University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones staged a fun run for charity yesterday morning.

During the ensuing UH football practice, Jones orchestrated a more entertaining run of fun— a full-violence, 20-play scrimmage between non-starting players.

"There was some good hittin' and a lot of fun," said defensive coordinator Greg McMackin, whose blitzing schemes turned quarterbacks and ball-carriers into scrambling pinatas.

Jones' usual rule is that his quarterbacks are not allowed to be hit or breathed upon heavily during practices. But with the top three quarterbacks — Colt Brennan, Tyler Graunke and Inoke Funaki — in the safety zone behind the sidelines, the no-contact restriction was lifted.

"I definitely got welcomed to college football," said Shane Austin, a freshman quarterback who emerged with a bloodied right knuckle.

In a cringe-inducing sequence, Austin fielded a high shotgun snap and, before he could set up to pass, was KO'd by the perfect storm of linebackers Po'okela Ahmad and R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane.

On the over-load blitz, defensive end Elliott Purcell bracketed an offensive tackle long enough to give Ahmad an unobstructed path to Austin. Kiesel-Kauhane arrived at the same time.

"I thought he wasn't going to get up," Kiesel-Kauhane said of Austin.

But a groggy Austin managed to stand up, then walk to the huddle.

"I don't remember the hit," Austin said. "I remember being on the ground. I heard everyone screaming, but I didn't really feel it. I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow."

Later, Austin released a pass a nano-second before being floored by defensive end Antwan "Tua" Mahaley. Safety Erik Pedersen dropped a sure interception.

"I didn't want to take it too easy," said Mahaley, a third-year sophomore who switched from wideout to pass-rusher this summer. "I want to get on the field this year. I had to show coach Jones what I could do. I'm tired of sitting on the bench."

Indeed, besides serving as entertainment for the fun-run participants invited to practice, the scrimmage was a last-chance audition for fringe players to break into the two-deep rotation.

The Warriors are off today. But starting tomorrow, the practice work will be divided this way: two-thirds of the reps will go to the starters, the remaining third to the second-string players.

"We wanted to give some guys one last shot to prove they can play," Jones said. "We'll look at the tape (of the scrimmage), and maybe a couple of guys will earn their way on to special teams or some position."

Josh Leonard was a surprising choice to participate in the scrimmage. Starters Michael Lafaele and Fale Laeli and backups Keala Watson and Siave Seti have been told they will rotate at the two defensive tackle positions. But Leonard, who moved from defensive end two weeks ago, was expected to receive significant playing time.

Leonard's stock improved dramatically on one play during the scrimmage when he sped past the guard and center to sack Jake Santos.

"I'm learning a lot," Leonard said. "To be a good d-tackle, you've got to be physical for the first couple of steps, and then you work your secondary move to come free. I'm getting a lot of good coaching."

Leonard also is training to be a "coach." His girlfriend, Christa Sariaba, is expecting the couple's first child in September. They started Lamaze classes Wednesday.

"I'll just try to comfort her, and do whatever I can," Leonard said.

Running backs Jason Laumoli and Mario Cox also are trying to ascend the depth chart.

Laumoli, who is 5 feet 10 and 280 pounds, knocked down linebacker Micah Lau at the end of an 8-yard run. Two plays later, he caught a screen pass and snow-plowed his way for 14 yards.

Cox, who is 5-11 and 230 pounds, took a handoff to the right, pirouetted to his left and headed straight for fellow NorCal resident JoPierre Davis.

"J.P. talks a lot," Cox said. "He says he has all of these dreams of what he'll do if he gets a shot. I'm like, 'the next time you get a shot, I want to see you hit somebody.' He was like, 'all right.' When I was running, I pointed to him to make sure he knew I was coming. He didn't back down."

Instead, Davis used an ankle tackle to bring down Cox.

"He showed a lot of courage," Cox said. "I respect that."

Austin, who is 6 feet and 183 pounds, also showed resiliency. On Cox's run, Austin tried to throw a block.

"I lost my footing on that one," Austin said. "I wanted to get in there and get a little hit."

MOUTON MOVING UP

Ryan Mouton has emerged as the Warriors' third-best cornerback, closing the gap on starting left cornerback Gerard Lewis.

Mouton is the No. 2 left cornerback. Keenan Jones, Calvin Roberts and Jakeem Hawkins are in a dead heat in the competition for the top backup to right cornerback Myron Newberry.

Mouton, a 4-star cornerback from Blinn College, has adapted quickly after receiving academic clearance to join the Warriors with two days remaining in training camp.

"I'm trying to get in there and keep working," said Mouton, who was not asked to play in yesterday's scrimmage. "You have to compete for the job."

Mouton is used to competition. Blinn holds up to four football tryouts each year, drawing about 75 players each session.

"There were a lot of people fighting to get on the team," Mouton said.

But despite his success last season, many football programs backed away from recruiting Mouton, fearful that he would not earn enough credits for an associate degree, an NCAA eligibility requirement.

"There were a lot of schools that doubted me," Mouton said. "Hawai'i stuck with me. I told them I'd make it. I said it, and I believed it. I was kind of lazy before. You know how that first year of college is. You get behind because you have so much freedom. I pulled it together."

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