Christmas came early for Rainbow Warriors in memorable Hawaii Bowl victory

Описание: On a Christmas Eve that will live on in University of Hawaiʻi football lore, the Rainbow Warriors delivered a comeback for the ages, rallying from a 21-point deficit to stun California 35-31 in the 22nd Hawaiʻi Bowl at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.

Trailing 21-0 in the first half, Hawaiʻi flipped the script behind grit, resilience and a dramatic final sequence that capped one of the most memorable nights in program history. The victory secured a 9-4 finish for head coach Timmy Chang’s fourth Warriors team and marked Hawaiʻi’s sixth Hawaiʻi Bowl championship.

Mountain West Freshman of the Year Micah Alejado threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns despite absorbing repeated hits, while wide receiver Pofele Ashlock earned Hawaiʻi Bowl MVP honors after hauling in 14 receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

The Warriors’ defense ignited a second-half surge, holding Cal to just 10 points over the final three quarters as Hawaiʻi ripped off a decisive 35-10 run.

The defining moment came in storybook fashion.

With Hawaiʻi trailing by three and just 15 seconds remaining, Alejado went down after taking a hard hit. Backup quarterback Luke Weaver was summoned and delivered immediately, firing a perfect 22-yard strike to senior Nick Cenacle for the go-ahead touchdown with 10 seconds left.

The play that featured "Dream Weaver" connecting with "Saint Nick" on Christmas Eve sealed the Warriors’ improbable victory and sent the sold-out crowd into a frenzy.

“It’s what every kid dreams about,” Weaver said. “That was a dream God made come true tonight. I’m very blessed and very thankful.”

Cenacle finished with a season-high eight receptions, while his game-winning score was just his second touchdown of the season.

Chang praised his team’s growth and resilience after overcoming adversity throughout the year.

“They’re gritty. They’ve learned how to fight through adversity,” Chang said. “This year taught us how to handle it and keep battling back. It’s never perfect, that’s football, that’s life, and these guys stayed together.”

Ashlock’s performance tied a Hawaiʻi Bowl record for receptions and moved him into the top 10 on UH’s career receiving charts.

“I just wanted to prove it to myself,” Ashlock said. “To do it on this stage, with my teammates right there with me, it was amazing.”

Hawaiʻi’s 21-point comeback tied the largest rally in program history and marked the biggest comeback in UH postseason play. The Warriors also became just the second team in FBS history to erase a 21-0 deficit in a bowl game.

Alejado expanded his UH freshman single-season record with 23 touchdown passes and credited the team’s mentality for the turnaround.

“We’ve been through a lot this year,” Alejado said. “This team doesn’t stop fighting. We’re resilient and we showed that tonight.”

The win capped a historic season for Chang, whose Warriors bookended the 2025 campaign with victories over ACC opponents Stanford and California. Hawaiʻi finished 7-1 at home and posted its most wins since 2019.

Hawaiʻi improved to 9-6 all-time in bowl games and won its third straight bowl appearance, tying a program record. The Warriors are now 6-4 all-time in the Hawaiʻi Bowl.

Postgame scuffles between the teams drew attention, but no serious injuries were reported.

Hawaiʻi opens the 2026 season Aug. 29 at Stanford.

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