Titans Might Be in Over Heads Against Rainbows

Just what Cal State Fullerton needed: Another opponent with an offense similar to those of Akron and Nevada Las Vegas, a team that occasionally runs the option, that relies on deception and speed but also passes the ball efficiently.

Like it or not, that’s what the Titans will face tonight when they play the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. A refresher on how Fullerton has fared against Hawaii-like teams: Akron 48, Fullerton 17; UNLV 29, Fullerton 10.

The Titans will have difficulty stopping their six-game losing streak against the Rainbows. But if you’re going to lose, you might as well do it in a place Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy calls “the most beautiful stadium I’ve ever seen.”

Visitors, especially those in Titan blue and orange, haven’t exactly had a lovely time in the 50,000-seat, artificial-turf home of the Rainbows. Hawaii has a 53-30-3 home record in the past 10 years and is 9-1 at home against Fullerton since 1972.

Unlike the Titans, charter members of the home-game-a-month club, the Rainbows average eight home games and three away per season.

“When they’re home, they’re in their routine, but when they’re away, that rhythm is broken,” Murphy said. “There’s a lot more to a game than just showing up and playing.”

The Rainbows haven’t had as much success on the road, where they have gone 16-13-1 since 1980. Last week, they were two-touchdown favorites over host Texas El Paso and lost, 12-10.

But if your offense is sagging, if you’re having production problems, Fullerton has the defense for you. The Titans allowed Pacific 747 total yards in a 67-37 loss last week. Hawaii quarterback Garrett Gabriel’s eyes should light up when he gets a look at this unit.

Gabriel, a senior, is a two-year starter who has completed 66 of 124 passes for 891 yards and five touchdowns. He has two dangerous receivers in Dane McArthur, who has caught 24 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns, and Jeff Sydner, who has 23 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rainbows use a one-back, spread offense, with two wide receivers and two slotbacks lined up behind the offensive tackles.

Fullerton’s defense should be somewhat bolstered by the return of linebacker Clarence Siler, who missed two games because of an ankle injury. Murphy also received some good news when he learned that kicker and punter Phil Nevin, who missed the Pacific game because of pneumonia, is well enough to play tonight, a week sooner than expected.

But then came the note from cornerback Nuygen Pendleton’s mother on Monday. “It read, ‘Please excuse Nuygen from practice today--he was hit by a car,’ ” Murphy said.

Pendleton, the victim of a hit-and-run accident last weekend, injured his knee and is out for the season. And Fullerton is still without defensive linemen Jamal Jones and Dave Dorf, as well as safety Terry Tramble, who has been slowed by a knee injury.

Fullerton is so beat up that the Titans didn’t practice in full pads this past week, and Murphy gave them Thursday and Friday off.

“We didn’t have enough people to go full-go in practice,” Murphy said. “Plus, the players needed a break.”

Don’t look for the Rainbow defense to cut the Titans any slack. Hawaii hasn’t allowed a touchdown for 11 consecutive quarters, and the Rainbows rank 17th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing an average of 15.4 points a game, and 18th in total defense, allowing 289.4 yards.

“They have great team speed on defense,” Murphy said. “They really fly around and make things happen.”

Titan Notes

Fullerton’s last victory at Hawaii came in 1984, when a team led by Damon Allen beat the Rainbows, 21-13. The Titans haven’t played at Hawaii since 1987, when they lost to the Rainbows, 44-0. . . . Fullerton’s defensive line has been thinned by injuries, but so has Hawaii’s offensive line. The Rainbows will be without starting left tackle Mitchell Kasialii, left guard Allen Smith and right guard Tavita Sagapolu. . . . Hawaii slotback Jeff Sydner ranks 14th in the nation in all-purpose running with an average of 11.84 yards per play. He also is 17th in the nation in punt returns with a 13.25-yard average.