HONOLULU — In a frantic sequence to close the 2023 season, University of Hawai'i kicker
Matthew Shipley drilled a 51-yard field goal as time expired to give the Rainbow Warrior football team a thrilling 27-24 victory over Colorado State on Saturday at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.
After surrendering a stunning 70-yard touchdown and 2-point conversion with 54 seconds left, the Rainbow Warriors took five plays to drive to the Colorado State 34 with 8 seconds remaining in regulation. With the clock stopped momentarily for a first down and UH out of timeouts, the Warriors scrambled to rush the field-goal team onto the field as the seconds resumed ticking away.
Shipley, who earlier missed a field goal and had his previous attempt blocked, then hammered a line drive through the uprights to trigger a wild celebration that paused for an official review then picked up again when the call that the ball was snapped in time was upheld.
Shipley's second game-winning field goal of the season punctuated a 5-8 season (3-5 in Mountain West play) in Timmy Chang's second season as head coach and added to the festive Senior Night atmosphere in Manoa.
Shipley hit a walk-off field goal against New Mexico State in a 20-17 victory on Sept. 23 that was followed by four consecutive losses. The Warriors then won three of their last four games in a memorable November run capped by Saturday's wild finish.
UH quarterback
Brayden Schager closed his junior year by completing 30 of 43 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown. He ended the season with 3,542 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 63% completion rate.
Wide receiver
Steven McBride caught six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, his ninth of the season. He recorded the 24th 1,000-yard receiving season in program history, finishing the year with 1,024 yards on 63 receptions.
Colorado State (5-7, 3-5) entered the game seeking to become bowl eligible and scored on the game's opening possession with a nine-play march capped by a 21-yard touchdown run by Justin Marshall.
The Warriors thwarted another CSU threat when nickleback
Elijah Palmer came down with an interception in the end zone. A 29-yard completion from Schager to
Steven McBride and
Landon Sims' 16-yard burst ignited a nine-play, 80-yard drive. Schager's 12-yard touchdown pass to McBride just inside the right boundary and Shipley's point after tied the game with eight seconds left in the first quarter.
Colorado State's ensuing possession was aided by 30 yards of UH penalties, including a personal foul on punt that extended the drive, and the Rams had first-and-goal at the 3. But the Warriors stuffed a run for a 2-yard loss, forced an incompletion and cornerback
Cam Stone broke up a pass on third down to hold CSU to a 22-yard field goal.
UH running back
David Cordero broke loose for a 36-yard run, the team's second longest of the season, and the Warriors used some trickery to take its first lead. UH wide receiver
Chuuky Hines took a backward pass from Schager and lofted a throw to freshman tight end
Devon Tauaefa, who made the catch at the sideline for a 26-yard go-ahead touchdown pass at the 6:32 mark of the second quarter.
UH took the 14-10 lead into halftime and added breathing room when senior receiver
Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala took a handoff on a jet sweep, turned the corner and followed two blockers to the pylon for an 8-yard touchdown run, his first career rushing touchdown, and the Warriors led 21-10 midway through the third quarter.
After a CSU punt, UH held the ball for the next 8:16 in a 17-play drive that resulted in a 35-yard Shipley field goal and a 24-10 cushion.
Colorado State made it a one-possession game with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Louis Brown IV with 9:05 left. The Rams got the ball back but a 53-yard field goal attempt fell short, and UH drove to the CSU 32. A 45-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked and CSU took possession at its 28 with 2:27 left.
UH defensive end
Andrew Choi came up with a sack on first down and after two short completions, Colorado State faced fourth-and-8 from its 30. Fowler-Nicolosi then found Tory Horton behind the UH secondary for a 70-yard touchdown pass. The duo connected again on the 2-point conversion for a tying score with 54 seconds left in regulation.
After a touchback, Schager went up the middle for 11 yards on a keeper. Sims picked up another 12 on the ground and caught a pass for 7 yards. Following a spike, Schager threw an out to Hines on the right sideline for 11 yards to bring the Warriors in range for Shipley's game-winner.
UH then honored 16 seniors in the traditional postgame ceremony after winning its sixth straight Senior Night game and 11th of the last 12.
The Warriors are scheduled to open the 2024 season against Oregon on Aug. 24 at the Ching Complex.
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