Originally thought to be a cakewalk, Hawai’i has knocked off Oregon State and University of Arizona in back-to-back weeks.  Washington, on the other hand, struggled to get out of their own way in losing to Cal last Sunday morning, 20-19. This is the rubber match of the regular season series with that started in 1973. However, their first game predates Hawai’i’s statehood. 

11. Kyler “What do you mean you don’t have any more Popeye Chicken Sandwiches?” Manu leads Washington’s defenders with 11 tackles.  Given the amount of rotation within the linebacking corps and the limited plays from the opposition (115 total plays) that number is decent. 

10. In 2018, according to ESPN’s overall efficiency rating, Washington was 10th in the country (18th offense, 15th defense, 105th special teams).  After 2 games UW is 47th overall (44th offense, 71st defense, 11th special teams).  Additionally after finishing 5th in the country in 2018 in turnover margin they are currently 97th at minus 2.  

9. Washington has 9 players that are not from the “Lower 48”:  7 from the State of Hawai’I, one from Alaska, and Punter, Joel Whitford, who hails from Australia.  Hawai’I has two punters and a place kicker from The Land Down Under, as well. They also have 7 players who hail from Samoa and one Canadian. 

8. If there is a clear and present danger to Washington’s streak of holding opponents to under 40 points it’s at the hands of the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors…namely the hands of quarterback, Cole McDonald.  He has thrown 8 TD’s in two games while playing two FBS schools. In all Hawai’i has thrown 9 touchdowns but they have turned the ball over at an alarming rate and are minus 9 in that department.  McDonald is 3rd in the country with 799 passing yards. 

7. Hawai’I held bragging rights from 1973 through 2011. In that span Washington and Hawai’I cycled through 7 head coaches.  Washington’s winningest coach was The Dawgfather, Don James who produced 2 National Titles (1984 and 1991) while June Jones produced, at the time, the nation’s career top signal caller, Tommy Chang in his run and gun offense.  Both schools, during that timetable, also managed to hit rock bottom with 0-12 seasons.

6. Washington’s fan-based and ill-fated #TurnoverSalmon might get a chance to get thrown around on Saturday.  In Hawai’i’s first game of the season they gave Arizona 6 extra chances on 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles in a wild win 45-38 over the Arizona Wildcats.  The game went down to the final play of the game when Arizona’s QB, Kalil Tate, was stopped 36 inches short of the goal line. 

5. In Chris Petersen’s 5 years at Washington he has lost back-to-back home games twice.  In 2014 the Dawgs lost three straight to Stanford, Arizona State, and UCLA.  They lost 30-24 to Cal followed by a 26-20 defeat to Oregon in his second season.  

4. Hawai’i’s mettle has been tested twice already this season in knocking off two Pac 12 teams, Oregon State and Arizona.  After giving up 28 first half points Hawai’I put their suddenly, and surprisingly stout defense on display. They forced 4 second half punts, two turnover on downs, and a missed game tying field goal.  

3. The last time Washington lost at home, prior to the Sunday morning loss to Cal, was a 26-13 defeat to the USC Trojans who finished the 2016 season with one more loss than UW but Number 3 in the country while the Dawgs finished 4th.  

2. In 1938 Washington beat Hawai’i in Honolulu in the Poi Bowl, 53-13.  Since that game the teams have split the regular season with 2 wins a piece.  Washington has won the last two contests by a total of 8 points while Hawai’I won the previous 2 by a total of 10 points. 

1. It’s come full-circle for Washington Coach,Chris Petersen. His first game at Washington was a hard-fought 1-point victory in Honolulu, 17-16.  Hawai’I took a 10-0 lead before John Ross introduced himself to the Rainbow Warriors with a 20-yard rushing TD and a 91-yard house call on a throw from QB, Jeff Lindquist.