Hawaii Stuns Stanford with Walk-Off Field Goal After Chaotic Start
Hawaii’s college football opener against Stanford turned into one of those games that will be remembered for its wild swings of momentum and improbable finish. What looked like a disaster early on for the Rainbow Warriors ended up being a story of grit, recovery, and late-game heroics that had fans on the edge of their seats.
The game could not have started worse for Hawaii. After kicking a field goal to go up 3-0, Stanford sent the ball deep on the kickoff. Hawaii returner Brandon White called for a fair catch but made a costly mistake. Because the ball had already bounced off the turf before he fielded it, the play was ruled dead at the 1-yard line instead of resulting in a touchback at the 25. It was the kind of rulebook quirk that fans rarely see, and unfortunately for Hawaii, it put them in a terrible spot.
On the very next snap, things got even worse. Quarterback Micah Alejado was hit in the end zone, the ball popped free, and Stanford linebacker Wilfredo Aybar pounced on it for a touchdown. Just like that, Stanford had built a 10-0 lead without much effort, capitalizing on back-to-back miscues.
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But instead of folding, Hawaii fought back. Alejado settled into rhythm and began moving the offense down the field. He threw two touchdown passes in the first half, flipping the momentum and giving Hawaii a 14-13 advantage heading into the break. The energy in the stadium shifted completely—what could have been a runaway for Stanford had turned into a tight contest.
The second half was a grind. Alejado himself took a hard hit and appeared to be limping, but he stayed in the game, showing the kind of toughness teammates rally behind. Stanford managed to claw back and tie the game, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. With the score knotted at 20 and the final seconds ticking away, Hawaii worked its way into field goal range.
That’s when kicker Kansei Matsuzawa stepped into the spotlight. Calm under the pressure, he drilled a 38-yard field goal as time expired. The ball sailed cleanly through the uprights, sealing a 23-20 victory and sending the Hawaii sideline into celebration.
Alejado’s stat line told the story of his resilience: 27 completions on 39 attempts, 210 yards, two touchdown passes, and 36 rushing yards despite taking several hits. It was the kind of performance that showed why he is trusted as the leader of the offense.
For Stanford, the loss was a gut punch. The Cardinal had looked in control early but let the game slip away. For Hawaii, it was a statement win—overcoming early blunders, pushing through adversity, and finishing strong in the clutch.
Week Zero of the college football season delivered plenty of drama, and Hawaii’s walk-off win might have been the most thrilling chapter of all.
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