The term “trap game” refers to a contest where the favorite can easily look past the opponent because a much bigger game is coming up the very next week.
It’s a term that hasn’t been used all that much, but this Oregon-Hawaii game is the epitome of a trap game for the Ducks.
Oregon is favored by almost 40 points against the Rainbow Warriors in both teams’ last non-conference game of the season. The Ducks have to avoid looking past the opponents from the Mountain West as a huge Pac-12 opener looms the very next week with Colorado and Deion Sanders coming to town.
Head coach Dan Lanning says that although Hawaii has had its share of problems early this season, they have enough talent that the Ducks just can’t ignore.
“I’m really excited about this matchup. I think it provides some fun opportunities. There’s a lot of players on our team from the islands that are here and this game means a lot to them. Certainly a team that we have a lot of respect for,” he said.
Oregon is also excited to take advantage of the unique situation it has with the islands and a chance to help out those who were affected by the Maui wildfires.
“There are also some unique opportunities this week for our fans to contribute back to some of the people involved and what happened on Maui as well,” Lanning said. “So I know that’ll be something working with the Marcus Mariota Foundation, collecting some clothing and finding things that we can do to help give back to those people as well.”
Obviously the off-the-field stuff is more important, but on-the-field stuff will be the focus when it’s 5:12 pm and the ball is kicked off in front of a sold out crowd. The Hawaii players aren’t looking to be a charity case on Saturday. They’re here to win a football game and the Rainbow Warriors’ offense will put the Duck secondary to the test.
Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang was a great quarterback when he played for them and now his offensive scheme reflects what he liked to do between the sidelines … throw and throw some more.
Quarterback Brayden Schager is just the guy with the arm in order to run that pass-happy offense. He’s 6-foot-2 and a pro-style signal caller that completes 63 percent of his throws and averages 324 yards a game.
But unfortunately for Hawaii, they also have to play defense and before they were healthy, the defense was getting chewed up. Now they come into the game down a starting linebacker and perhaps their best defensive player in Logan Taylor, who was declared out for the season with a torn ACL.
Prediction: Oregon 49, Hawaii 17