Hawaii Quarterback Micah Alejado Leads Walk-Off Victory Over Stanford
In a game that felt more like a heavyweight title fight than a season opener, the Hawaii football team, behind a stellar performance from Quarterback Micah Alejado delivered a stunning walk-off victory against Stanford, 23-20, in Honolulu.
Besides Aljado, the hero at the end was Kicker Kansei Matsuzawa, who drilled a 38-yard field goal as the clock expired, sending the home crowd into a frenzy, capping a wild, back-and-forth affair. But to get to the winning kick, the story of this game was Alejado. The young signal-caller showed the poise of a seasoned veteran, shaking off a brutal defensive touchdown and a painful second-half injury to lead his team to a monumental win.
Alejado’s Resilience Defines Hawaii’s Victory
The night didn’t start smoothly for Alejado. Stanford came out swinging, establishing a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, punctuated by a disastrous play for Hawaii. Pinned deep in their own territory, Alejado was strip-sacked in the end zone, and Stanford’s Wilfredo Aybar pounced on the loose ball for a defensive touchdown. It was a gut-punch moment that could have shattered a young quarterback’s confidence.
Instead, it seemed to ignite a fire. Alejado responded with grit, leading a swift scoring drive that culminated in a short touchdown pass to Pofele Ashlock, putting Hawaii on the board and calming the nervous energy in the stadium. He was just getting started. Before the half, he orchestrated another brilliant drive, finding former Stanford receiver Jackson Harris for a 19-yard touchdown that gave Hawaii a slim 14-13 lead heading into the locker room.
The real test of his character came in the third quarter. Sacked hard, Alejado went down with a significant ankle injury that left him grimacing in pain. After a tense few moments in the medical tent, he emerged with a heavily taped ankle and a look of pure determination. He didn’t just stay in the game; he elevated his play, guiding the offense with a noticeable limp but unwavering command.
A Back-and-Forth Battle To the Finish
Stanford, under the new leadership of Interim Coach Frank Reich and General Manager Andrew Luck, refused to go quietly. The Cardinal leaned heavily on Running Back Micah Ford, who churned out 113 tough yards and scored a crucial go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. That score capped a mammoth 20-play, 85-yard drive that chewed up nearly 10 minutes of the clock, a demoralizing sequence that put Stanford ahead 20-17.
With time winding down, it felt like the air had been let out of the stadium. But Hawaii, led by its hobbled quarterback, had one last answer. Alejado, displaying incredible toughness, marched the offense down the field. While the drive stalled, Matsuzawa calmly knocked through a 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with just over two minutes left.
The Hawaii defense, feeding off the electric atmosphere, then delivered the game’s decisive blow. Defensive Back Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen picked off a pass, giving Alejado and the offense the ball back with a chance to win it.
The Final Drive
With the game on the line, Alejado put together a final, masterful drive. He completed clutch passes, scrambled when he had to, and managed the clock perfectly. His final stat line—210 yards and two touchdowns—only tells part of the story. It was his unshakeable leadership and courage that truly powered the Hawaii football team.
The drive set the stage for Matsuzawa, who split the uprights from 38 yards out, securing Hawaii’s first win over a Power Four opponent since 2019 and snapping a nine-game losing streak in such matchups. As the ball sailed through, the stadium erupted, a cathartic release of emotion for a program and a fan base that had been searching for a signature moment. This was it, delivered by a resilient quarterback and a team that refused to lose.
