HONOLULU (AP) — Backup quarterback Drew Weaver threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left and Hawaii beat California 35-31 in a thrilling Hawaii Bowl game on Wednesday night.
Weaver entered the game after Micah Alejado took a hard hit in the previous game. With the Rainbow Warriors (9-4) within range of a game-tying field goal by coach Timmy Chang in the end zone, Senaker ducked between two defensive backs to make the contested catch.
advertise
Zhang, Hawaii’s fourth-year coach, set a career record as the Rainbow Warriors quarterback from 2000-04, leading his team to its first nine-win season since 2019 when Cal interim coach Nick Rolovich led Hawaii to a 10-5 record.
Alejado went 32-of-46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns to help Hawaii overturn an early 21-0 deficit. Pofele Ashlock had 14 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns 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 1-yard touchdown run by Hawaii-born freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who passed for 343 yards and a touchdown.
Alejado’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Brandon White gave Hawaii a 28-24 lead with 7:19 left in the game. The Rainbow Warriors tied the game early in the fourth quarter when Alejado caught Ashlock’s second touchdown pass and then passed to Cam Barfield for the two-point conversion.
advertise
Cal led 21-0 early in the second quarter on Anthony League’s 8-yard touchdown run.
takeout
Cal was voted third-to-last in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason media poll, but finished the season ranked seventh in the ACC. Coach Justin Wilcox was fired last month and will be replaced next season by Oregon State defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. Sagapolutele committed to continuing the program through 2026.
As Chang’s fifth season begins, there’s still a lot to learn from Hawaii. Although leading receiver Jackson Harris announced his intention to transfer and did not play Wednesday, Alejardo and Ashlock said they plan to return.
Next
Cal will host UCLA on September 5, 2026.
Hawaii will also visit Stanford on Aug. 29 to begin next season in the Bay Area.
