Hawaii Football: New-Look Warriors in 'Do-or-Die' WAC Finale with Fresno State

Honolulu, HI—While the Fresno State Bulldogs may have to travel 2,560 miles to reach Hawaii for Saturday night's football game at Aloha Stadium, the Warriors must journey back more than two years, 27 games and 10,000 passing yards to remember the last time they played a game without Bryant Moniz starting at quarterback.

Last week's season-ending leg injury left the senior with a broken right fibula, and the Warriors with one week of practice to find his replacement. But no matter who is chosen to take over the reins, Hawaii will not look the same without No. 17 calling the plays.

Senior Shane Austin received the nod last Saturday after Moniz collapsed in the first quarter of Hawaii's 42-28 loss to Nevada, but head coach Greg McMackin later said a permanent decision would be made after a week of competition between Austin and sophomore David Graves.

That decision will not be announced until game time.

"We're gonna stand by both of their sides no matter what," senior wide receiver Royce Pollard said of Austin and Graves. "And one of them is going to lead us into this game so we can come out with a victory."

The 6:00 p.m. HST game will be Hawaii's (5-5 overall, 3-3 WAC) final in the Western Athletic Conference after 33 years, and a win over rival Fresno State (3-7, 2-3) would help to subdue the bitterness of not repeating as conference champions before switching to the Mountain West Conference in 2012.

"It's at that point, (our) back's against the wall, it's all-out, it's all or nothing," Pollard said.

"The seniors on this team, we don't want to leave without something to remember; we're an average team right now and that's not something we're going to remember... We want to remember going to a bowl game."

Facing Fresno State, Tulane and Brigham Young in succession to finish the regular season, Hawaii needs to win two more games to qualify for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on December 24. The quarterback they choose to take over for Moniz will go a long way in determining if Pollard and the Warriors have a bowl game to remember when they look back at 2011.

Both Austin and Graves have seemed equally capable of quarterbacking Hawaii when given the opportunity. Each has received snaps and been relatively successful this year, but who will be chosen is anyone's guess.

"They both got two different styles of playing, but they both know what to do," Pollard said. "I know David likes to run a little more and scramble and then get the ball to us. And I know Shane likes to stand in the pocket and deliver the passes... I'm sure both of them are going to come ready to play, we've just got to pick one and go with it."

Of its three remaining games, all of which are at home, it would be wise of Hawaii to win the next two against Fresno State and Tulane (2-9, 1-6 Conference USA) to become bowl eligible. Brigham Young (7-3 overall) has won six out of its last seven games, and will be looking to avenge a 72-45 loss in 2001 that ruined a perfect 12-0 season the last time the Cougars came to the islands.

"We need to get these (wins)," Graves said.

"We got our backs against the wall, so we're winning at all costs. We can't take a step backwards, it's a do-or-die situation, we got to win."

Game Notes

Flag Duty

Royce Pollard said he spoke with Bryant Moniz about the possibility of carrying the Hawaiian flag onto the field before kickoff, a tradition that Moniz started.

"I would be honored to do that for him," Pollard said. "I would feel privileged."

Manny Pacquiao

The University of Hawaii has been informed that boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will not be able to attend Saturday's football game against Fresno State, so there will be no ceremony held prior to the game as previously announced.

Kevin Riley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.