Honolulu is still buzzing after tonight, as freshman QB Micah Alejado led a comeback drive that culminated in Kansei Matsuzawa kicking a 38-yard field goal as time expired to lock in a dramatic, 23–20 victory over Stanford in what was both teams’ season opener.
Plays That Made The Difference:
Freshman Showcase: Alejado threw two touchdown passes (210 yards total), including one to former Stanford receiver Jackson Harris that tied the game heading into halftime.
Matsuzawa’s Moment: After knocking down two earlier field goals (37, 40 yards), Matsuzawa converted the game-winner with zero time left.
Hawaii’s Notable Bounce Back: This is Hawaii’s first win against a Power Conference team since 2019, and first win over a Pac-12 program.
Final Crunches Takeaways
Rookie moment: Alejado’s ability to stay calm as a freshman stood out as electric and timely.
Kicker in the spotlight: Matsuzawa is a living testament to the fact that games are only won in all three phases.
Shock-drop moment: A season opener that flipped expectations on their head from start to finish.
Stating the Obvious
This was not just a win, it was a declaration they have arrived. Hawaii’s bold script is capped with a freshman-led game-winning drive and a kicker with ice in his veins. For Stanford and the new regime led by Frank Reich, the shift just changed from mellow to high-stakes.