Dec 26, 2025
3 min read
Besheraton Hawaii Boul Bekalifornia 35-31 win.
HONOLULU - Backup quarterback Luke Weaver threw a 22-yard pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left, and Hawai'i held on for a 35-31 comeback win over California in the impressive Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Wednesday night.
Weaver entered the game after Micah Alejado was hit hard in the previous game.With the Rainbow Warriors (9-4) in range to score, coach Timmy Chung fumbled in the end zone and Cenacle found himself between two defensive backs and made a contested catch.
“How amazing is that?”- said Chang.“This program is built on faith, and these guys deserve it, man.”
Hawai'i's fourth-year coach Chang, who set career records as the Rainbow Warriors' quarterback from 2000 to 2004, led his program to its first nine-win season in 2019 -- while Nick Rolovich, now Cal's interim coach, led Hawai'i to a 10-5 record.
Alejado finished 32 of 46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns, helping Hawaii come back from a 21-0 deficit.Pofele Ashlock had 14 carries for 123 yards and two TDs for the Rainbow Warriors, who scored 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Cal (7-6) took a 31-28 lead with 1:57 left on a 343-yard run by Hawaii-born freshman quarterback Jaron-Kiawe Sagapolutele.
Alejado's 17-yard touchdown pass to Brandon White with 7:19 left gave Hawaii a 28-24 lead.The Rainbow Warriors tied it early in the fourth quarter when Alejado connected with Ashlock for their second TD before completing a 2-point conversion to Cam Barfield.
"These boys keep fighting through adversity and I love them for that. They're learning the hard way, but they're learning how to do it and what's important," Chang said.
Cal took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter when Anthony League ran for an 8-yard TD.
Roloch handed over his hat to Chang and the Rainbow Warriors, who have scored in their last six campaigns.
"They fought until the end and they deserve a lot of credit for that. Timmy deserves a lot of credit," Rolovich said.
Hawaii fell to 9–6 in bowl games, while Cal fell to 12–14–1.
Cal was ranked third in the pre-Atlantic Coast Conference media poll, but was ranked seventh this season.Coach Justin Wilcox was fired last month and will be replaced next season by Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lopoi.Sagapolutel has opted for the program in 2026.
Hawaii has a lot going for it as Chang enters his fifth season.Jackson Harris announced his intention to transfer and said Alejado and Ashlock plan to return, even though he won't play Wednesday.
Sagapolutele has thrown 178 consecutive passes without an interception, seven shy of Jared Goff's school record set in the 2015 season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
