University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

Postgame Notes
New Mexico at Hawai‘i
Nov. 30, 2024
Clarence T.C. Ching Complex  –  Honolulu
 
GAME CAPTAINS
Ezra Evaimalo, Peter Manuma, Jonah Panoke, Brayden Schager.
 
SERIES INFORMATION

• UH leads the overall series with New Mexico 17-11, including a 13-6 advantage in games played in Honolulu.
• Hawai‘i has now won the last two meetings in Honolulu, which includes a 39-33 victory, Nov. 7, 2020 at Aloha Stadium.
• Since UH joined the Mountain West in 2012, the teams have met seven times with UNM holding a slight 4-3 advantage.

 
UH VERSUS THE MOUNTAIN WEST

• UH is 34-69 (.330) all-time in the MW, including 20-33 (.377) at home.

 
TEAM STREAKS/TRENDS

• Hawai‘i has won its last seven Senior Night games and 12 of its last 13. During its seven-game win streak, five of the games were decided by one score including the last four (50-45 vs. CSU, 2021; 31-25 vs. UNLV, 2022; 27-24 vs. CSU, 2023; 38-30 vs. New Mexico).
• Under head coach Timmy Chang, UH is now 1-4 following bye weeks, including 1-2 this season. Hawai‘i, which had one bye week in each of the past two seasons, had three bye weeks this season (Weeks 2, 5, 13).
• UH is 11-10 at home under Timmy Chang, including 4-3 this season.
• Under head coach Timmy Chang, UH is 0-15 when scoring 17 points or fewer compared to 13-10 when scoring more than 17 points.

 
INDIVIDUAL STREAKS/TRENDS

• Brayden Schager saw his school-record streak of 33 straight starts at quarterback come to a close after being sidelined for the season finale.
• Sophomore receiver Pofele Ashlock has caught a pass in all 24 games he has played in during his career. 

 
TEAM NOTES

• UH’s 38 points and 586 yards of total offense are season-highs and the most under Timmy Chang.
• The 586 yards of total offense are UH’s most in a game since Aug. 24, 2019 vs. Arizona (595).
• UH’s 484 passing yards are its most in a game since Dec. 24, 2019 vs. BYU (493).
• UH’s 94-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession was its longest scoring drive this season.
• UH scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the fifth time this season.
• Ten different UH receivers recorded a catch while four different scored a touchdown.
• Following the game, a total of 23 seniors participated in the traditional senior night ceremony, including six-year seniors WR Spencer Curtis, LB Nalu Emerson and Jonah Panoke and seven-year seniors LB Logan Taylor and DL Elijah Robinson. Emerson and Panoke spent all six seasons in Manoa.
• This season marked the second consecutive year that UH spoiled a team’s chance for bowl eligibility in the final week of the regular season. Last year, Hawai‘i defeated Colorado State, 27-24 in Honolulu on a walk-off field goal.
• UH did not allow a sack after giving up 35 in its previous seven games.
• UH did not commit a turnover for the third time this season (also against Delaware State and Boise State).

 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• True freshman Micah Alejado made his first career start at quarterback and finished 37-of-57 with 469 passing yards and five touchdowns. He went 19-of-33 for 273 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone.
• He also rushed for 54 yards on 10 carries and totaled 523 yards of total offense.
• Alejado set a new UH freshman record for passing yards surpassing Timmy Chang’s 403 yards versus San Jose State in 2000.
• He also set a new UH freshman record for passing touchdowns.
• Alejado’s 469 passing yards are the most by an FBS freshman this year and the most in a game since 2022.
• His five passing touchdowns are tied for most by an FBS freshman this year.
• His 37 completions are the most by an FBS freshman this year.
• His completions, attempts, passing yards, passing TDs, and total offense are the most by a UH quarterback in his starting debut.
• Alejado is the first Hawai‘i player ever to throw for 450+ yards and rush for 50+ yards in a game.
• He is the only FBS player to throw for at least 450 yards and rush for at least 50 yards in a game this year and the first freshman nationally since 2021 to do so (Chandler Morris, TCU).
• His 523 yards of total offense are the second most nationally this year and the most yards of total offense by an FBS freshman since 2022 (EJ Warner, Temple).
• Alejado completed nine passes of 20 or more yards.
• Alejado’s 469 yards passing are the most by a UH quarterback since Cole McDonald’s 493 yards in the 2019 Hawai‘i Bowl.
• His five passing TDs are the most since Cole McDonald versus Duquesne in 2018.
• Pofele Ashlock scored his team-leading sixth touchdown of the season.
• Senior Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala made his first start since the season opener against Delaware State and responded with four catches for 26 yards and two touchdown catches.
• Spencer Curtis recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game finishing with career-highs of 100 yards on seven catches.
• Nick Cenacle, who finished with seven catches for 93 yards and one TD, also saw action as punt returner and had a 35-yard return in the second quarter.
• Dekel Crowdus scored his fourth touchdown this season on a 52-yard reception in the second quarter. It also marked Crowdus’ fourth catch this year of 50 or more yards.
• It marked the third straight game that Crowdus found the endzone.
• Jamih Otis and Peter Manuma led the defense with seven tackles each. Manuma also had two pass breakups.
• Lester Lagafuaina, who forced a fumble in the second quarter, finished with three tackles.
• Senior Anthony Sagapolutele made his first career start.