Hawaii Upsets Stanford 17-13 in Season Opener

Honolulu, Aug. 24, 2025 - The University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warriors opened the 2025 college football season with a dramatic 17–13 victory over the Stanford Cardinal at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

The contest got off to a rough start for the Warriors. Stanford was the first to score on a short field. Emmett Kenney’s 23-yard field goal made it 10–0 for the Cardinal. Then, a mishandled kickoff return led to a strip-sack. Wilfredo Aybar recovered the fumble for a touchdown, pushing Stanford’s lead to 13–0 just over seven minutes into the game.

Undeterred, Hawaiʻi responded late in the first quarter. Quarterback Micah Alejado threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Pa’olu Ashlock. This cut the score to 13–7. In the second quarter, Alejado connected with Jackson Harris for a 19-yard touchdown. This gave the Warriors a 14–13 lead at halftime.

Hawaiʻi broke the tie in the fourth quarter. Freshman kicker Kansei Matsuzawa hit a 40-yard field goal. This pushed their lead to 17–13 after a defensive stalemate in the third quarter. The Rainbow Warriors’ defense then held off Stanford’s final drives, preserving the upset victory.

Hawaiʻi (1–0, 0–0 Mountain West) will play Arizona on Aug. 30. Stanford (0–1, 0–0 Pac-12) hopes to recover when it hosts Purdue on Sept. 6.