Before a capacity crowd and with a full-hearted effort, the Hawaii football team willed a 35-31 victory over California in Wednesday night\u2019s Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.<\/p>\n
It was an improbable finish, with a backup quarterback firing the winning pass to a Canada native who picked up American football as a freshman in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnbelievable,\u201d UH coach Timmy Chang said of the conclusion to the Warriors\u2019 9-4 season. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for all the guys. They did it. I\u2019m just speechless.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Golden Bears regained the lead at 31-28 on Campbell High graduate Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele\u2019s 1-yard quarterback sneak with 1:57 to play.<\/p>\n
UH quarterback Micah Alejado then drove the Warriors to the Cal 22 with a 13-yard pass to running back Cam Barfield. But Alejado fell in a heap after aggravating an injured right ankle, forcing the Warriors to call a timeout with 15 seconds to play.<\/p>\n
Luke Weaver, who was a junior college All-American last season, was summoned as Alejado\u2019s replacement. Weaver, who was 2-0 as a UH starter, was held to four regular-season games to qualify for a redshirt. But the limits were lifted for the postseason, freeing Weaver to be activated for the bowl.<\/p>\n
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Chang called for a switch route. Nick Cenacle, aligned as the right slotback, cut toward the near sideline and then went into a sprint.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the corner low, and Nick Cenacle open,\u201d Weaver said. \u201cI had to give it a shot. The protection held up and he made the play.\u201d<\/p>\n
In full stride, Cenacle extended his arms to make the catch in the end zone for a 34-31 lead with 10 seconds to play. Kansei Matsuzawa, who has not missed a point-after kick this season, was true again to make it 35-31.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was our go-to,\u201d Cenacle said. \u201cWe run it all season. I just did a little front-foot set, a little move (on the cornerback), and went. It seemed like time stopped. All the confidence in the world in Luke. All our quarterbacks are amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chang said: \u201cI called it, but I didn\u2019t execute it. They executed it. What an amazing throw and catch by Luke and Nick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weaver said: \u201cThat was all God. That\u2019s as simple as I can put it. \u2026 It\u2019s been that way the whole season. Just be ready if I\u2019m needed. That\u2019s my role.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a fond adieu for senior Cenacle, who grew up in Montreal and had to adjust to American football as a freshman. Last year, Cenacle entered the transfer portal, but then withdrew to remain at UH for his senior season. Cenacle was hindered by ailments this year, but he used the 25-day break from the regular-season finale to be healthy for the bowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy I stayed,\u201d Cenacle said.<\/p>\n
It was an emotional game, from the pairing of former UH quarterbacks \u2014 Chang and Cal\u2019s interim head coach Nick Rolovich were teammates in 2000 and 2001 \u2014 to the duel of left-handed signal callers. Alejado, who moved to Las Vegas in the eighth grade, and Sagapolutele grew up in Ewa Beach.<\/p>\n
Sagapolutele directed the Golden Bears to touchdowns on their first three drives. Set up by elusive running back Kendrick Raphael (who entered averaging 3.02 post-contact yards while amassing 46 missed tackles) and pre-snap motions, Sagapolutele picked apart the Warriors with a horizontal game featuring screens and throws to the flats.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know some people might have turned their TVs off,\u201d Barfield said of the three-touchdown deficit, \u201cbut we fight hard for everything we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alejado sparked the comeback despite several ailments. He has played on an injured right ankle suffered in the season opener against Stanford. He also has an injury to his left foot. And the left-hander\u2019s throwing arm has experienced soreness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a constant grind,\u201d Alejado said of the ailments. \u201cIt\u2019s part of football. \u2026 We started off slow. But we\u2019ve been resilient all year. It started off with that Stanford game when the first play was a strip-sack. Now we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Warriors scored 21 points in a row to tie it. The Warriors got on the board on Pofele Ashlock\u2019s 13-yard scoring catch.<\/p>\n
Matsuzawa added a 29-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining in the first half, and a 39-yarder on the Warriors\u2019 first drive of the second half.<\/p>\n
Later, Ashlock caught a pass at the threshold of the end zone, then curled the ball around the right pylon for the touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-19.<\/p>\n
Chang decided to go for the two-point conversion. Barfield faked receiving a handoff and went through the heart of the defense. Alejado then underhanded a shovel pass to Barfield to tie it at 21.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s something we worked on since January,\u201d Barfield said. \u201cIt was a shovel pass, but (Alejado) can sprint out and throw it. It\u2019s built for situations like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alejado said: \u201cIt was fun to watch the hard work come to fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ashlock, a junior from Euless, Texas, also was prominent in the night of comebacks. After Ashlock dropped a pass in the flats, he rebounded to make an acrobatic one-handed grab for a 30-yard gain. Ashlock finished with 14 catches (on 17 targets) for 123 yards and two touchdowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a constant thing I have to remember, the confidence I have to have in myself,\u201d Ashlock said.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath \u2014 when mid-field scuffles calmed between the teams \u2014 Alejado was able to raise the trophy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means a lot to me, but more for the state,\u201d Alejado said. \u201cI\u2019m happy for the state. I\u2019m trying to bring back the pride to the state. It was a great season. But we\u2019re focusing on what we can do better.\u201d<\/p>\n
GAME STATS<\/p>\n
FIRST QUARTER<\/p>\n
CALIFORNIA<\/p>\n
>> Jacob De Jesus 41 pass from<\/p>\n
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.<\/p>\n
Chase Meyer kick.<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 4:11<\/p>\n
elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 7:01. Score: California<\/p>\n
7, Hawaii 0<\/p>\n
SECOND QUARTER<\/p>\n
CALIFORNIA<\/p>\n
>> Kendrick Raphael 19 run.<\/p>\n
Meyer kick.<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:02<\/p>\n
elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 14:55. Score: California 14, Hawaii 0<\/p>\n
CALIFORNIA<\/p>\n
>> Anthony League 8 run. Meyer<\/p>\n
kick.<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 8 plays, 49 yards, 3:13<\/p>\n
elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 9:38. Score: California<\/p>\n
21, Hawaii 0<\/p>\n
HAWAII<\/p>\n
>> Pofele Ashlock 13 pass<\/p>\n
from Micah Alejado. Kansei<\/p>\n
Matsuzawa kick.<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards,<\/p>\n
5:41 elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 3:57. Score: California<\/p>\n
21, Hawaii 7<\/p>\n
HAWAII<\/p>\n
>> FG Matsuzawa 29<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 7 plays, 21 yards, 1:18<\/p>\n
elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 0:27. Score: California<\/p>\n
21, Hawaii 10<\/p>\n
THIRD QUARTER<\/p>\n
HAWAII<\/p>\n
>> FG Matsuzawa 39<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 13 plays, 61 yards,<\/p>\n
6:20 elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 5:58 Score: California<\/p>\n
21, Hawaii 13<\/p>\n
FOURTH QUARTER<\/p>\n
HAWAII<\/p>\n
>> Ashlock 3 pass from Alejado.<\/p>\n
Cam Barfield pass from<\/p>\n
Alejado.<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 3:41<\/p>\n
elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 13:50 Score: California<\/p>\n
21, Hawaii 21<\/p>\n
CALIFORNIA<\/p>\n
>> FG Meyer 22<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards,<\/p>\n
4:54 elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 8:56 Score: California<\/p>\n
24, Hawaii 21<\/p>\n
HAWAII<\/p>\n
>> Brandon White 17 pass from<\/p>\n
Alejado. Matsuzawa kick.<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 4 plays, 59 yards, 1:27<\/p>\n
elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 7:19. Score: Hawaii<\/p>\n
28, California 24<\/p>\n
CALIFORNIA<\/p>\n
>> Sagapolutele 1 run.<\/p>\n
Meyer kick.<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:22<\/p>\n
elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 1:57. Score: California<\/p>\n
31, Hawaii 28<\/p>\n
HAWAII<\/p>\n
>> Nick Cenacle 22 pass<\/p>\n
from Luke Weaver. Matsuzawa kick.<\/p>\n
>> Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards,<\/p>\n
1:42 elapsed time.<\/p>\n
>> Time: 0:10. Score: Hawaii<\/p>\n
35, California 31<\/p>\n
TEAM STATISTICS<\/p>\n
CAL UH<\/p>\n
First downs 29 24<\/p>\n
Rushing 10 6<\/p>\n
Passing 18 16<\/p>\n
Penalty 1 2<\/p>\n
Net Yards Rush. 145 93<\/p>\n
Attempts 29 23<\/p>\n
Avg. Per Rush 5.0 4.0<\/p>\n
Rushing TDs 3 0<\/p>\n
Yards Gained 151 98<\/p>\n
Yards Lost 6 5<\/p>\n
Net Yards Pass. 343 302<\/p>\n
Comp-Att-Int 28-39-0 34-49-0<\/p>\n
Avg.\/Attempt 8.8 6.2<\/p>\n
Avg.\/Completion 12.3 8.9<\/p>\n
TDs 1 4<\/p>\n
Total Offen. Yards 488 395<\/p>\n
Plays 68 72<\/p>\n
Avg.\/Play 7.2 5.5<\/p>\n
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0<\/p>\n
Penalties-Yards 8-85 8-55<\/p>\n
Punts-Yards 2-47 2-91<\/p>\n
Avg.\/Punt 23.5 45.5<\/p>\n
Net\/Punt 23.5 28.5<\/p>\n
Inside 20 1 1<\/p>\n
50+ Yards 0 0<\/p>\n
Touchbacks 0 0<\/p>\n
Fair Catch 1 0<\/p>\n
Kickoffs-Yards 6-347 7-418<\/p>\n
Avg. Yards\/KO 57.8 59.7<\/p>\n
Net Yards\/KO 41.7 46.4<\/p>\n
Touchbacks 2 3<\/p>\n
Punt Ret.-Yards 2-34 0-0<\/p>\n
Punt Ret.-Avg. 17.0 NA<\/p>\n
Time of Poss. 29:40 30:20<\/p>\n
3rd Down Conv. 6-10 8-17<\/p>\n
4th Down Conv. 0-1 3-3<\/p>\n
Red Zone Conv. 4-4 5-5<\/p>\n
RZ Touchdowns 3 3<\/p>\n
RZ Field Goals 1 2<\/p>\n
Sacks Total-Yards 0-0 1-6<\/p>\n
PATs 4-4 3-3<\/p>\n
Field Goals 1-2 2-3<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Before a capacity crowd and with a full-hearted effort, the Hawaii football team willed a 35-31 victory over…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":108653,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8,14596],"class_list":{"0":"post-108652","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-california","8":"tag-california","9":"tag-california-headlines","10":"tag-california-news","11":"tag-editors"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108652"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108652\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}