Hawaii Stuns Cal With Last-Second TD Pass to Win Thrilling Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii rallied from a 21-point deficit as backup QB Drew Weaver threw a last-second TD pass to defeat Cal 35–31 in the thrilling 2025 Hawaii Bowl.
Backup QB Drew Weaver delivers game-winning strike as Rainbow Warriors rally from 21-point deficit
Backup quarterback Drew Weaver delivered the defining moment of the 2025 Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl, throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds remaining to lift Hawaii to a dramatic 35–31 victory over California on Wednesday night in Honolulu.
The late score capped a remarkable comeback by the Rainbow Warriors (9–4), who erased an early 21–0 deficit and closed the game with 22 fourth-quarter points to secure their most memorable win of the season.
Backup QB Becomes Bowl Hero
Weaver entered the game after starting quarterback Micah Alejado absorbed a hard hit on the previous play. With Hawaii in position for a potential tying field goal, head coach Timmy Chang opted to take a risk.
The decision paid off.
Weaver lofted a pass into the end zone, where Nick Cenacle split two defenders and made a contested catch for the game-winning touchdown, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Hawaii’s Biggest Season Since 2019
The victory marked:
• Hawaii’s first nine-win season since 2019
• A signature moment for Timmy Chang, now in his fourth season as head coach
Chang, the former record-setting Hawaii quarterback (2000–04), guided the program to a milestone year, matching the nine-win benchmark last reached under Nick Rolovich, now Cal’s interim head coach.
Alejado Leads Rally Before Exit
Before leaving the game, Micah Alejado delivered a strong performance:
• 32 of 46 passing
• 274 yards
• 3 touchdowns
Wide receiver Pofele Ashlock was nearly unstoppable:
• 14 receptions
• 123 yards
• 2 touchdowns
Ashlock played a key role in Hawaii’s comeback, including a fourth-quarter TD and a successful two-point conversion that tied the game.
Cal Takes Late Lead — But Can’t Hold On
California (7–6) appeared poised for victory after taking a 31–28 lead with 1:57 remaining on a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, a Hawaii native.
Sagapolutele finished with:
• 343 passing yards
• 1 total touchdown
Cal had built its early cushion with:
• A 21–0 lead early in the second quarter
• An 8-yard TD run by Anthony League
But Hawaii’s late surge proved decisive.
What the Win Means
For Hawaii:
• Momentum heading into Timmy Chang’s fifth season
• Alejado and Ashlock have indicated plans to return in 2026
• Proof the program is trending upward despite roster changes
For Cal:
• A season that exceeded preseason expectations
• The Golden Bears finished tied for seventh in the ACC after being picked near the bottom
• Head coach Justin Wilcox was fired last month and will be replaced by Tosh Lupoi
• Sagapolutele has committed to staying with the program in 2026
What’s Next
• Cal opens the 2026 season at home against UCLA on Sept. 5
• Hawaii begins next season on the road at Stanford on Aug. 29
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