WHEN: Saturday, midnight ET.
WHERE: Clarence TC Ching Complex (15,194), Honolulu, O’ahu.
TV: PPV from Spectrum Sports.
VIDEO STREAM: Team1Sports app.
RADIO: ESPNHonolulu.com.
LIVE STATS: HawaiiAthletics.com.
TRAINER: DSU — Lee Hull (1-10, 2nd season at DSU; 13-22, 4th season overall); Hawaii — Timmy Chang (8-18, 3rd season at UH).
SERIES: First meeting.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I just want to play well and see these guys compete. That’s the most important thing – compete for 60 minutes, keep the blinders on, don’t look at the scoreboard. Just play, just fight, execute, basically be healthy, be disciplined. … When those things happen, it’s positive,” said DelState coach Lee Hull.
KEYS TO THE GAME: The week didn’t start out great for the Hornets after a bus company failed to get them to JFK Airport in time to catch their flight to Hawaii on Tuesday. DSU had to split its traveling party due to reports of other travel issues before the entire group arrived in Honolulu. Reports said the last group didn’t arrive until Thursday afternoon. Judging by some lighthearted Tik Tok videos, though, the Hornets tried to make the best of the situation. … Even before the travel issues, it was clear this was going to be a difficult game for DSU. A year ago, the Hornets lost their two games against FBS opponents, Army and Miami (Ohio), by a combined score of 119-20. DSU would like to think it has become a better team in the offseason. But it would take a lot for the Hornets to keep up with the Warriors, who won three of their last four games a season ago and finished 5-8. Hawaii returns a total of 15 starters on offense and defense. … Hawaii has a talented senior quarterback in Brayden Schager. Last year he threw for 272.46 yards per game with 26 touchdown passes. Schager has started 26 games in his career. DelState has a returning starter as a second-year QB Marquis Adams. For the Hornets, he’ll have to play like a veteran – avoid mistakes and make big plays on the relatively few opportunities he gets.
NOTES: Hawaii has won consecutive games against FCS opponents, winning by an average of 25.9 points. … DelState is the first HBCU program to play in Hawaii since Prairie View A&M in 1979. The Warriors won, 65-0. … The Hornets last beat an FCS (or FBS) program in their season opener in 2012, when they defeated VMI, 17-10. DSU has beaten Division II Lincoln and Bowie State in its 2022 and 2021 openers. … The Hornets will have to hope their return trip goes more smoothly, because next Saturday they have to be in Connecticut to play Sacred Heart.