Hawaii Improbable Bowl Miracle
HONOLULU, Dec. 25 – It came down to a backup quarterback cold off the bench, a ticking clock, and a coach willing to bet everything on a single throw. When starting quarterback Micah Alejado took a bruising hit with the game on the line, the script seemed to fracture for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Enter Drew Weaver, who hadn’t taken a snap all game, tasked with salvaging a season-defining moment.
With ten seconds remaining and field goal range secured, head coach Timmy Chang could have played it safe to force overtime. Instead, he chose the dagger. Weaver stepped back and launched a 22-yard strike to Nick Cenacle, who split two defenders to haul in the contested catch, sealing a breathless 35-31 victory over the California Golden Bears.
The dramatic finale belied the game’s disastrous opening. Hawaii found itself staring up from a steep 21-0 hole early in the second quarter, a deficit that would have broken lesser teams. But under the lights of the Hawaii Bowl, the Rainbow Warriors slowly chipped away at the lead, driven by Alejado’s grit before his exit. The starter threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns, orchestrating a rhythm that eventually turned a blowout into a brawl.
The comeback was fueled by a relentless connection between Alejado and Pofele Ashlock. The receiver was nearly unguarable, amassing 123 yards on 14 catches and finding the end zone twice. Their chemistry sparked a 22-point fourth-quarter explosion that turned the tide. Even when Cal’s Hawaii-born freshman quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, reclaimed the lead with just under two minutes left, the Warriors refused to fold.
For Coach Chang, a program legend who once shattered records as a player on this same field, the victory was a validation of culture over circumstance. This wasn’t just a win; it was the capstone to Hawaii’s first nine-win season since 2019. Ironically, that previous benchmark was set by Nick Rolovich, the man standing on the opposite sideline as Cal’s interim coach.
While the night ended in celebration for Hawaii, it highlighted the diverging paths of two programs. Cal, navigating the turbulence of a coaching change and a mid-tier ACC finish, showed promise in the arm of Sagapolutele, who threw for 343 yards. However, the Golden Bears are a team in transition, preparing to hand the reins to incoming coach Tosh Lupoi next season.
In contrast, Hawaii enters the offseason with solidified momentum. Chang has navigated the program through lean years to reestablish a winning standard. Despite the looming transfer of receiver Jackson Harris, the core of the team remains intact. Both Alejado and Ashlock have signaled their intent to return, suggesting that this bowl victory isn’t a ceiling, but a foundation. The narrative in Manoa has shifted from rebuilding to contending.
“How amazing is that? It’s a program that is built out of faith and these guys deserve it, man.” – Timmy Chang, Hawaii Head Coach
Chang’s post-game emotion underscores the psychological shift within the locker room. His emphasis on “faith” isn’t just platitude; it explains the resilience required to overcome a three-touchdown deficit against a Power Four opponent. Even his counterpart, Nick Rolovich, tipped his cap, noting that the Warriors “fought to the end” and credited Chang for instilling that fighting spirit.
The Rainbow Warriors proved Wednesday night that they can win ugly, they can win late, and they can win when the plan falls apart. By scoring on their final six drives, they showed a mental fortitude that will be crucial as they look toward 2026.
Hawaii won’t have to wait long to test this new resilience on the mainland; they open next season back in the Bay Area against Stanford. But for now, the islands belong to the backup who was ready when his name was called.
