University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

Post-game Notes
Hawai‘i at UCLA
Aug. 28, 2021
Rose Bowl – Pasadena, Calif.
 

SERIES INFORMATION

• UCLA leads the series 4-0, including 3-0 in Los Angeles.
• The teams will meet three more times in the next seven seasons – in 2024 (Honolulu); 2027 (Honolulu); and 2028 (Los Angeles).

 
VERSUS THE PAC-12

• UH has lost its last 10 road/neutral games against the Pac-12. UH’s last road win came in 2009 when the Warriors defeated Washington State, 38-20, at Qwest Field in Seattle.
• UH dropped to 32-63 (.337) against current members of the Pac-12 conference. The Rainbow Warriors are also now 8-24 (.250) all-time on the road against Pac-12 squads.
• UH plays another Pac-12 team on the road in two weeks when they travel to Oregon State on Sept. 11.

TEAM STREAKS/TRENDS  

• UH had its first punt blocked since 2008 against Notre Dame. Entering the day, UH had owned the longest streak in the nation without a blocked punt at 154 games.
• UH dropped its first season opener since 2016 when it fell to Cal in Sydney, Australia. UH had previously won four straight season openers and five in the last six years.
• UH has dropped 18 of its last 19 non-conference road games dating back to 2010. It’s only win during that stretch was a win at UMass to open the 2017 season.

 
INDIVIDUAL STREAKS/TRENDS 

• Senior receiver Jared Smart has caught a ball in all 25 games he has played in at UH. He has caught at least three passes in all but three of those games.

 
TEAM NOTES

• UH’s 34-point loss was the largest margin of defeat in a season opener since 2012 at USC (49-10).
• UH’s 269 yards of offense was its least in a season opener since 2013 (231 yards vs USC).
• UCLA returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the third quarter, marking the first time since 2004 (Northwestern), UH has allowed an opponent to do so.

 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Matthew Shipley set a new a career long when he nailed a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter to put UH on the board. The sophomore’s previous long was 44 yards vs UNLV.
• Stanford transfer and tight end Caleb Phillips scored UH’s first touchdown of the season and the first of his Rainbow Warrior career on a 1-yard catch from Chevan Cordeiro in the third quarter.  
• Ten different Rainbow Warriors caught a pass on Saturday, led by sophomore running back Dae Dae Hunter who had a career-high seven catches (19 yards) on 12 targets.
• Aaron Cephus (49 yards) and Dior Scott (28 yards) each snagged career-long catches during UH’s 90-yard drive in the third quarter.
• Junior linebacker Darius Muasau led UH in tackles (10) for the 10th time in the last 11 games. It also marked his eighth career game with 10 or more tackles.
• Jonah Laulu recorded the team’s two sacks of the game and finished with five tackles.
• True freshman quarterback Brayden Schager got his first action as a Rainbow Warrior during UH’s final possession of the game. Schager went 3-of-6 for 23 yards.
• Five players made their first career starts as Rainbow Warriors, three on offense and two on defense: Caleb Phillips (TE), Aaron Cephus (WR), O’Tay Baker (DE), Pita Tonga (DT), and Chima Azunna (S).