Hawaii storms past Colorado State, becomes bowl eligible

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — In the chill of the night, the University of Hawaii football team iced a bowl berth.

Micah Alejado shook off a sore leg to throw for 301 yards and three touchdowns, Kansei Matsuzawa set a school record with his 21st field goal in a row, and the Rainbow Warriors held Colorado State to 4.1 yards per play in a 31-19 victory at Canvas Stadium.

The Warriors’ 6-2 start — matching their best since 2018 — ensured a bowl berth for the first time in six years. (The Warriors received bowl berths as an available healthy option during the pandemic-impacted 2020 and 2021 seasons.)

“It means so much to represent the pride of Hawaii,” running back Landon Sims said. “We’re always the underdog. People are always doubting us. But to be in a position of leadership, and give the younger guys this, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

The Warriors have been without a permanent home venue since Aloha Stadium was shuttered for spectator events in December 2020. They also no longer have a grass practice field.

“We have a team,” running back Cam Barfield said. “We have brothers. We have guys who want to play for each other, fight for each other. And we have a team of God. Winning here is more special than winning anywhere else.”

Matsuzawa’s 26-yard field goal extended the Warriors’ lead to 24-7 with 3:09 left in the third quarter. He has made all 20 attempts this season, and 21 in a row dating to last year, beating Jason Elam’s streak set in 1992. Elam, who wore a Matsuzawa replica jersey, attended his first UH game in 33 years.

“Records are made to be broken, and I’m glad it’s by somebody like him,” Elam said. “He’s a good, young guy. I’m happy for him. He has a great story.”

Matsuzawa said: “It was emotional when I met him after the game. It meant a lot to me.”

The Rams scored two touchdowns in a row — failing on both 2-point attempts — to close to 24-19 with 6:50 to play.

The Warriors drove to the CSU 35, where they faced a fourth-and-inches situation. In a rare two-back set, Sims created a hole for Barfield. Barfield dashed 35 yards for the suspense-ending touchdown with 2:23 to play.

“Landon had a great block,” Barfield said. “We run that play in practice many, many times, and today we called it. That’s what happens when we execute.”

In a dominant defensive performance, the Warriors held the Rams to 106 yards — 3.8 yards per first-half play — while forcing a fumble to take a 14-7 lead into the intermission.

The Rams’ only touchdown in the first half came on Javion Kinnard’s 91-yard punt return. The Rams’ first five drives ended in punts. Their sixth — the only time they moved past midfield — finished with linebacker Jalen Smith forcing a fumble that rush end Jackie Johnson recovered.

On UH’s opening drive, slotback Nick Cenacle was penalized for a pick route. The 15-yard infraction reset the line of scrimmage to the CSU 17. But on the next play, Cenacle sneaked free on a skinny-post pattern to secure a 17-yard scoring pass from Alejado for a 7-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Alejado fired a 15-yard pass to wideout Jackson Harris at the UH 40. Harris sprinted the remaining 60 yards to complete the 75-yard touchdown that broke a 7-all tie.