LAS CRUCES, N.M. — It is a tossup whether slotback Ross Dickerson is making it tougher on opposing defenses or his own coaches.

With two touchdown catches and 125 yards (on six receptions) last night, Dickerson continues to give Hawai'i coaches something to consider when Ryan Grice-Mullins comes back from injury.

Grice-Mullins, who did not make the trip, missed his fourth consecutive game with a sprained left ankle.

Meanwhile, Dickerson has been amassing quite a resume for the job with 28 receptions for 362 yards and five touchdowns in the last four games.

"I hope Ryan is able to come back soon and help the team," said Dickerson, who caught 34- and 36-yard TD passes last night. "I'll play wherever they put me, inside (slots) or outside (wide receiver). Whatever it takes to win."

But, Dickerson said, "Yeah, I'd like to make it tough on the coaches."

Said quarterback Colt Brennan: "We don't need (Grice-Mullins) to rush back. Not that we don't need him, 'cause we do, but everybody is helping out. You saw what Ross did."

UH receivers coach Ron Lee said: "(Dickerson) has been playing consistent, going hard every play."

As for the starter when Grice-Mullins comes back, Lee said, "We'll see who steps up in practice."

Kelly's kickoffs disappear into thin air

Placekicker Dan Kelly is getting a, well, kick out of the Warriors' road trips.

Last night he lofted seven of eight kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

As a result, the Aggies had to travel 80 yards for three of their scores.

"It was a big edge in field position," noted UH coach June Jones.

Kelly said the 4,000-foot altitude helped but said, "Honestly, I think it only added about three yards to my kicks."

Dennis McKnight, UH special teams coach, said, "I told him he should have gone to school up here in the thin air."

Kelly said, "That's OK, I like UH. I just wish I could take the altitude back with me."

Instead, he'll get a shot at even thinner air when UH plays its last road game, Nov. 4 at Utah State, which is at approximately 4,500 feet.

Did Warriors use 'human timeout' ploy?

KGRT radio announcers — and not a few NMSU fans — wondered about UH nose tackle Michael Lafaele's recuperative powers after he went down several times with apparent injuries and was able to quickly return to the game.

Lafaele was apparently one of UH's designated "human timeouts," players who help the UH defense get a breather.

However, Lafaele wasn't owning up to it.

"My hamstring was bothering me," he said.

But observers noted that UH trainer Eric Okasaki had trouble suppressing a smile.

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