Hawaii Warriors Football: Justin Clapp Provides a Blueprint for Success

Honolulu, HI—For a Hawaii football team much in need of a breakout performance against UC Davis this Saturday at Aloha Stadium (6:00 p.m. HST), it needs to look no further than its own Justin Clapp for inspiration and know-how.

Against Nevada-Las Vegas this past Saturday, Clapp's performance at slot receiver was the lone bright spot in what Warriors head coach Greg McMackin called the "most disappointing loss" in his four seasons at Hawaii.

Yes, linebacker Aaron Brown had a great game on the defensive side of the ball, but so much could be expected from the standout senior who established himself as one of the best players in the Western Athletic Conference last season—something Clapp cannot lay claim to.

A quick look into Hawaii's media guide confirms as much.

In the wide receiver section of the "2011 Season Outlook," Clapp's name isn't even mentioned, and no less than eight other receivers are in the half-page writeup. Dig a little deeper into the guide and you'll realize the only thing realistically expected out of the sophomore in 2011 is another selection to the all-WAC Academic Team.

But therein lies the secret to Clapp's success. For it's his wizardry of Hawaii's sophisticated run-and-shoot offense that earned him the start at Nevada-Las Vegas to begin with. Substituted into the starting lineup for the injured Miah Ostrowski who hurt his foot the previous week at Washington.

"Justin Clapp did an outstanding job," McMackin said after Tuesday's practice. "The two things he really does well is he catches the football, and the other thing is he knows the offense as well as anybody so he's gonna be open. He made two great touchdown catches and he did an outstanding job, I'm really proud of him."

Senior strong safety Richard Torres also noticed the job well done by the 6'2" 195-pound receiver from De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., whose father, Carl Clapp, is an associate athletic director at Hawaii.

"It's always good to see a person who works hard succeed," Torres said. "Justin had his opportunity and he made the most of it. It was great to see his hard work paying off, and Justin Clapp works hard off the field (and) on the field. So it's just good to see a guy like him making plays and helping the team out."

To the tune of 83 yards, two touchdowns and nine catches, Clapp helped the team. But his first career start ended up being a 40-20 loss, which removed some of the starch from his stellar performance and dropped the Warriors to 1-2.

"I just had to fill in for Miah," a subdued Clapp said. "Miah would have done the same thing, I'm sure. Maybe he would have got three (touchdown receptions), you never know. But I just tried to do my best, I focused on my plays, executed the offense about as well as I could, and it happened to turn out in my favor."

When asked if his two touchdown catches felt like a reward for all the hard work he's put in, Clapp's answer opened a window into the workmanlike mind that's helped him to master the offense.

"Well hard work never stops," he said. "I mean that's just begun. That's just the first stepping stone in my career. I still got a lot more time here so I'm looking to build on that and hopefully have a good future. Hopefully this team, we end up having a good career run for my time here. Hopefully everything goes well."

With the Nevada-Las Vegas game in his back pocket, not a whole lot feels different to Clapp.

"I feel pretty much the same coming out to practice," he said. "I just focus on what I can do, I try not to focus on things I can't control like Miah's injury and everything. I hope he gets well (and) I hope he's back for this game. But all I can control is just making the most of my reps, practicing as hard as I can, (and) trying to help the team out as best as I can."

Against UC Davis (1-2), there's a good chance that Clapp will be in the starting lineup trying to help the team out "as best as he can" since Ostrowski's foot injury kept him from practicing this week.

And if Hawaii's other players find themselves in need of a guide to follow during the game, or are searching for a little inspiration, all they'll need to do is focus in on No. 13 in the black jersey.

He might be in the end zone with the football.

"We always tell everybody just keep working hard," McMackin said. "Find a role on our football team; whatever phase it is. But when you get your opportunity, step up (and) make plays. And that's just what Justin Clapp did. He's an excellent example of a guy that finally got his chance and he did a great job."