RENO, NEV. >> A boisterous visitors’ locker room became even louder with the chants of “S-T-P! … S-T-P! … S-T-P!”
“He’s our special teams … presence,” Hawaii long-snapper Solomon Landrum said of kicker/punter Matthew Shipley.
In Saturday’s 27-14 road victory over Nevada, Shipley became the first Rainbow Warrior to convert two 50-yard field goals in a game.
“It was like every other kick,” Shipley said. “It doesn’t feel much different. It’s a bit farther, but it’s the same as every other kick. You go through the same routine.”
By going 2-for-2, Shipley surpassed Jason Elam as the most accurate field-goal kicker in the program’s history. In four UH seasons, Shipley has converted 79.1% (53-for-67). Elam, who went on to play 17 NFL seasons, was 79%.
“The kid’s incredible,” UH special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield said. “He’s unbelievable. It’s hard to find special ones like that. The previous staff did a really good job recruiting him. I just lucked in coaching him for a couple years.”
Michael Ghobrial, who coached special teams under Nick Rolovich in 2019, was instrumental in signing Shipley. But Shipley never played for Rolovich. When Shipley enrolled at UH in June 2020, Todd Graham was the head coach and the world was in a pandemic. Shipley was 8-for-14 on field-goal attempts in 2020.
“You came a long way,” holder Ben Falck said to Shipley.
“I was just 18 years old, like any other kid trying to figure it out,” Shipley said. “I figured it out quickly after the first season.”
There was concern about Shipley’s availability this season after he suffered a back injury while training and underwent surgery in April. “I recovered two months earlier than expected,” said Shipley, who has not missed a practice or game since training camp opened in July.
Landrum, Falck and Shipley have bonded as the snap-hold-kick trifecta. “Our line does a good job holding up, and we do what we practice every day,” Landrum said. “It’s good to execute it in a game.”
During warmups on Saturday, Shipley practiced kicking field goals from 65 yards. “I was trying to get a feel for it,” Shipley said, referencing the thinner air at Reno’s 4,505-foot elevation. “In altitude, there’s more distance on the ball. In that aspect, it was a lot easier.”
Landrum said he was confident when Shipley began pacing off his approach.
“No doubt,” Landrum said of the 50-yarders. “We knew he would make them.”
“He’s so consistent, it’s kind of remarkable,” Falck said of Shipley’s 11-for-12 accuracy this season.
Sheffield said he envisions Shipley continuing to kick after his UH career ends.
“The National Football League needs to take notice,” Sheffield said. “He’s coming, and he’s going to do a really good job at the next level.”
FIRST QUARTER
No scoring
SECOND QUARTER
HAWAII
>> FG Matthew Shipley 50. >> Drive: 6 plays, 20 yards,
1:58 elapsed time. >> Time: 12:55. Score: Hawaii 3, Nevada 0
HAWAII
>> Dalen Morris 1 run. Shipley kick.
>> Drive: 8 plays, 57 yards, 4:25 elapsed time.
>> Time: 3:54. Score: Hawaii 10, Nevada 0
HAWAII
>> Pofele Ashlock 26 pass from Brayden Schager.
Shipley kick.
>> Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 2:22 elapsed time.
>> Time: 0:17. Score: Hawaii 17, Nevada 0
THIRD QUARTER
NEVADA
>> Sean Dollars 2 run. Brandon Talton kick.
>> Drive: 6 plays, 61 yards, 2:47 elapsed time.
>> Time: 9:27. Score: Hawaii 17, Nevada 7
HAWAII
>> Ashlock 5 pass from Schag- er. Shipley kick.
>> Drive: 2 plays, 5 yards, 0:10 elapsed time.
>> Time: 7:13 Score:
Hawaii 24, Nevada 7
NEVADA
>> Dollars 7 run. Talton kick. >> Drive: 2 plays, 29 yards,
0:11 elapsed time. >> Time: 2:52. Score:
Hawaii 24, Nevada 14
FOURTH QUARTER
HAWAII
>> FG. Shipley 50.
>> Drive: 11 plays, 45 yards,
5:04 elapsed time. >> Time: 12:41. Score:
Hawaii 27, Nevada 14
TEAM STATISTICS
UH NEV
Shipley on mark with record-breaking kicks
First downs
Total Net Yards
Rushes-yards 35-136 41-123
0 17 7 3 — 27 0 0140—14
AIR FORCE
NOV. 11
6 P.M. CHING COMPLEX
WYOMING
Passing
Punt Returns
Kickoff Returns
Int. Ret.
C-Att-Int
Sk-Yards Lost
Punts
Fumbles-Lost
Penalties-Yards 9-92 6-43 Time of Poss. 33:10 26:50
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Hawaii, Sims 11- 65, Schager 11-49, Bryant-Le- lei 5-14, Vaipulu 3-9, Morris 3-1, (Team) 2-(minus 2). Nevada, Bianco 15-62, Dollars 16-55, B.Lewis 5-11, Badolato-Birdsell 1-(minus 2), Bell 4-(minus 3). PASSING—Hawaii, Schager 21-38-0-203. Nevada, Bianco 5-15-1-76, B.Lewis 1-8-0-36. RECEIVING—Hawaii, Ashlock 9-87, McBride 4-52, Cenacle 4-37, Pupunu 1-11, Nishiga-
ya 1-9, Perry 1-8, C.Hines 1-(minus 1). Nevada, Campbell 4-88, Zeidler 1-21, Jackson 1-3. MISSED FIELD GOALS— None.
