Feed a fever. Starve a cold. For the injury bug, it seems, the remedy is to bite down on a mouthpiece and go out and play.

In his pre-game pep talk the past Saturday, Hawai'i director of football operations Tony Tuioti implored the Warriors to "stand up."

Stand up to adversity.

Stand up to expectations.

And, most of all, stand up to the hurts of the game.

"When you feel pain, you've got to suck it up and play," middle linebacker Brashton Satele said. "He really inspired us that game."

The Warriors went on to upset Fresno State, 32-29, in overtime, and Satele matched a career high of nine tackles.

Most remarkable, Satele played despite an injury to his right shoulder.

"I separated my shoulder three times last week," Satele said.

Still, he kept returning to the game.

"I'm going to strap it up," Satele said.

Satele played in 21 of 27 games the previous two seasons. But because of a variety of injuries, he did not start until this season, when an injury to Blaze Soares created a shuffle at linebacker. Solomon Elimimian moved from the middle to the outside, and Satele moved into the starting lineup.

Satele acknowledged he has improved because he is playing more, and he is playing more because he is able to endure injuries.

He successfully lobbied the team doctor to allow him to re-enter the Fresno game.

"Now that I have the taste of the field, I don't want to lose that feeling," Satele said. "I'm going to play through whatever happens."

Satele's right shoulder might require offseason surgery. He currently undergoes intensive treatment. He also wears a shoulder harness. Although he was held out of yesterday's practice, he is expected to work out today. And he will start in Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech.

"He's a tough mother," head coach Greg McMackin said. "He's mentally tough. That has improved his game."

McMackin said Satele always had potential, but "he had a lot of adversity" in past seasons.

During the offseason, Satele focused on his weight-training. He squat-lifted 455 pounds, a 140-pound improvement from the previous year.

He said he receives daily tutorial sessions from Elimimian. The lessons are useful. Against Fresno State, Satele correctly read the running back and offensive guard. Satele stepped into the lane and intercepted a pass.

"I thought I'd take it to the house," he said, "but I got tackled."

Improving his interception returns are next on his to-do list.

PILARES BACK AT SLOT

Kealoha Pilares yesterday practiced exclusively with the slotbacks.

That was the strongest indication that two running backs who were rehabilitating injuries — Leon Wright-Jackson and Daniel Libre — are healthy.

McMackin said Pilares is "one of our best players. We want him on the field as much as possible."

Pilares feels more comfortable at slotback, where he can use his quickness and elusiveness in the open field. He led the Warriors in rushing as a freshman in 2007, but moved to slotback in spring training.

He was used for two plays as a slotback in the season opener against Florida before moving to running back. Pilares and quarterback Inoke Funaki are tied for the team lead with 157 rushing yards apiece.

"I'm kind of rusty," Pilares said of his return to slotback.

After practice, Pilares asked for a refresher course from receivers coach Craig Stutzmann.

"It's very much a different language," Pilares said.

Pilares has 11 receptions this season, but almost all came on shovel passes.

One benefit of playing running back is his improved blocking. That will be helpful in the revised four-wide offense in which receivers sometimes will be required to block.

"I like blocking at receiver," Pilares said. "It's a lot more fun. Guys don't know you're going to block them until the last second. Then you just hit them."

NEWS AND NOTES