{"id":142183,"date":"2025-09-14T08:42:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T08:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/142183\/"},"modified":"2025-09-14T08:42:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T08:42:11","slug":"defense-matsuzawa-power-warriors-to-homecoming-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/142183\/","title":{"rendered":"Defense, Matsuzawa power Warriors to Homecoming victory"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                     &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                                &#13;<br \/>\n                                    &#13;<br \/>\n                                    &#13;<br \/>\n                                    &#13;<br \/>\n                                    &#13;<br \/>\n                                    &#13;<br \/>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757839329_558_convert\" alt=\"Elijah Palmer INT Celebration\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>                          &#13;<br \/>\n                        &#13;<br \/>\n                        &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Portland_State.png\" alt=\"Portland St. Logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t3&#13;\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tPortland St.&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tPSU&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t0-4 , 0-0&#13;\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757839330_850_site.png\" alt=\"Hawaii Logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t23&#13;\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tWinner&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tHawaii&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tHAW&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t3-1 , 0-0&#13;\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757839330_213_Portland_State.png\" alt=\"Portland St. Logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tPortland St.&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tPSU&#13;\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>0-4 , 0-0<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t3&#13;\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t23&#13;\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757839331_355_site.png\" alt=\"Hawaii Logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tWinner<\/p>\n<p>    &#13;<br \/>\n        Score By Quarters    &#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n                Team&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        1st&#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        2nd&#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        3rd&#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        4th&#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                F&#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    PSU&#13;<br \/>\n                    Portland St.&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    0&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    0&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    3&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    0&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                3&#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    HAW&#13;<br \/>\n                    Hawaii&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    0&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    14&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    3&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    6&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                23&#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                    &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<\/p>\n<p>Game Recap: Football |  09.13.2025 <\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n                                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        &#13;<br \/>\n    &#13;<br \/>\n\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\tStory Links&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/2025\/9\/14\/postgame-notes-portland-state.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Postgame Notes<\/a> &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/galleries\/?gallery=6784\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Photo Gallery<\/a> &#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;<br \/>\n   &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<p>                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/fresnostate_200x200.png\" alt=\"Fresno State\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                Next Game:<\/p>\n<p> Fresno State<\/p>\n<p>9\/20\/2025 | 6:00 P.M. HT<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                        Spectrum Sports &amp; Spectrum SportsNet  &#13;\n                    <\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                        ESPN Honolulu&#13;\n                    <\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                    Sep. 20 (Sat) \/ 6:00 P.M. HT&#13;\n                <\/p>\n<p>                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sidearm-story-template-next-game-opponent-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/fresnostate_200x200.png\" alt=\"Fresno State\"\/><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                        \u00a0Fresno State&#13;\n                    <\/p>\n<p>                    <a class=\"sidearm-story-template-next-game-details-history\" href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/opponent-history\/fresno-state\/16\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">History <\/a><\/p>\n<p>                             &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                    HONOLULU \u2013 The Hawai&#8217;i\u00a0football team rode a stifling defense and the leg of <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/kansei-matsuzawa\/21978\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"21978\" target=\"_blank\">Kansei Matsuzawa<\/a> to a 23-3 Homecoming win over Portland State on Saturday Night at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe Rainbow Warrior defense held the Vikings to 230 yards and three points, both the lowest totals by a UH opponent this season. UH held an opponent out of the endzone all game for the first time since 2019 (54-3 at Nevada). <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/elijah-palmer\/21990\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"21990\" target=\"_blank\">Elijah Palmer<\/a> finished with one interception, his first of the season, and a team-high seven tackles. <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/lesterlaisene-lagafuaina\/21972\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"21972\" target=\"_blank\">Lesterlaisene Lagafuaina<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/jamar-sekona\/22005\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"22005\" target=\"_blank\">Jamar Sekona<\/a> each registered a solo sack, while <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/jackie-johnson-iii\/21962\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"21962\" target=\"_blank\">Jackie Johnson III<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/qwyn-williams\/22137\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"22137\" target=\"_blank\">Qwyn Williams<\/a> combined for a sack.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nMatsuzawa hit all three of his field goal attempts including a career-high 44-yard field goal that he later surpassed with a 47-yard field goal. Matsuzawa finished with a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to move to a perfect 11-for-11 on field goal attempts this season.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nQuarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/luke-weaver\/22041\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"22041\" target=\"_blank\">Luke Weaver<\/a>, making his second straight start in place of injured starter <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/micah-alejado\/21937\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"21937\" target=\"_blank\">Micah Alejado<\/a>, completed 26-of-42 passes for a game-high 240 yards and two touchdown passes. <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/cam-barfield\/21940\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"21940\" target=\"_blank\">Cam Barfield<\/a> was on the receiving end of both of Weaver&#8217;s touchdown tosses. Barfield finished with 72 all-purpose yards, including a team-high 50 receiving yards on four catches.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/landon-sims\/22006\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"22006\" target=\"_blank\">Landon Sims<\/a> was a force in both the passing and rushing attacks, finishing with 46 receiving yards and a team-leading 41 rushing yards.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nFormer UH quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/john-keawe-sagapolutele\/21319\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"21319\" target=\"_blank\">John-Keawe Sagapolutele<\/a> got the start under center for Portland State, completing 25-of-35 passes for 189 yards and a pick. Vikings receiver Zachary Dodson-Greene finished with a game-high 78 receiving yards on nine catches.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nAfter a scoreless first quarter, UH responded with two quick scoring drives to open the second. On the third play of the second quarter, Weaver completed a short pass in the flat to Barfield, who ran it 16 yards to the goal line before stretching the ball over the pylon for a diving score.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe &#8216;Bows defense shut the Vikings down on the following drive. After forcing two incomplete passes to start the drive, Johnson III and Williams sacked Sagapolutele to force a quick three-and-out.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nUH responded on offense on another scoring drive. Facing a 4th-and-1, Weaver kept the ball and ran through the right side of the line for an 8-yard gain and a conversion. Three plays later, Barfield caught a screen pass from Weaver and ran it 31 yards for the score to put UH up 14-0.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nPortland State threatened to score twice late in the first half, but were turned away each time by the &#8216;Bows. UH stuffed Vikings running back Delon Thompson on 4th-and-1 at the UH 3-yard line with 5:19 left to play. The &#8216;Bows did it again on the next drive, stopping Thompson short on 4th-and-2 with 1:18 to play for back-to-back PSU turnover-on-downs.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nHawai&#8217;i\u00a0opened the second-half with a 12-play scoring drive. <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/tama-uiliata\/22015\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"22015\" target=\"_blank\">Tama Uiliata<\/a> turned a short pass from Weaver on 3rd-and-10 into a 30-yard catch-and-run down the left sideline to move the chains and keep the drive alive. Matsuzawa continued his perfect start to the season, knocking in a career-long 44-yard field goal to cap off the 61-yard drive and give UH a 17-0 lead.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe Vikings responded with a field goal of their own later in the third quarter, when Mathias Uribe knocked in a 25-yard field goal to get the Vikings on the board.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nUH started the fourth quarter the same way they started the third, with a long scoring drive. The &#8216;Bows converted three third downs on the 14-play drive: a 2-yard <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/landon-sims\/22006\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"22006\" target=\"_blank\">Landon Sims<\/a> run on 3rd-and-1, a 9-yard sideline catch by <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/karsyn-pupunu\/21997\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"21997\" target=\"_blank\">Karsyn Pupunu<\/a> on 3rd-and-7, and a 23-yard screen pass from Weaver to Sims on 3rd-and-10. Matsuzawa finished the 51-yard drive with another career-long 47-yard field goal to make it 20-3 UH.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nMatsuzawa sealed the victory with a 35-yard field goal to extend UH&#8217;s lead to 23-3 late in the fourth quarter.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"&#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; 3&#13; &#13; &#13;&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":142184,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563],"tags":[64,63,596,85],"class_list":["post-142183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-football","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142183\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}