Rainbow Warriors Host Air Force With Kuter Trophy Up For Grabs

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai’i football team will look recapture the Kuter Trophy when it meets its old rival conference rival Air Force in a Mountain West match-up Saturday, Nov. 11. Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex. The Rainbow Warriors (3-7, 1-4 MW) snapped a four-game losing streak with a win at Nevada last week while the Falcons (8-0, 5-0) dropped its first game of the season against Army. Air Force currently holds possession of the Kuter Trophy by virtue of a 2019 victory in Honolulu.

GAME DAY PROMOTIONS

It’s “Military Day” at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, and Les Murakami Stadium for Hawai’i’s Finest presents “Kickoff at the Les.”

The University of Hawai’i athletics department is now offering a new Military discount. For all ticketed sports, military personnel will receive a 30% discount. On designated “Military Games,” like Saturday, all military personnel will receive a 50% discount on tickets.

First Hawaiian Bank is the game sponsor and will distribute 750 rally towels at Gate B.

The Letterwinners Club welcomes 2004 graduate Britton Komine as this week’s legend. Komine is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Hawai’i Air National Guard.

The University of Hawai’i SROTC will be a part of the pregame as they’ll continue the tradition of the run-out before the Rainbow Warriors.

University of Hawai’i athletics is honored to welcome four-star General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, as he’ll be recognized during the game.

At halftime, there will be a K-9 demonstration by the 13th Military Police Detachment and 520th Working Dog Detachment.

University of Hawai’i athletics is honored to welcome Superintendent Lieutenant General Richard M. Clark and Director of Admissions Colonel Candice Pipes from USAFA.

The Rainbow Warrior marching band will perform at halftime, including a rendition of “God Bless America.” During the performance, the Air Force will host an official enlistment ceremony on the field.

Hawai’i’s Finest presents, “Kickoff at the Les,” will begin at 3 p.m. as gates open. This week’s performance will feature “High Watah + Kealamauloa”. A live DJ will keep fans entertained between sets, along with concessions, a Heineken Beer Garden, and multiple other new activities and displays provided by various military branches.

Students entering the facility will be directed to their new entrance located at the left field bullpen gate. They’ll be scanned in for free with their QR code on the H Rewards app.

Parking will be open to the public one hour before gates open at 2 p.m.

HAWAI’I (3-7, 1-4 MW) vs. AIR FORCE (8-0, 5-0 MW)
Date \| Time				Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 \| 6:00 p.m. HT
Location \| Stadium				Honolulu, O’ahu \| Clarence T.C. Ching Complex (15,194)
Game Day Information				Click here for the latest information about tickets, parking, food & beverage, activities and more.
Television				Spectrum Sports PPV. Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play), Rich Miano (analyst), and Jordan Helle (sideline). Rob DeMello, Kawika Hallums, and RJ Hollis host the pre-, halftime, and post-game show.
Radio				ESPN Honolulu (1420AM/92.7FM). John Veneri (play-by-play), Mark Veneri (analyst), Hunter Hughes (sideline). Josh Pacheco and Arnold Martinez host “The Countdown To Kickoff” at 4:00 p.m. HT.
Streaming Audio				ESPNHonolulu.com & Sideline Hawaii app
Live Stats				HawaiiAthletics.com
Game Notes				Hawai’i \| AFA \| Mountain West
Social Media				@HawaiiFootball \| #HawaiiFB \| @RainbowWarriorsFootball \| Facebook

SERIES VS AIR FORCE
Series Information: AFA leads 14-7-1
            In Honolulu: AFA leads 8-5-1
            In Colorado Springs: AFA leads 6-2

GAME STORYLINES

The teams are playing for the Kuter Trophy, which is named for the late General Laurence S. Kuter, who was the first head of the Pacific Air Forces Command in 1957. The trophy was conceived by UH, sponsored by the Pacific Air Command, and designed by the Air Force Academy and was presented to the winner of the annual game from 1980-97 when both teams were members of the Western Athletic Conference

Air Force currently holds possession of the trophy by virtue of a 56-26 victory in 2019 in Honolulu. Prior to that, UH had possession after a 2016 double overtime victory in Colorado Springs.

AFA leads the all-time series 14-7-1, including a 8-5-1 mark in games played in Honolulu. The Falcons have won the last two meetings in Honolulu (2015 and 2019) by a combined 81 points and five of the last six.

The series began in 1966 with 20 of the 22 meetings in conference play.

The teams have played four times in Mountain West play with the Falcons winning three of those contests.

UH has a combined record of 14-16-1 versus the military academies.

Hawai’i (3-7, 1-4 MW) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 27-14 win at Nevada last week in Reno, Nev. The win also snapped a 10-game road losing streak dating back to last season.

Air Force (8-1, 5-0) suffered its first loss of the season after falling to Army West Point 23-3 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Falcons committed six turnovers (2 INT, 4 fumbles) in the loss.

Air Force leads FBS in rushing offense (284.2) while UH ranks last (65.0).

QB Brayden Schager ranks seventh in the FBS and leads the Mountain West with 2,768 yards passing on the season. He is also tied for eighth in the FBS and is first in the Mountain West with 22 TD passes and is tied for the national lead with USC’s Caleb Williams with eight completions of at least 50 yards.

One of seven QBs in the country with at least five 300-yard passing games this year, Schager is also fourth nationally with eight fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

WR Pofele Ashlock leads all freshman receivers in the FBS with 659 receiving yards and 60 receptions. The Euless, Texas native is also third nationally among freshmen with 65.9 receiving yards per game and second among frosh with seven touchdowns through the air.

WR Steven McBride has established himself as one of the premier big play threats nationally, ranking second in the FBS with five receptions of at least 50 yards on the season.

McBride also joins a group of eight wide receivers nationally that have multiple 150+ receiving games on the season and is 20th nationally with 785 receiving yards. He is also one of nine FBS receivers with multiple TD receptions in at least three games this year.