In a dramatic finish, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors triumphed over the California Golden Bears with a 35-31 victory in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Wednesday night. Backup quarterback Drew Weaver connected with Nick Cenacle for a 22-yard touchdown pass with just 10 seconds remaining on the clock, capping off a remarkable comeback.
Weaver stepped in after starting quarterback Micah Alejado was sidelined due to a hard hit on the previous play. With Hawaii in position to tie the game, head coach Timmy Chang opted to go for the win, and Cenacle delivered with a key catch between two defenders.
This victory marked Hawaii”s first nine-win season since 2019, a year when former coach Nick Rolovich led the team to a 10-5 record. Alejado had an impressive performance, completing 32 of 46 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns, helping his team recover from an early 21-0 deficit.
Wide receiver Pofele Ashlock was a standout, finishing with 14 receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns, contributing significantly to the 22 points scored by Hawaii in the fourth quarter. The Golden Bears took a brief lead in the closing minutes with a 1-yard touchdown run from freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who ended the game with 343 passing yards and one touchdown.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Alejado had put Hawaii ahead 28-24 with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Brandon White, followed by a successful 2-point conversion pass to Cam Barfield. California had established a commanding 21-point lead early in the second quarter, thanks to an 8-yard touchdown run from Anthony League.
Despite being predicted to finish low in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings, Cal ended the season tied for seventh. Following the conclusion of the season, coach Justin Wilcox was relieved of his duties and will be succeeded by Tosh Lupoi, the defensive coordinator from Oregon. Sagapolutele has committed to continuing with the program through 2026.
As Hawaii prepares for the next season under Chang”s leadership, the team has positive momentum, although leading receiver Jackson Harris announced he would transfer and did not participate in the bowl game. Both Alejado and Ashlock have expressed their intentions to return.
Looking ahead, California will host UCLA on September 5, 2026, while Hawaii is set to visit Stanford on August 29 of the same year.
