University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

Postgame Notes
Sam Houston at Hawai‘i
Sept. 6, 2025
Clarence T.C. Ching Complex  –  Honolulu 

GAME CAPTAINS

• Peter Manuma, Zhen Sotelo, Kansei Matsuzawa, Pofele Ashlock, Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen

 
SERIES INFORMATION

• UH evened the series 1-1, avenging last year’s 31-13 loss in Huntsville in the first-ever meeting between the schools.

 
UH VERSUS CONFERENCE USA

• Hawai‘i improved to 40-19 (.678) all-time against current members of Conference USA.

 
TEAM STREAKS/TRENDS 

• UH has won its last three home games dating back to last season.
• Hawai‘i has won six of its last seven nonconference home games dating back to 2023, including each of its last three.
• UH ended a string of six straight quarters without a touchdown by scoring on a 1-yard touchdown pass on its opening drive of the game.
• UH has committed at least one turnover in each of the first three games.

 
INDIVIDUAL STREAKS/TRENDS 

• Pofele Ashlock has caught a pass in all 27 games he has played in.
• After nailing all three of his field goals versus Sam Houston, Kansei Matsuzawa has started the season with eight straight field goals made. 
• Offensive lineman Kuao Peihopa saw his first action of the season off the bench after missing the first two games. He entered the year having made 25 straight starts.

TEAM NOTES

• UH’s 37 points was its second-most ever scored at home under Timmy Chang, only eclipsed by the 38 points scored in the 2024 finale vs. New Mexico.  
• UH won in the starting debut of quarterback Luke Weaver. Seven of the last eight UH quarterbacks to make their starting debut have won.
• Weaver’s 47-yard pass to Pofele Ashlock on first play from scrimmage was the team’s longest play of of the year
• UH scored on its opening drive for the first time this year when it drove 78 yards in eight plays, capped by a 1-yd  pass from Luke Weaver to Landon Sims.  
• UH got its first interception return for a touchdown in three years when Giovanni Iovino returned a pick 41 yards for a second-quarter score (last by Penei Pavihi vs. Duquesne, 50 yards, Sept. 17, 2022). 
• The UH defense held its third straight opponent under 200 yards passing as Sam Houston finished with 159 yards. UH opponents are averaging just 143.0 yards passing through the first three games. 
• UH has surrendered a defensive touchdown in each of its first two home games of the season after Emon Allen’s 66-yard interception return in the third quarter. Stanford also had a fumble recovery in the end zone in UH’s season opener.
• After committing two turnovers versus Sam Houston, UH now has eight on the season in which its opponents have converted into 40 points.  
• Head coach Timmy Chang now has a 13-10 home record at Ching Complex including a 7-4 mark against non-conference opponents.
• UH improved to 17-12 all-time at Ching Complex. 

 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Junior college transfer Luke Weaver made his first career start as a Rainbow Warrior and finished 27-of-43 for 294 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. 
• He also rushed for 26 yards to give him 320 yards of total offense. 
• Pofele Ashlock recorded his first 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fourth of his career after finishing with seven catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. 
• Ashlock had multiple touchdown catches in a game for the fourth time in his career and the first time since his freshman campaign in 2023 (vs. Air Force, Nov. 11).
• Landon Sims scored his first touchdown of the season and his first receiving touchdown of his career when he caught a 1-yard pass on a 4th-and-1 on UH’s opening drive.
• In his first career start as a Rainbow Warrior, Jackie Johnson III had a career high two sacks. He now has a team-high three sacks on the season.
• Lester Lagafuaina set new career highs in tackles (6) and tackles-for-loss (2.5), while also recording his first sack of the season in the third quarter. 
• Qwyn Williams recorded his first sack as a Rainbow Warrior with a second quarter takedown of Mabrey Mettauer.
• Senior safety Peter Manuma led the team in tackles (6) for the third straight game to start the season.  
• Kansei Matsuzawa equaled his career high with three field goals made, which he also did in UH’s season opener against Stanford.
• Among his field goals was a career-long 43-yarder on UH’s opening drive of the second half.
• Matsuzawa converted a field goal as the clock expired for the third straight game when he hit a 38-yard field goal as the first half ended. He also hit a field goal to end the Stanford game and one to end the first half at Arizona.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Demaricus Davis took his first snap as a Rainbow Warrior in the fourth quarter, rushing for one yard in the fourth quarter.