Thursday, September 3, 1998
100-yard
opening kickoff
return launches
Wildcats
'Bows lose season opener
By Paul Arnett
against Arizona 27-6
Star-BulletinSPECIAL: RAINBOW FOOTBALL PREVIEW
For the tailgaters who stayed in the parking lot too long, they missed Chris McAlister's 100-yard return on the opening kickoff. It was a portent of things to come as the No. 24-ranked Arizona Wildcats methodically whipped Hawaii 27-6 tonight before an Aloha Stadium crowd of 33,804. The Rainbows kept it close until late in the third quarter, but much like last year in the 31-6 loss to Wyoming, Arizona just had too many weapons for Hawaii to overcome.
Arizona quarterback Keith Smith came off the bench to hit 17 of 22 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. He helped put the game out of reach with a 7-yard scoring strike to receiver Dennis Northcutt with 1:40 left in the third quarter.Northcutt caught eight passes for 91 yards as Arizona effectively exploited Hawaii's inexperienced secondary. Smith rarely found himself under any pressure, which allowed him to wait for receivers to come open.
Arizona's cause was helped significantly by the long kickoff return by McAlister that gave the Wildcats a 7-0 advantage just 16 seconds into the game.
The Arizona cornerback caught the ball near the left hash-mark, followed his wedge of blockers to the 20 and then broke into the clear. Hawaii free safety Daniel Ho-Ching took a bad angle, forcing place-kicker Chad Shrout in the unenviable position of trying to tackle McAlister in the open field.It was a complete mismatch as McAlister gave Shrout one fake and then sailed untouched the final 50 yards for a touchdown to silence the stunned Aloha Stadium crowd.
But much like last year when Notre Dame scored on the first play of the game, it seemed to give the Wildcats a sense of false security. Granted, Hawaii wasn't able to make a first down in the first quarter and Arizona drove methodically down the field during its first offensive series.
The momentum seemed to turn, however, after Hawaii stuffed a 4th-and-9 play, forcing starting quarterback Oretge Jenkins to throw a wild pass attended for running back Kelvin Eafon.UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey lifted UH starting quarterback Josh Skinner for Dan Robinson, who came in and completed a 9-yard pass to junior college transfer Michael Carter. It led to Hawaii's first first down of the season at the 14:52 mark of the second quarter.
Six plays later, Robinson found Carter again for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Unfortunately for the Rainbows, place-kicker Eric Hannum pulled the PAT wide left, making it 7-6 with 12:30 remaining in the first half.
The Wildcats responded with a touchdown drive of their own. Smith came in and led Arizona on a crisp seven-play, 78-yard drive that culminated on a 17-yard touchdown toss to receiver Jeremy McDaniel.He caught the ball on the 7, then faked UH cornerback Donnell Williams right out of his shoes to give the Wildcats their first offensive touchdown of the season, and a 14-6 advantage that held up through the remainder of the first half.
The Wildcats widened the gap with a touchdown late in the third quarter. A 37-yard pass from Smith to Northcutt was the key play in the 53-yard scoring drive. Smith found Northcutt all alone on a third-down play from 7 yards to make it 21-6 with 1:40 left in the third.Arizona scored its last touchdown on a 5-yard run by Kelvin Eafon. It capped a five-play, 35-yard drive that was set up by a bad punt by Shrout. A 14-yard pass from Smith to McDaniel set up Eafon's scoring run.
Rainbow football
Records: Hawaii (0-0) vs. Arizona (0-0)
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
