University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

Post Game Notes
Air Force at Hawai‘i 
Nov. 11, 2023
Clarence T.C. Ching Complex  –  Honolulu  

GAME CAPTAINS

• Virdel Edwards, Isaiah Tufaga, Eliki Tanuvasa, Jonah Kahahawai-Welch

 
SERIES INFORMATION

• Hawai‘i reclaimed possession of the Kuter Trophy with its first win over Air Force since its 2016 victory in Colorado Springs.
• UH picked up a 14-point win over the Falcons who had won the last two meetings in Honolulu (2015 and ‘19) by a combined 81 points.
• It was UH’s first home win over Air Force since 2001 (52-30).
• AFA still leads the all-time series 14-8-1, including an 8-6-1 mark in games played in Honolulu. 
• UH has a combined record of 15-16-1 versus the military academies.

UH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST

• Hawai‘i is now 30-64 (.319) all-time in the Mountain West — including 17-31 at home.  

TEAM STREAKS/TRENDS 

• UH won back-to-back games for the first time in the Timmy Chang era. 
• UH scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the first time this season on Pofele Ashlock’s 5-yd scoring catch. 
• It also marked just the second time all year that UH scored on its opening possession.
• UH took a lead going into the second quarter for the first time in the last eight games when it led 7-0.  
• UH did not commit a turnover for just the second time this year, while the defense forced a season-high four turnovers, including three interceptions. 
• UH won the turnover battle for the second straight game and have a +5 margin (6-1) the last two games. 
• The Warriors entered the game ranked No. 129 nationally in turnover margin (7 gained, 21 lost).
• The Rainbow Warriors eclipsed 100 yards rushing (121) for the second straight game and for just the third time this season. 

INDIVIDUAL STREAKS/TRENDS 

• DT John Tuitupou made his 24th consecutive start and QB Brayden Schager made his 20th consecutive start.
• Brayden Scahger has thrown at least one touchdown in 18 of the last 19 games.

TEAM NOTES

• Air Force’s 13 points was a season-low for a UH opponent. 
• UH’s gained 75 yards and had five first downs on its opening drive. In 10 previous opening drives UH totaled 100 combined yards and six total first downs. 
• At 7:02 in length, the opening scoring drive by UH was its longest of the season. 
• UH scored in the first quarter for just the fourth time in 11 games.
• Air Force’s second-quarter scoring drive that ended in a field goal was the longest by a UH opponent in plays (20) and time (11:49).
• UH held a double-digit lead at half for the second straight week. UH did not lead at half in any of its previous nine games this year. 
• UH scored its first defensive touchdown this year when Jalen Smith forced a fumble which was recovered by Meki Pei who returned it 32 yards to the end zone.
• It was UH’s first fumble return for a touchdown since Eugene Ford’s 60-yard return at Utah State in 2021.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Pofele Ashlock found the end zone twice against Air Force with touchdown catches of 5 yards and 19 yards. It marked the second straight multi-touchdown game for the freshman receiver and his third of the season. 
• Ashlock, who has found the end zone in four of the last five games, leads the team with nine touchdowns on the year. 
• Ashlock finished with a career-high 12 receptions (67 yards). It was the most receptions by a UH player since Cedric Byrd’s 14 receptions in UH’s 2019 season opener vs. Arizona.
• Ashlock eclipsed his career high from last week and has 21 combined receptions the last two games.  
• Brayden Schager’s 40-yard run in the second quarter was a career long and the longest rush by a Rainbow Warrior this season. 
• Schager scored on a 1-yd plunge later in the drive for his second career rushing touchdown. 
• Schager led the team with a career-high 57 yards rushing, while David Cordero also set a new career high with 43 yards on eight carries. 
• Peter Manuma finished with a career-high 12 tackles. It was tied for the most tackles by a Rainbow Warrior this year (12 by Isaiah Tufaga at New Mexico).
• The sophomore also added a fourth-quarter interception, the second straight game he recorded a pick. He has a team-high three interceptions for the season and five for his career.  
• Noah Kema posted his first career interception on a fourth-quarter pick of Jensen Jones.
• Cam Stone snagged his first interception as a Rainbow Warrior with his fourth-quarter pick of Ben Brittain. 
• Ezra Evaimalo made his first start of the season and finished with a career-high five tackles.
• Matthew Shipley missed just his second field goal attempt of the season when he went wide left on a 48-yard attempt to end the first quarter. Shipley is 11-of-13 on the year with his only other miss coming from 51 yards. 
• Shipley also missed on a PAT in the second quarter for just his second miss in 121 career attempts.