One Throw, Ten Seconds and a Backup Instant Legend in Honolulu
HONOLULU, Dec. 25 – The script was already written, or so it seemed. The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors had clawed their way back from a three-touchdown deficit, only to see their starting quarterback, Micah Alejado, laid out on the turf with the game hanging in the balance. Enter Luke Weaver, a backup quarterback with cold hands and the weight of a season resting on his right arm.
With just 10 seconds remaining and the Rainbow Warriors trailing by three, conventional wisdom screamed for the safe play a field goal to force overtime. But head coach Timmy Chang, staring down the clock and the chaos, chose to roll the dice. On his very first snap of the game, Weaver dropped back and lofted a prayer toward the end zone. Nick Cenacle answered it, splitting two defenders to secure the 22-yard touchdown and a miraculous 35-31 victory over the California Golden Bears.
The Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl began as a potential rout, with Cal storming to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Golden Bears, led by interim coach Nick Rolovich a man who once roamed the same sidelines as Hawaii’s head coach looked poised to spoil the homecoming. But the Rainbow Warriors refused to fracture. Led by the grit of Alejado, who threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns, Hawaii turned a blowout into a brawl.
The comeback was fueled by a kinetic connection between Alejado and receiver Pofele Ashlock. The duo was nearly unstoppable, connecting 14 times for 123 yards and two scores. Their rhythm sparked a frantic fourth quarter that saw Hawaii pile up 22 points, trading blows with a Cal offense that wouldn’t quit. When Hawaii-born Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele punched in a go-ahead score with under two minutes left, it set the stage for the final, chaotic drive.
The climax, however, wasn’t just about the points; it was about the resilience. Alejado drove the team into scoring range before taking the hit that ended his night, forcing Chang to make the call that will be replayed in Honolulu for years to come.
This victory is more than just a bowl trophy; it is a definitive statement for Timmy Chang’s program. By securing their first nine-win season since 2019, the Rainbow Warriors have moved past the rebuilding phase and into contention. The irony was palpable: the last coach to lead Hawaii to such heights was Rolovich, the man standing on the losing sideline Wednesday night.
For Cal, the loss is a bitter pill in a season defined by transition. Despite a valiant effort from Sagapolutele who threw for 343 yards and remains a bright spot for the program’s future the Bears couldn’t close the deal. With Justin Wilcox fired and Tosh Lupoi set to take over, Cal heads into a winter of uncertainty, though Sagapolutele’s commitment to stay offers a sturdy foundation.
“How amazing is that? It’s a program that is built out of faith, and these guys deserve it, man.” – Timmy Chang, Hawaii Head Coach
Chang’s post-game elation speaks to the culture he has instilled. It’s a culture that prizes belief over probability the kind of belief required to trust a backup quarterback with the final play of the season.
“They fought to the end and they deserve a lot of credit for that. Timmy deserves a lot of credit for that.” – Nick Rolovich, Cal Interim Head Coach
In the end, Wednesday night belonged to the “next man up.” Luke Weaver’s lone pass didn’t just win a game; it validated the fight of a team that refused to fold when down 21-0. With key playmakers like Ashlock and Alejado set to return, and a signature win to cap the year, Hawaii enters the offseason not just with hope, but with proof that they can weather any storm.
