HONOLULU (Interstat) — Hawaii scored 22 points in the final quarter to erase a large deficit and defeat California 35-31 on Wednesday at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The Warriors, trailing 31-13, mounted a furious comeback before an announced crowd of 15,194. Micah Alejado led Hawaii, throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Pofele Ashlock, who had 14 catches for 123 yards. California’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele passed for 343 yards and a touchdown. The Golden Bears led 21-0 in the second quarter and 31-13 after three quarters but could not hold off the rally. Luke Weaver’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left provided the winning margin. Hawaii improved to 9-4. California fell to 7-6.

HONOLULU (Interstat) — In a stunning and chaotic Christmas Eve finish at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, the Hawaii Warriors authored a comeback for the ages, erasing an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the California Golden Bears 35-31 on Wednesday night. A crowd of 15,194 witnessed a game that flipped from a California-controlled affair to a heart-stopping Hawaii victory in the final minutes, capped by a 22-point explosion in the fourth quarter by the home team. The win improved Hawaii to 9-4 on the season, while California fell to 7-6. The game’s most important sequence was a breathtaking final drive by Hawaii, executed with no timeouts and trailing by three points. With just 1:52 remaining on the clock and starting at their own 32-yard line, quarterback Micah Alejado engineered a desperate march downfield. He completed five consecutive passes, mixed with a critical 12-yard scramble, to move the Warriors to the California 22-yard line with 15 seconds left. On the ensuing play, with the clock ticking under 10 seconds, Hawaii offensive coordinator Timmy Chang made a bold call, inserting backup quarterback Luke Weaver. The move paid off instantly. Weaver took the snap and fired a perfect pass to the right corner of the end zone, where receiver Nick Cenacle hauled in a 22-yard touchdown with just 10 seconds remaining. The score gave Hawaii its first lead of the night at 35-31, completing an improbable rally. For three quarters, the narrative belonged to California and its own standout quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii, native, playing in his home state, was brilliant, completing 28 of 39 passes for 343 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground. He guided the Golden Bears to a commanding 21-point halftime lead. California struck first on its opening drive, with Sagapolutele connecting with Jacob De Jesus on a 41-yard touchdown pass. The Golden Bears extended their lead in the second quarter on a 19-yard touchdown run by Kendrick Raphael and a 1-yard plunge by Anthony League, building a 21-0 advantage. Hawaii, struggling to find offensive consistency, finally broke through late in the first half. Alejado capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Pofele Ashlock. After a blocked punt set up a short field, the Warriors added a 29-yard field goal from Kansei Matsuzawa as time expired in the half, cutting the deficit to 21-10. The third quarter was a defensive struggle, with only a 39-yard Matsuzawa field goal for Hawaii, making the score 21-13 entering the final period. The Warriors’ comeback began in earnest early in the fourth. Alejado again found Ashlock, this time for a 3-yard touchdown, and followed with a successful two-point conversion pass to Cam Barfield, tying the game at 21-21 with 13:50 to play. California responded with a methodical drive, settling for a 22-yard field goal from C. Meyer to retake the lead at 24-21. The Warriors answered immediately. Alejado marched Hawaii 59 yards in just five plays, finishing with a 17-yard touchdown strike to Brandon White to seize a 28-24 advantage with 7:19 left. The Golden Bears, showcasing their own resilience, reclaimed the lead with 1:57 remaining. Sagapolutele engineered a 75-yard drive, culminating in his own 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown, putting California back on top 31-28 and setting the stage for the frantic finale. While Sagapolutele was superb, the night ultimately belonged to Alejado. The Hawaii quarterback finished 32 of 46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns through the air, adding 33 rushing yards on five carries. His primary target was Ashlock, who was virtually unstoppable, catching 14 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Raphael was a workhorse for California, rushing for 91 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. De Jesus was a dynamic all-purpose threat, catching nine passes for 137 yards and a score, while Trond Grizzell added eight receptions for 105 yards. Defensively, the Warriors were led by linebacker Wynden Ho’ohuli and defensive back Peter Manuma, each recording eight tackles. For California, linebacker Cade Uluave had a game-high nine tackles. The victory marked a significant milestone for Hawaii, securing a nine-win season. For California, the devastating loss concluded a regular season of narrow margins, with five of their six defeats coming by 10 points or fewer. The game’s total of 66 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 51.5, and the result defied the slim pregame projections that slightly favored the Warriors.

HONOLULU (Interstat) — The California Golden Bears and Hawaii Warriors will meet in a Christmas Eve bowl game Wednesday, bringing two of the nation’s most potent offenses to the islands for a projected shootout at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. local time (10 p.m. EST). Despite Hawaii’s superior record (8-4) compared to California’s (7-5), the Golden Bears enter as a slight 1.5-point favorite, according to oddsmakers. The over/under total is 52.5 points, with National Statistical’s game simulator projecting a narrow 34-32 victory for the home-standing Warriors. The game features a compelling quarterback duel. California’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is coming off a stellar performance, completing 31 of 40 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-35 win over SMU on Nov. 29. He will be supported by running back Kendrick Raphael, who tallied 164 all-purpose yards and a score in that victory. Hawaii counters with dual-threat quarterback Micah Alejado, who threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns while adding 46 rushing yards in the Warriors’ 27-7 rout of Wyoming on Nov. 29. Running back Cam Barfield provides balance, rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown in that contest. Both teams have shown volatility. California’s season includes a 34-0 road loss to San Diego State but also a 27-14 win over Minnesota and a 29-26 overtime victory at Louisville. Hawaii’s resume features a 38-10 loss at UNLV but also dominant wins over San Diego State (38-6) and Utah State (44-26). The Warriors will aim to leverage home-field advantage, where they are 5-1 this season, with the lone loss a 21-23 defeat to Fresno State. California is 3-3 in true road games. The Golden Bears’ defense, which allowed an average of 31.5 points in its final four regular-season games, will be tested by Hawaii’s spread attack. This marks the first meeting between the programs since 2019. With favorable weather and high stakes for both teams’ postseason resumes, Wednesday’s contest is poised to be an offensive showcase under the Honolulu lights.