passes and posted five sacks. Adam Leonard, who returned a pick 36 yards for a score, was third on the unit with six tackles, behind only Solomon Elimimian (13 stops) and Jacob Patek (seven). The pass defense is currently ranked 38th in the country with 191 ypg allowed, but in terms of the pass efficiency defense the Warriors check in with a rating of 99.62, second-best in the conference and 19th in the country. Not a bad stat considering most opponents are forced to throw the ball over and over again just to keep pace with Hawaii.

Deonte Jackson led the Idaho charge against NIU last weekend with his 111 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, but it still wasn't enough to hold off yet another loss by the Vandals. Quarterback Nathan Enderle connected on half of his 54 pass attempts for 423 yards and two scores, but he was sacked five times and intercepted on three occasions. Although it did not show up a true offensive stat, Shiloh Keo made some noise with a 100-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the first half. Jackson has been the lone bright spot on the Idaho offense thus far, leading the WAC and placing seventh in the nation this week with his 134.3 ypg on the ground. Of the team's five rushing scores, Jackson has logged three, all while averaging almost five and a half yards per carry. Enderle has been finding his opportunities in the pocket few and far between thus far, converting only 46.2 percent of his attempts for 221 ypg. While he's tossed six scores, there have been seven passes that have gone the other way.

While the Idaho offense was coming up with 586 yards, the defense was limiting the visitors to just 356, and still the Huskies had enough punch to take control and squeeze out the road win. The Vandal defense was on the field for only 62 plays, compared to 95 plays for the Idaho offense, so the squad should not have been fatigued whatsoever. David Vobora notched team highs with nine solo tackles and 12 overall stops, while Siua Musika posted the lone sack of the day for the host squad. As one of the top returning tacklers in college football, Vobora is again tops on the unit with his 37 overall tackles, while his 26 solo stops would have him fourth on the list overall for the Vandals alone. Keo, second on the squad with 28 tackles (23 unassisted), now has three picks and a pair of fumble recoveries, and still the Vandals are tied for 55th in the nation in turnover margin. Placing 111th in the country in sacks with less than one per game, the Vandals shouldn't be surprised that their scoring defense is 99th in the country (34.5 ppg).

The Warriors have been slow starters the last couple of games, but having scored in every quarter this season and in 19 straight overall, the squad shouldn't have to worry about a shaky start versus the Vandals.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Hawaii 56, Idaho 13