RUSTON, La. — A false start penalty on his first series wasn't the way sophomore Royce Pollard wanted to open his first start of the season for the University of Hawai'i football team last night.

But once he calmed down, he settled into being the wide receiver the Warriors thought he could be in a 27-6 loss to Louisiana Tech.

"He came in and played well for Jovonte (Taylor) who had an ankle (injury)," said UH coach Greg McMackin.

Indeed, Pollard's seven catches for 84 yards were more than his career total entering the game.

"He showed us a lot," McMackin said. "He made some plays."

Mostly, it was a case of settling down. "Maybe I was a little nervous there at the start hearing the crowd and everything," Pollard said. "After that, (I) just told myself to focus more. After that first hit, I was OK."

He said he was conscious of the game being on ESPN2 and his family, including his father, Anthony, watching in San Diego, Calif. "He looked good," Anthony said. "He played well. I just wished he could have helped Hawai'i to win, too."

To be sure Pollard did his bit. He also returned kickoffs for 146 yards on six attempts, including a 47-yarder.

The taste of starting, Pollard said, makes him want to work harder to keep the spot and playing time. "It is a very competitive position, so you have to work hard," Pollard said. "It is decided by what you do in practice and Jovonte is a good receiver, so I have to work hard."

SCORE ANOTHER ONE FOR TECH'S COMPTON

Louisiana Tech running back Myke Compton has two career touchdowns — both against UH.

Coincidence?

"I guess they just get the best (out of) me," Compton said.

He had a 6-yard run for a score and 35 yards on six carries. Last year he had an 8-yard advance of a Louisiana Tech fumble for a score. "This time," Compton said, "it was all about our offensive line making the holes."

'GOOD LICK' DECKED UH'S ALEXANDER

Linebacker Adrien Cole put the hit on Greg Alexander that knocked the quarterback out of the game.

Alexander apparently suffered an injury to his left knee when it buckled or caught on the turf with 56 seconds left in the third quarter.

"Basically it was man on man and I tried to put a good lick on him," Cole said. "I wanted to hit him (around) the numbers and keep it all legal. I hope he's OK."

Alexander will undergo tests upon his return to Honolulu to gauge the severity of the injury, coach Greg McMackin said.

Defensive lineman Geordon Hanohano suffered what was termed a neck sprain and will be evaluated when he returns to Honolulu, UH said.

WARRIORS' POWER-I FIZZLES AFTER TWO TRIES

UH unveiled a power-I goal-line formation from the Tech 2-yard line in the second quarter with 5-foot-9, 215-pound Jayson Rego the upback and 6-foot-2 220-pound Alex Green the tailback.

But Green could manage just one yard and Rego nothing in one carry each and UH abandoned the formation, opting for a fade pass on third down.

UH settled for Scott Enos' 18-yard field goal.