After further review, University of Hawai'i coach June Jones yesterday strongly defended his play-calling in Saturday's 27-13 loss to nationally ranked Fresno State.

"I always second guess what I do after the game, but looking at the tape, I feel we made the right calls," Jones said.

On Internet message boards and the radio post-game show, the Warriors were criticized for not calling enough running plays in the red zone (the area between FSU's 20 and the goal line). In particular, there were complaints running back Nate Ilaoa was under-utilized. He rushed seven times for 81 yards in the first half, but had only three carries for 14 yards after that.

Despite 8 of 10 drives entering the red zone, the Warriors managed one touchdown and two field goals. Of their 22 offensive plays in the red zone, 19 were passes. Inside the 10, five of their six plays were pass attempts, resulting in an interception, two other incompletions and two sacks.

UH also failed to complete passes on a third-and-1 play and two fourth-and-1 situations.

Jones said there were breakdowns in each of the unsuccessful pass plays. "It was a combination of not doing what you're supposed to do," Jones said.

Asked why the Warriors didn't call for more running plays in the red zone, Jones indicated it was not necessary because each pass play includes high-percentage choices if operated correctly. He also said running plays offer the same risks.

"It doesn't matter if you hand the ball off," Jones said. "If you don't hit the hole, you don't score. You can second guess all you want. Whatever it is you elect to do — run or pass — you'd better do it correctly, right?"

Jones said the Warriors did not consistently hit open receivers nor did the receivers always run the correct routes in the red zone.

"Let me just say, if we did what we were supposed to do, that question would not come up," Jones said.

As for calling for a pass off a faked field goal on fourth-and-1 instead of running a regular play, Jones said that was part of the script.

"We said we were going to run a fake before the game started, and we did, and it didn't work," Jones said.

UH quarterback Colt Brennan said: "We had so many opportunities to make things happen. We messed up. I know two — probably three, for me — instances where we messed up. It was one of those days. All you can do is learn from it and hope it doesn't happen again."

The Warriors (3-5 overall, 3-3 in the Western Athletic Conference) now must win their four remaining games, beginning against Nevada on Saturday in Reno, to meet the NCAA bowl-eligible minimum of a winning regular season.

"You feel sorry for the seniors because you want them to have a great year," said Brennan, a third-year sophomore who transferred from Saddleback Community College in June. "Then you realize the type of season we're having. You have to put it into perspective. We're a young team."

The Warriors have first-year starters at the six ball-handling positions on offense.

"It's one of those seasons where we're learning about losing," Brennan said. "I think when you learn about losing, and learn about being in the dumps, that's really when you find yourself. Coach Lou Holtz said, 'Find me a championship team, and I'll find you a team that went through adversity.' This is our battle. This is our adversity, and it's only making us tougher. It seems this whole season, things have been going against us. But we keep fighting and going. The tables are going to turn eventually, and when they do, we'll be ready."

Jones acknowledged he was disappointed by another close WAC loss. UH squandered a sizeable lead in a home loss to Boise State.

"It's frustrating because against the two best teams in the WAC, we had chances to beat them both, and we didn't," Jones said. "For now, all we're worried about is beating Nevada and getting better every week. That's all we have to do."

WARRIORS HOPE TO RISE TO OCCASION AT NEVADA

They have tried running extra sprints, and spitting on their hands, and arriving at various times. But the Warriors still have not managed to conquer the invisible beast known as high altitude.

Saturday's road game against Nevada will be played at 4,700 feet above sea level. At that altitude, endurance is weakened and skin dries. Receivers have difficulty running for long periods, and quarterbacks lose their grip. Because of the diminished resistance of the thinner air, passes tend to sail longer.

"There's nothing you can do," said Jones, who avoids discussing the effects of high altitude with his team. "You just go out and play the game."

Jones also refuses to order oxygen tanks for the sidelines. Some coaches believe oxygen helps an exhausted receiver recover quicker after running long routes.

In the past 10 seasons, the Warriors are 1-14 in games played at high altitude. They are 1-8 in Jones' seven seasons as UH head coach.

Jones said he will maintain the Warriors' schedule of leaving two days early — in this case, Thursday afternoon — for a game played in the Pacific time zone. The Warriors will arrive Thursday night, then practice Friday morning at an area field.

KAFENTZIS, AS RUNNING BACK, DRAWS PRAISE

Mikhail Kafentzis made a surprising appearance as a running back for the Warriors on Saturday.

He had not played since the season opener against top-ranked Southern California, when he was used as the kick returner.

Listed as a wideout, Kafentzis worked out with the running backs last week.

He had two catches for nine yards, and rushed once for two yards. He also failed to secure a swing pass.

"He can certainly do some things," Jones said. "In his first game, he did some good things, and he'll get better as we go along. He's got really good speed, and he'll catch the ball. He's a good runner."

Kafentzis, who is 5 feet 7 and 166 pounds, was raised in Oregon. He is the cousin of UH safety Landon Kafentzis and linebacker Tyson Kafentzis.

Jones said Kafentzis ran 100 meters in 10.7 seconds in high school. "He's our fastest running back," Jones said.

Kafentzis is filling in for Bryan Maneafaiga, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a badly pulled left hamstring. Maneafaiga, who missed six consecutive games, said he will seek a medical hardship that will allow him to play next season. An applicant cannot play in more than three of his team's first six games, and must wait until the end of the season to submit a request.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.