HONOLULU, HI — In a dramatic season-opening thriller, Kansei Matsuzawa drilled a 38-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors to a 23-20 upset victory over Stanford on Saturday night at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.
The win marks Hawai’i’s first victory over a Power Conference team since 2019, and their first-ever triumph against an ACC opponent. It also improves the Rainbow Warriors’ all-time record vs. Stanford to 1-4, all played in Honolulu.
Clutch in Crunch Time:
Despite briefly exiting after a sack in the third quarter, Micah Alejado returned to engineer a late-game drive that sealed the win. Starting at their own 28-yard line with 1:33 remaining, Alejado went 5-for-7 for 51 yards, setting up Matsuzawa’s game-winning kick. The quarterback finished the night with 210 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 36 rushing yards on the ground.
Matsuzawa, meanwhile, was perfect under pressure, hitting field goals from 40, 37, and 38 yards, the last of which delivered the final blow to Stanford’s hopes.
Stanford Strikes Early, Hawaii Responds:
The game didn’t start in Hawaii’s favor. After a 23-yard field goal from Emmet Kenney, a miscue on the ensuing kickoff pinned Hawaii at the 1-yard line. On the next snap, Alejado was strip-sacked by Clay Patterson, and Wilfredo Aybar recovered the fumble in the end zone to give Stanford a quick 10-0 lead.
But Hawaii answered with a 3-yard TD pass from Alejado to Pofele Ashlock, then later took the lead before halftime with a 19-yard touchdown connection to Jackson Harris — a former Stanford Cardinal — giving the Rainbow Warriors a 14-13 edge.
Key Drives, Key Plays:
Stanford briefly regained control in the fourth quarter. A grueling 20-play, 85-yard drive — eating up nearly 10 minutes — ended with Micah Ford punching it in from two yards out to reclaim the lead, 20-17.
But Hawaii didn’t flinch. Matsuzawa tied the game with a 37-yard field goal at the 2:01 mark before Alejado and the offense marched down once more to complete the comeback.
Game Leaders
Micah Alejado (Hawai’i): 27/39, 210 YDS, 2 TDs; 36 Rushing YDS
Kansei Matsuzawa (Hawai’i): 3 FGs (40, 37, 38 YDS – GW)
Micah Ford (Stanford): 26 carries, 113 YDS, 1 TD
Pofele Ashlock (Hawai’i): 9 REC, 69 YDS, 1 TD
Jackson Harris (Hawai’i): 1 TD (former Stanford WR)
Emmet Kenney (Stanford): FGs from 23 & 46 YDS
