Hawaii got punched in the mouth by the Vanderbilt Commodores and dropped to the mat. Through four quarters, Hawaii couldn’t answer the bell. Timmy Chang’s team fell flat and lost 63-10. The outcome was unfortunate for the beginning of the Timmy Chang era. Hawaii fans were hoping to get a win after the excitement that was built over the offseason. However, a sold-out crowd of 9,000 went home with a bitter taste in their mouths.
Defense comes up short
In order to win, Hawaii had to play well on the defensive side of the ball. Hawaii started the game well and stopped Vandy on third-down. However, the Warriors gave up a touchdown on Vandy’s second drive of the game. Vanderbilt was in the red-zone and Hawaii gave up a wide-open touchdown to Will Sheppard. Sheppard finished the game with 3 catches, 39 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Hawaii’s offense stalled during the game and the defense couldn’t stop Vanderbilt. Quarterback Mike Wright and Vandy’s running backs ran all over Hawaii. Chang’s team gave up 404 yards on the ground and consistently missed tackles. Wright rushed for 163 yards on 13 carries. During the game, Vanderbilt ran read option to the left side of the field and gained significant yardage.
Coach Chang’s defense couldn’t fill their gaps and move Vandy’s offensive line. Vanderbilt attacked Hawaii’s defense, scored on multiple possessions, and controlled the game. Once Vanderbilt was rolling Hawaii couldn’t stop the bleeding.
Penalties and Turnovers
Football teams have to limit turnovers and play smart football. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case for Hawaii. Hawaii was penalized eight times for a total of 72 yards. A team with a new regime can’t afford penalties. Additionally, Hawaii committed two turnovers. Both turnovers were committed by running back Dedrick Parson. On special teams, Hawaii nearly lost the ball on their 10-yard line.
Bright Spots
Even though the Warriors lost, there were a few bright spots. Hawaii was able to stop Vanderbilt on fourth down. Vanderbilt went 1-5 on fourth down. Wide receiver Jonah Panoke played well and made the most out of his opportunity. Panoke finished the game with 7 catches and 101 receiving yards.
Final Thoughts
The game was ugly and Hawaii has a lot to work on. Hawaii’s coaching staff has to look at the film and correct the mistakes they made. Hawaii has been a losing program and Timmy Chang wants to bring winning back to the football program. If Hawaii can gradually improve, they can win some games this season. Next up Western Kentucky.
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