There has been a laundry list of things in just the first two games that have kept the Warriors from winning: Too many penalties, Giving up big plays, suspect playcalling, and other things during the first two weeks of the season.
You can probably go ahead and add injuries to that list as well for the future.
It was announced on Sunday that Hawaii linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams and running back Joey Iosefa would be out for the foreseeable future with injuries, Garcia-Williams is done for the 2014 season with a torn ACL sustained in the second quarter of Hawaii's 38-30 loss to Oregon State, and leading rusher Joey Iosefa will be out for 4-6 with an ankle injury that occurred in the final quarter of Saturday's game.
"It's very unfortunate that we've lost two extremely talented young men and terrific leaders on this team," head coach Norm Chow said, "However, we are fully confident that others will step up and contribute in their absence"
.@hawaiifootball Jerrol Garcia-Williams out for year with torn ACL; Joey Iosefa out 4-6 weeks with ankle injury. #hawaiifb #staradvertiser
— Stephen Tsai (@StephenTsai) September 8, 2014
Tough break for #HawaiiFB. OLB Jerrol Garcia-Williams out for season w/ACL injury. RB Joey Iosefa to miss 4-6 weeks w/ankle injury.
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) September 8, 2014
And what a tough break it is.
Iosefa missed the first eight games of last season with a foot injury he suffered right before fall camp had begun, and came back on fire with almost 600 yards in the last four games of the year. He looked like he would surpass that mark and more with nearly 200 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns in the first two games of the year, but this injury hurts the 'Bows offense a ton on the ground. Steven Lakalaka is a very suitable replace in the backfield, but it hurts to see Iosefa hurt once again after showing so much promise the first two games.
Garcia-Williams, the Junior from Las Vegas, hasn't made as much noise as Iosefa has this year, but is one of the best returning players on the Warriors defense, ranking fifth on the team in tackles last year. He's a leader on this defense and losing him for the year hurts the middle of the front seven a ton for UH. Senior Julian Gener should be next in line to take Garcia-Williams spot, and hopefully keep pushing this defense in the right direction under new Defensive Coordinator Kevin Clune.
There is some good news though..
For the good news, C Kody Afusia, DL Marcus Malepeai, TE Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson expected back for Saturday's game vs. Northern Iowa. #HawaiiFB
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) September 8, 2014
Having Afusia back will be big for Hawaii's front line, the only difference will be the line will be paving the way for Lakalaka rather than their Senior leader, Iosefa.
So, yes, both loses hurt the Warriors significantly on both sides of the ball, but this team continues to fight and scrap even when they get knocked down hard (Hi there Oregon State), and don't surprised if this team stays afloat and picks up a couple wins in Iosefa and Garcia-Williams absence.
Quote taken from KHON Sports Anchor Sam Spangler via Twitter.