WEEK 8 GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday, Oct. 19
Hawai‘i at Washington State
The CW 12:30 p.m. PT
SERIES HISTORY
• UH leads the all-time series 3-2. • The first four match-ups (1926, ’30, ’99, ’08) were held in Honolulu while the most recent meeting (2009) was played in Seattle, Wash. • This week’s game marks the first meeting in Pullman, Wash. • UH has won the last two meetings by scores of 24-10 (2008) and 38-20 (2009). • The teams were scheduled to play in 2011 to conclude the three-game series but WSU cancelled the match-up due to changes in the thenPac-10 scheduling
Hawai‘i Notes
GAME STORYLINES
• This week’s match-up is the sixth all-time meeting between the schools and first since 2009. UH leads the series 3-2 and have won the last two meetings in 2008 & ’09. • The game marks the first for Hawai‘i in Pullman, Wash. The last time the teams met in 2009, the game was played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash., and UH won 38-20. • UH’s last road/neutral win against a Pac-12 opponent was the 2009 victory over WSU. Since then, UH has lost 12 straight. • UH (2-4, 0-2 MW) is coming off a hard-fought 28-7 loss to Boise State last week in Honolulu. The Rainbow Warriors trailed 13-7 heading into the fourth quarter and held the potent Bronco offense to 22 points below its season average. • The game marks UH’s first-ever appearance on The CW network. • Hawai‘i has dropped its last 13 games on national television and 16 of its last 17 dating back to the start of the 2021 season. • With the Mountain West’s scheduling agreement with Washington State and Oregon State, WSU replaced Air Force on UH’s schedule however this week’s game does not count toward the Mountain West standings. • WSU (5-1) defeated Fresno State, 25-17 last week in Fresno, Calif., improving to 5-1 for the first time since 2018 while recording its second fourth quarter comeback win this season. • The Cougars, who are receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls this week, are 3-0 at home this season. • UH is 1-13 on the road under head coach Timmy Chang, including 0-2 this season. • UH will look to snap a five-game non-conference road losing streak dating back to 2021. Hawai‘i’s last non-conference road win was at New Mexico State, 41-21, in Las Cruces, N.M. UH has lost five straight since then. • UH leads the Mountain West in scoring defense (20.5) and total defense (332.8) while WSU’s offense averages 39.0 points and 462.0 yards of total offense per game. • Under Chang, UH is 0-13 when scoring 17 points or fewer compared to 10-9 when scoring more than 17 points. UH is 0-3 this season with scoring 17 points or less.
BY THE NUMBERS
19 UH’s leading receiver Pofele Ashlock has caught a pass in all 19 games of his career dating back to last season.
28 Consecutive starts at quarterback by Brayden Schager, who has also made 32 career starts, which is tied for fourth most in program history.
32 Combined points Hawai‘i has won by during its current two-game win streak over Washington State (24-10, 2008; 38-20, 2009).
LAST MEETING vs. WSU
UH 38, WSU 20 — Sept. 12, 2009 Qwest Stadium; Seattle, Wash.
• UH picked up its first road win over a BCS school in seven tries. It was UH’s eighth win overall against a BCS school since 2003. • UH picked up its first Pac-10 road win since defeating California on Sept. 17, 1994. • The Warriors racked up 626 total yards of offense while QB Greg Alexander threw for a career-high 453 yards and three touchdowns. • Slotback Greg Salas had seven catches for a career-high 195 yards and a touchdown and receiver Rodney Bradley totaled seven catches for 150 yards and two TDs. • UH held a 35-6 lead at halftime. • Defensive backs Mana Silva (2) and Spencer Smith each record their first career interception. • The game marked UH’s first in Seattle since upsetting Washington 10-7 in the 1973 season opener, which was considered one of the biggest upsets in program history.
HAWAI‘I VS. THE PAC-12
• UH’s last road/neutral win against a Pac-12 opponent was a 38-20 victory over Washington State in 2009 in a game played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash. Since then, UH has lost 12 straight. • UH is 4-16 in its last 20 games versus Pac-12 opponents since 2010. The wins have come against Arizona (2019), Colorado (2011, ’15) and Oregon State (2019).
HAWAI‘I IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Hawai‘i is playing its 13th season in the Mountain West in 2024. • UH is 31-67 (.316) all-time in the MW — 18-32 (.360) at home and 13-35 (.271) on the road. • Hawai‘i has appeared in one Mountain West Championship game during the 2019 season.
ROAD SHOW
• Its no secret that UH has had its struggles on the road, given its 15-57 record since 2012. • Under head coach Timmy Chang, UH is 1-13 on the road (0-6 in 2022, 1-5 in ’23, 0-2 in ’24). • Chang’s lone victory snapped a 10-game road losing streak dating back to 2021 as UH defeated Nevada 27-14, Nov. 4, 2023. It was the first road win since a 38-14 victory at Wyoming in the 2021 regular-season finale.
ROAD WARRIORS
• UH’s five road games this season is its fewest since 2007 (not counting 2020 COVID season). • UH will total nearly 30,040 air miles with its longest trip (8,040) to Huntsville, Texas for a non-conference game at Sam Houston. • Over the last decade, UH played no less than six road games each year, including a program-high seven in 2021. • The most miles UH travelled in a season was 46,568 in 2016, that included trips to Sydney, Australia (vs. California) and Ann Arbor, Mich., in back-to-back weeks.
Washington State Notes
COUGARS HOST HAWAI’I SATURDAY AFTERNOON ON HOMECOMING
Washington State returns to Gesa Field to host Hawai’i Saturday afternoon on Homecoming weekend. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. on The CW.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State has opened the season 5-1 for the first time since 2018. The Cougars enter the week with the nation’s No. 19 scoring offense (39.0) and the defense is No. 19 in the country with 11 takeaways. Quarterback John Mateer is fourth in the country in total offense (350.0), No. 21 in passing touchdowns (13) and cornerback Ethan O’Connor is tied for sixth in the country with three interceptions. Head coach Jake Dickert owns a 20-17 career record and is in his third full season.
SERIES HISTORY
Washington State and Hawai’i will meet for the first time since 2009, a 38-20 Hawaii win played at CenturyLink Field in Seattle UH leads the all-time series 3-2 against WSU after claiming the last two matchups in 2008 and 2009. The Cougars two wins in the series came in 1930 and 1999, both played in Honolulu. Saturday will be the first meeting in Pullman between the two schools.
COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the 2003 season, ESPN College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The streak reached 310 last week in Eugene. The first appearance came in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). Two flags – Ol’ Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason’s “No White Flags.” Appearance No. 217 was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon.
COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
• WSU’s 2024 roster features 49 newcomers including 15 transfers with 13 from four-year schools • WSU’s roster features 3 players from Hawaii; Kapena Gushiken, Tanner Moku, Hyrum-Benjamin Moors • WSU opened the year 4-0 for the 2nd straight season, 1st time starting 4-0 in back-to-back seasons since 1906-07 • WSU had two Gesa Field sellouts in 2023 (Wisconsin, Oregon State), 4th in the last 3 seasons • Jake Dickert and Bill Doba (2003-07) are the only WSU HC with 2 Apple Cup wins in 1st 4 seasons since 1960’s
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
• QB John Mateer set a WSU record with 300 pass yards and 100 rushing yards in the win over San Jose State • Mateer set a WSU record for rush yards by a QB with 197 rush yards in the week 2 win over Texas Tech • WR Kyle Williams named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List, owns a catch in all 43-career games played • RB Wayshawn Parker was the 1st Cougar true freshman with 1 rush TD and 1 rec TD in debut since 2018 • Parker’s 7 carries of 20+ yards are most among frosh RB nationally, 25 missed tackles forced are 2nd-most • LB Kyle Thornton was a Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist in 2023 (top former walk-on), led team w/ 87 tackles • P Nick Haberer was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List for the 3rd straight season, 44.4 avg/punt in 2023 • OL Fa’alili Fa’amoe, DB Jackson Lataimua, Edge Nusi Malani, OL Esa Pole; Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List • 2024 Reese’s Senior Watch List (Fa’amoe, DB Kapena Gushiken, Malani, Edge Syrus Webster, Williams) • RT Fa’alili Fa’amoe was named to watch lists for The Outland Trophy, Lombardi, Polynesian, Reese’s Senior Bowl
MATEER PUTTING UP BIG DUAL THREAT NUMBERS
Redshirt-sophomore John Mateer has posted some eye-popping numbers in his first five starts. • In 1st career start, threw for 352 yards and 5 TD, rushed for 55 yards including 40-yard TD run • Mateer’s 6 total TD vs. Portland State were most by a Cougar QB in 1st start in program history • Mateer’s 5 TD passes vs. Portland State matched the WSU record for TD passes in a first start – Luke Falk, 2014 at Oregon State; Anthony Gordon, 2019, New Mexico State • Mateer’s 197 rushing yards against Texas Tech week 2 was a WSU record for QB rushing yards – 1st 100-yard game by a Cougar QB since 1987 (105,Timm Rosenbach vs. Oregon) – 8th 100-yard rushing game by a Cougar quarterback in program history • Mateer had 2 rush TD and 1 pass TD in Apple Cup win, rushed for 62 yards, 245 pass yards • In the win over San Jose State, set career-highs with 26 completions and 390 pass yards – 1st Cougar QB in program history with 300 pass yards and 100 rushing yards in a game – 2nd 100-yard rushing game of the season (197, Texas Tech – 111, San Jose State) – Mateer’s 501 yards of total offense was the most by any player in the FBS this season • Mateer had a rush TD and pass TD in each of the 1st four games this season • Mateer’s 499 rush yards are the most by a Cougar QB in single-season history (482, Ty Paine, 1971) • Mateer’s 6 rush TD are tied for 6th-most rush TD by a quarterback in WSU single-season history • Mateer’s 13 TD passes are No. 21 nationally • Mateer’s 15.1 yards per completion is 7th-best nationally • Mateer’s 350.0 yards of total offense-per-game are 4th-most nationally • Mateer’s 6 rush TD are tied for 6th-most by a QB nationally • Mateer’s 22 rushes of 10+yards are 2nd-most by a QB nationally, 2nd-most 20+yard runs (8) by a QB • Mateer’s 33 missed tackles forced are the most by a QB nationally • Mateer owns the 3rd-best PFF rushing grade (85.9) by a QB nationally WHAT A START FOR WAYSHAWN True freshman running back Wayshawn Parker showed off his all-around game in his collegiate debut, the season-opening win over Portland State and has continued to produce big plays. • In week one against Portland State, 8 carries, 96 rush yards, 54-yard TD run, 52-yard TD rec – 1st WSU true frosh with a rush TD and rec TD in his debut since 2018 (Max Borghi at Wyoming) – Parker’s 54-yard rush TD is longest TD run since 2021 (Max Borghi, 2021, Utah State, 64 yds) • In week two win over Texas Tech, rushed for 69 yards including 43-yard TD run – 1st WSU true freshman with TD in back-to-back games since 2018 (Borghi, Arizona, at Colorado) • In win over San Jose State, made 1st career start, rushed 22 times for 76 yards, long of 20 • In win at Fresno State, started, carried 12 times for 63 yards, long of 22 • Owns 7 carries of 20+ yards, the most among all freshman nationally • Parker’s 388 rushing yards are 6th-most among all freshmen in the country • Parker’s 25 missed tackles forced are 2nd-most by a freshmen running back nationally • Parker enters the week with 74 carries for 388 yards and 2 TD, 6 receptions for 77 yards and 1 TD
WILLIAMS NAMED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
Cougar wideout Kyle Williams was named to the 2024 Biletnikoff Award Watch List prior to the season, the award annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver. The senior from Inglewood, Calif. has caught 28 passes for 503 yards and five touchdowns. • Williams had 4 catches for 141 yards and 2 TD (58, 59) in season-opening win over Portland State – 1st career multiple-TD game at WSU • Williams only catch in the win over Texas Tech was a 21-yard TD, had 3 catches in Apple Cup win • Williams had 8 catches for 138 yards and a TD in win over San Jose State • Williams set season-highs with 9 catches and 142 receiving yards at Boise State – 3rd 100-yard game of the season, 10th of his career and 5th as a Coug – 141-Portland State, 138-San Jose State, 142-at Boise State • Tied for 2nd nationally with 43 consecutive games catching a pass Owns a catch in all 43 career games (1st 25 games at UNLV (2020-22) • 5th among active FBS players with 67.7 career rec ypg • Tied for 6th among active FBS players with 2,909 career rec yards • 9th among active FBS players with 206 career receptions • Tied for 14th among active FBS players with 20 career TD rec, 11 career TD rec at WSU
UNLV at Oregon State
The CW 7 p.m. PT
REBELS vs. BEAVERS NOTES…
The Rebels are 3-2 all-time vs. Oregon State but meet the Beavers for the first time since 2009 and for the first time in Corvallis since John Robinson’s UNLV squad traveled to face Dennis Erickson’s team in 2002 … The Rebels are playing a Pac-12 Conference team for the first time since going to then-member California in 2022 … Because of the one-year scheduling agreement between the two leagues, UNLV is the fourth of a total of seven Mountain West teams the Beavers will face this fall … UNLV WR coach Del Alexander coached the same position at OSU from 2003-04 … OSU DC Keith Heyward filled the same position at UNLV in 2022 … OSU STC Jamie Christian coached the Rebel RBs from 2015-16 … OSU ILB coach AJ Cooper, who was an all-state player at Canyon Springs HS, is the son of UNLV Dir. of Player Development & Community Engagement and UNLV Athletics Hall of Famer Hunkie Cooper
UNLV Notes
SATURDAY’S PREVIEW…
Finishing its only back-to-back road trips of the season, first-place No. RV/RV UNLV (5-1/2-0) closes out its non-conference schedule by traveling to Oregon State (4-2/0-0) for the first time in 22 years … The game will be televised nationally on The CW Network … The Rebels have won their first three road games in a season for the first time ever and set a school record last week with their fifth-straight road victory, 50-34, at Utah State to stay unbeaten in MW play while the Beavers, who will face opponents from the Silver State in back-to-back weeks, fell at UNR 42-37 … UNLV, which made its first-ever appearance in the Coaches Poll on Sept. 15 (reaching as high as No. 23) and then joined the AP version for the first time one week later, is receiving votes in both polls this week … UNLV, which is 5-1 for the second straight season, won its first four games this fall for the first time since 1984 when Randall Cunningham was playing QB … With a win at Houston and a victory at Kansas, UNLV became the first non-conference team ever to have multiple road wins against Big 12 competition in the same season … The 14 wins in 20 games under head coach Barry Odom represent the most victories over any two-season span since the Rebels went a combined 16-7-1 in 1984 and ‘85 … The Rebels are 13-0 under Odom when leading after the third quarter … UNLV is tied with James Madison for the national lead in turnover margin at plus-12 as the Rebel defense has forced at least one turnover in 19 of 20 games under DC Michael Scherer … This week’s MW Defensive Player of the Week, LB Jackson Woodard, leads the nation with 1.8 passes defended per game after posting a total of five at USU on Friday (2 INT, 3 PBU) … The Rebels have scored an eye-popping 67 total points off turnovers while allowing just seven such points from opponents.
MORE REBELATIONS…
UNLV is posting a historic season on the scoreboard as its 45.3 points-per-game average represents the highest number during any six-game stretch in program history … The school record for points per game during a season is 34.9 in 1980 … Under the current coaching staff, the Rebels have scored at least 40 points 12 times in 20 games and their three games scoring at least 50 points this season is only matched by the 1974 and 1980 squads … The Rebels rank second in the Mountain West in scoring defense at 22.7 points allowed per game (55th nationally) and second in offensive scoring with an average of 45.3 PPG (fourth nationally) … The 41 points UNLV scored in the first half at USU last week were the most scored in any half by the Rebels vs. an FBS opponent … The 59 points scored vs. Fresno State represented the most UNLV has ever scored against a conference opponent in a regulation game. The Rebels finished with 69 vs. Wyoming in a triple-overtime affair in 2016 at Sam Boyd Stadium … After limiting half of its six opponents to less than 70 yards rushing, UNLV sits first in the MW and 20th nationally with 99.0 yards allowed per outing … UNLV also leads the league in pass efficiency and sits third in pass efficiency defense … UNLV WR Ricky White III has 27 receptions for 400 yards and five TDs in the last three games and has gone for at least 100 yards in nine of his last 11 regular-season games … After bringing in eight in the last three games, the Rebs are tied with Minnesota and Cal for the national lead with 13 team interceptions. In fact, since the beginning of 2022, UNLV’s defense has 45 interceptions, which is the most in the FBS during that span (Oklahoma is second with 43) … In his first game after transferring from Texas, UNLV safety Jalen Catalon brought in two interceptions at UH, including one he tipped to himself and returned 36 yards for a touchdown. He is now tied for second in the nation with four picks on the year (coincidentally, the only player with more is former Rebel Nohl Williams of Cal who has six) … One of the three players Catalon is tied with is UNLV LB Jackson Woodard, who has four this year and five in his 21 games as a Rebel … Cameron Oliver had one of the four interceptions vs. Fresno State, which was the 11th of his career and tied him for fourth place in UNLV history … The Rebels earned two victories over “P4” opponents in the same season for the first time since winning at Arizona State and vs. Iowa State — both in overtime — in back-to-back weeks in September 2008 … The Rebels are 7-2 in true road games under head coach Barry Odom after only winning five total road games in the previous five seasons (5-22) … Odom also has a 6-2 record in non-conference games during the regular season at UNLV after the Rebels only had a combined six such wins from 2018-22 (6-10) … The Rebels listed a school-record 111 players on the Week One roster and 53 of them were not on the team a year ago. That’s actually down from 55 new faces last season. The numbers include incoming high school and JC signees, walk-ons and portal additions … The Rebels had made 156 straight extra points dating back to 2020 before Caden Chittenden’s miss at USU on a play that saw the freshman suffer an injury. In that same game, Chittenden broke the school record for field goals in a season by a freshman as his 13-of-15 numbers bested the 11 three-pointers by Sergio Aguayo in 2004. Chittenden sits tied for second in the nation with 2.17 field goals per game … Barry Odom’s second UNLV coaching staff includes just one new assistant coach — and even he is not new to the program as first-year safeties coach Nicco Fertitta served as UNLV’s defensive analyst in 2023 … Not counting blocks, UNLV has not returned a punt for a touchdown in 23 years — the longest drought in the nation. The last Rebel to do it was Troy Mason, who went 52 yards vs. San Diego State on Oct. 13, 2001, at Sam Boyd Stadium … However, when Jai’Den Thomas went 90 yards into the end zone vs. Fresno State, UNLV snapped a 13-year drought by returning a kickoff for a score for the first time since Deante “Never Nervous” Purvis sprinted 98 yards to the end zone vs. Colorado State on Oct. 29, 2011 … Ray Guy Award candidate Marshall Nichols finished with the second-highest season punting average in school history last fall as his 47.1 yards per attempt ranked sixth in the nation and sat only slightly behind 1984 All-American Randall Cunningham’s 47.5 rate. Nichols is averaging a robust 42.9 this season, which would rank 42nd in the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA stats. Nichols’ career average of 43.9 ranks fifth in Mountain West career history.
Oregon State Notes
Game Notes
• Oregon State returns to Corvallis for a homecoming game under the lights when the Beavers host UNLV Saturday at Reser Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. PT. • The game will air live on The CW. Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst) and Heidi Watney (sideline) will call the action. • The game will air live on the Beaver Sports Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, turn to page two of these notes. • Every game this season can be heard live on the Varsity Network, a free application available via computer browsers, smartphones and tablets. After downloading the application, search for Oregon State. • The matchup marks just the sixth all-time between the teams and first since a 23-21 win by the Beavers in Las Vegas in 2009. It’s the first meeting in Corvallis since 2002 when Oregon State won, 47-17.
Oregon State By The Numbers
8 – Catches for 136 yards by Jermaine Terry II the last two games after going without a catch over the first four games of the season.
12 – Rushing scores for Anthony Hankerson, which ranks fourth nationally and is one shy of the top-eight for a single-season at Oregon State.
21 – Rushing touchdowns overall, tied for sixth nationally.
35 – First downs gained against Nevada, the most since tallying 42 in 2012 versus Nicholls State. 36:10 – National-best time of possession on average, more than a minute ahead of No. 2 Utah’s 34:58.
50 – Career starts by Joshua Gray, now tied with Roy Schuening (2004-07) for the most ever by a Beaver.
55.6 – OSU success rate on third down, fourth-best nationally. 348 – Passing yards by Gevani McCoy at Nevada, the first Beaver QB over 300 since 2021.
Against UNLV
• Oregon State and UNLV are meeting for the sixth time, but the first since 2009 when OSU won, 23-21, in Las Vegas. • Saturday’s game marks the first meeting in Corvallis since the Beavers won, 47-17. • UNLV won the first three games in the series, in 1983, 1990 and 1991 to hold a 3-2 all-time lead. UNLV is also 2-1 in games played in Corvallis. • Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 166 yards and a score in the 2009 matchup. • Derek Anderson passed for 356 yards and five touchdowns in the 2002 game. James Newson accounted for seven catches, 167 yards and a touchdown in the win. All five of Anderson’s touchdown passes went to different receivers. • The Beaver defense limited UNLV to 236 yards, including 76 passing, in the 2022 victory.
