It seemed that after Louisiana Tech's Dustin Mitchell took a swing at Hawai'i kicker Dan Kelly following one of the Warriors' 10 kickoffs on the night, Kelly lost his kicking equilibrium. His next three kickoffs sailed out of bounds, leading to automatic series starts at the Bulldogs' 35.

But it wasn't the case, Kelly said.

"It was just an absolute mental collapse," Kelly said of his errant kicks. "I don't know what happened."

After UH increased its lead to 9-3 on Kelly's 39-yard field goal with 4:52 left in the first quarter, Kelly's kickoff was fielded by Patrick Jackson at the goal line and returned to the LaTech 19. While Jackson was being stopped, Mitchell and Kelly got tangled up in such a way that they each pulled at each other.

"Then he just swung at my helmet," Kelly said. "I don't mind the physicalness, but once he took the swing, that was a little much."

Mitchell was called for a personal foul that set LaTech back to the 10. But Kelly wasn't blaming that play for his kickoff woes.

"It was just a lack of technique tonight," Kelly said. "I just have to pick it up Monday. I can't let this bug me anymore. It's done, it's finished."

Punter Kurt Milne took over the kicking duties following Kelly's third out-of-bounds kickoff. It was Milne's only action because the Warriors didn't attempt a single punt.

"It was nice," Milne said. "I actually felt like I did something."

Hawai'i graduate assistant Dennis McKnight, who coaches the kickoff teams, said Kelly's job isn't in danger.

"Dan was over-striding, kind of like a guy in golf," McKnight said. "He was pulling the ball left. June (Jones, UH head coach) said he wanted somebody else to kick it and we did.

"We just told Dan, 'Relax, don't worry about it.' He's still the guy. We love you, but during the game we had to go with someone else. Sometimes kickers are people who get a little mental.

"If anything," McKnight added, "that would've probably helped get him knocked straight."

Mauia back in running

Senior running back Reagan Mauia started at running back for the first time this season in place of Nate Ilaoa, who was nursing an ankle injury.

"I wanted to do it for Nate, because he was unable to get a taste of tonight's game," Mauia said. "But he was on the sideline coaching me up and supporting me."

After being used mostly as a sixth blocker this season, Mauia carried the ball six times for 52 yards — averaging 8.7 yards per carry — and two scores.

"It felt good. It's been a while," Mauia said. "I just loved it. I was just trying to take it all in."

Mauia said his role last night was to "be a team player. Coach is always talking about how this is one of the best teams he's coached because of the camaraderie of the guys. We love playing for each other."

NOTES

UH kicked off for the first time this season after Louisiana Tech won the coin flip and chose to receive.

Nalani Choy of Na Leo was on the UH sidelines prior to the game because her son, Kahai, a junior offensive lineman at Kamehameha, was a guest along with other Kamehameha players and recruits.

Kapolei senior offensive lineman Mike Matamua was among the recruits on the sidelines. He said he has received offers from Hawai'i, Utah, UNLV and San Diego State.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com, Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com and Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.