Hawaii routed on the road in Arizona

Brian Bautista | SL

TUCSON, Ariz. – Hawaii's hopes in knocking off another Power 4 conference opponent quickly evaporated in desert air as Arizona rolled past the visiting Rainbow Warriors, 40-6, in a non-conference game at Arizona Stadium Saturday.

A crowd of 42,423 saw the Wildcats (1-0 overall) win its season opener in convincing fashion while the Rainbow Warriors fell to 1-1 overall.

Micah Alejado gutted through an ankle injury he suffered in the Stanford game and threw for 157 yards on 18-of-31 passing with an interception. Alejado reaggravated the injury and limped off at the 5:28 mark in the third quarter and did not return.

Luke Weaver, who took first team reps during practices, filled in at quarterback the rest of the way and finished 8 of 16 for 66 yards and two picks.

Jeremiah Patterson's 41-yard punt return set up Arizona's four-play, 47-yard scoring drive. Noah Fifita completed a 27-yard pass to Tre Spivey to set up Kedrick Reescano's 13-yard touchdown run.

Hawaii answered with a 15-play, 59-yard drive as Kansei Matsuzawa kicked a 34-yard field goal to get the Rainbow Warriors on the scoreboard.

Quincy Craig broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown run and Michael Salgado-Medina tacked on a 35-yard field goal to pad the Wildcats' lead, 17-3.

Karsyn Pupunu (KS-Maui) caught a 9-yard pass to the Arizona 11 but an offensive pass interference penalty on Nick Cenacle pushed the Rainbow Warriors back to the 35. Alejado completed a 12-yard pass to Landon Sims and with no timeouts, Hawaii's field goal unit hurried to set up Matsuzawa's 41-yard field goal as time expired to go into halftime.

The 41-yarder tied Matsuzawa's career long and is 5-for-5 on field goals this season.

Matsuzawa's field goals turned out to be the Rainbow Warriors' only points of the game. Hawaii was shut out of the end zone for the first time since a 35-0 loss to San Jose State in 2023.

Sims led all Hawaii receivers with 48 receiving yards to go with a team-high 41 rushing yards and Tama Uiliata (Waipahu) caught four passes for 37 yards.

Fifita led Arizona with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Sam Olson and 10-yard TD keeper in the third quarter.

The Wildcats put on the finishing touches with Salgado-Medina's 52 yard field goal and Ismail Mahdi's 5-yard TD run.

Former Rainbow Warrior and Saint Louis graduate, Kaena Decambra started at center for the Wildcats.

Julian Savaiinea (Saint Louis) logged two tackles and recovered a fumble on a bad exchange.

Gavin Hunter (Mililani) recorded two tackles, a pass break up, and intercepted Weaver's pass in the end zone and returned it 28 yards.

Nela Taliauli (Iolani) saw the field on special teams.

Other Arizona players with Hawaii ties include Javian Goo (Kapolei), and Riley Wilson (Hawaii transfer).

Last meeting on Aug. 24, 2019 where Hawaii won 45-38. Arizona leads the series 6-1 overall and is 3-0 in Tucson.

Hawaii hosts Sam Houston on Sept. 6.

Both teams are scheduled to meet on Aug. 25, 2029 in Honolulu.

Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].