Hawai‘i Stuns Cal in Wild Hawai‘i Bowl Finish, Completes Historic Comeback
The Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors didn’t just win a bowl game-they delivered a rollercoaster thriller that will be talked about on the islands for years to come.
In a game that swung from disaster to destiny, Hawai‘i overcame a 21-point deficit, lost the lead late, and still managed to pull off a dramatic 35-31 win over Cal in the Hawai‘i Bowl, thanks to a gutsy final drive and a backup quarterback who stepped up when it mattered most.
Let’s break it down.
A Nightmare Start Turns Into a Historic Comeback
Things couldn’t have started much worse for the Rainbow Warriors. Cal came out firing, jumping to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. The Golden Bears looked in total control, with quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele leading a sharp, efficient offense that had Hawai‘i’s defense on its heels early.
But Hawai‘i didn’t flinch. Instead of folding, the Rainbow Warriors found their rhythm-and then some.
Slowly but surely, they chipped away at the lead, and by the fourth quarter, they had flipped the script completely. A 28-24 lead had the home crowd buzzing and the Warriors believing.
Cal Responds-Then Hawai‘i Writes the Final Chapter
Credit to Cal-they didn’t go quietly. With under two minutes to play, Sagapolutele capped off a clutch drive with a go-ahead touchdown run, putting the Bears back on top, 31-28. It was the kind of late-game punch that often decides bowl games.
But this one had one more twist.
Hawai‘i’s starting quarterback, Micah Alejado, had been solid all night, throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns. But he went down with an injury on Hawai‘i’s second-to-last offensive play, leaving the game in the hands of backup Luke Weaver. With the game on the line, 10 seconds on the clock, and the Warriors in field-goal range, the safe play would've been to kick and force overtime.
That’s not what happened.
Instead, Hawai‘i rolled the dice-and Weaver delivered. He dropped a perfect pass into the hands of Nick Cenacle in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. Just like that, Hawai‘i had the lead back, 35-31, with only seconds remaining.
A failed Cal lateral attempt and a brief post-play scrum between the teams sealed the deal. The Rainbow Warriors walked off the field with a win that was equal parts thrilling and historic.
A Record-Setting Night
This comeback wasn’t just dramatic-it was record-breaking. The 21-point rally marked the largest comeback in school history and tied the largest comeback in Hawai‘i Bowl history. For a program that’s had its share of ups and downs, this one will go down as one of the all-time highs.
Sagapolutele finished with 323 passing yards and a touchdown for Cal, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Rainbow Warriors’ momentum once it got rolling.
Season Reflections: Two Programs, Two Directions
With the win, Hawai‘i closes the season at 9-4, riding a wave of momentum after winning three of their final four games. They also notched two victories over ACC opponents this year, including a season-opening win over Stanford and this bowl triumph over Cal.
For the Golden Bears, the season ends at 7-6, with four losses in their final six games. After a promising start to the year, Cal couldn’t quite find consistency down the stretch.
But on this night, it was all about the Rainbow Warriors-about resilience, big moments, and a backup quarterback who turned into a Honolulu hero.