Post-game Notes
Central Arkansas at Hawai‘i
Sept. 21, 2019
Aloha Stadium – Honolulu, HI
Attendance: 23,465
Hawai‘i Captains: Cole McDonald, Kaimana Padello, Jason-Matthew Sharsh, Azia Se‘ei
Coin Toss: Hawai‘i won and received.
SERIES INFORMATION
- UH improved to 2-0 all-time versus Central Arkansas. UH also defeated UCA, 25-20, in the 2009 season opener in Honolulu.
STREAKS/TRENDS
- UH has won its last 17 games against FCS teams dating back to 2001. Its last loss to an FCS team was to Portland State in the 2000 season opener (45-20).
- UH has won 14 of its last 15 regular-season non-conference home games.
- UH is 9-1 in regular-season non-conference home games under Nick Rolovich with its only loss against BYU to close out 2017.
- Under head coach Nick Rolovich, UH is 4-0 in games following a loss to a nationally-ranked team. The Warriors lost to No. 23 Washington last week in Seattle, Wash.
- UH is tied with Auburn for the longest streak in the country at 134 games without allowing a punt block. Hawai‘i last had a punt blocked by Notre Dame in 2008.
TEAM NOTES
- UH’s all-time record in homecoming games is 40-29-1. The Warriors have won their last three homecoming games (vs. San Jose State in 2017 and vs. Duquesne in 2018) after dropping five straight from 2012-16.
- This year marks the second consecutive non-conference homecoming opponent and just the seventh non-conference opponent since 1979. UH is 4-3 in those match-ups.
- UH surrendered just 16 points against Central Arkansas, the fewest in the last 12 games dating back to last season (17-13 win over Wyoming).
- UH scored on an interception return for the first time since 2017 (Solomon Matautia vs. Fresno State) when Kai Kaneshiro scored on a 55-yard return in the first quarter.
- UH blocked an extra point for the first time since 2017 (Viane Moala vs. San José State) when Blessman Ta’ala blocked UCA’s PAT attempt in the second quarter.
- UH fumbled on its opening driving, marking the third time in four games the Warriors turned the ball over on its opening series.
- UH lost the turnover battle for the fourth game with four turnovers and one takeway.
- UH has 15 turnovers through four games this season (nine interceptions, six fumbles).
- Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, the first time this season UH has played a scoreless quarter.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Cole McDonald completed 12 of his first 13 passes and finished 25-of-32 for 300 yards and four touchdowns.
- All four touchdowns went to a different receiver.
- McDonald has thrown for at least one touchdown in 16 of 17 games dating back to last season.
- McDonald has thrown for at least 300 yards in three of four games this year and has 10 such games for his career.
- Jared Smart scored his first career touchdown on a 16-yard pitch-and-catch from McDonald in the second quarter.
- Smart finished the game with a season-high eight catches for 121 yards. He is the third different receiver to eclipse 100 yards in a game this season (Cedric Byrd, JoJo Ward).
- True freshman Lincoln Victor saw his first action as a Rainbow Warrior, returning two kicks for 53 yards and catching three passes for 33 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, the first touchdown grab of his career.
- Kai Kaneshiro, who made his first career start, recorded his second interception this year and returned it 55 yards for UH’s first score of the game.
- Junior Alessana Sunia made his first career start, replacing sophomore Solo Vaipulu at right guard.
- Vaipulu had previously played and started in all 17 games of his career.
- Senior defensive back Rojesterman Farris II co-led UH with a season-high seven tackles.
- Senior defensive lineman Kaimana Padello had a season-high six tackles, his second sack of the season, and a forced fumble.
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