Rainbow Warriors Ride Dominant Defense to Rout of Utah State
HONOLULU, HI — The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors delivered a complete performance on Saturday night at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex, overwhelming the Utah State Aggies 44-3 behind a suffocating, play-making defense that accounted for three game-changing scores on its own.
Winners of four straight and now bowl-eligible at 6-1, the Rainbow Warriors left little doubt about who was in control from the opening snap. It started with textbook special teams execution, pinning Utah State as deep as possible at the one yard line. On the next play safety Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen blitzed into the backfield untouched and tackled running back Miles Davis for a safety.
Later in the first quarter, disaster struck the Aggies again. A mistimed pitch landed on the turf and bounced perfectly into the hands of safety Peter Manuma, who sprinted down the middle of the field for a scoop-and-score touchdown. That extended Hawaii’s lead and further demoralized an already struggling Utah State offense.
But the Rainbow Warriors weren’t done. Late in the fourth quarter, with the game well out of reach, Utah State took a desperate shot toward the end zone — only to see it picked off and returned 97 yards the other way for a pick-six. The Hawaii sideline erupted, sealing a defensive masterpiece and sending the home crowd into celebration.
“That's how to execute right there,” said head coach Timmy Chang, praising Hawaii’s cohesion across all three phases of the game. “Special teams pins them deep, defense gets the safety. Then they come right back with the fumble return TD. What a sequence.”
Hawaii’s pass rush was relentless all game, collapsing the pocket, forcing errant throws, and piling up sacks. Quarterback Bryson Barnes was knocked down repeatedly and pressured into mistakes, including two interceptions, both of which were by cornerback Elijah Palmer.
Offensively, Hawaii played smart, efficient football, capitalizing on the short fields created by their defense. Micah Alejado passed the 2,000 yard mark for the year during the game and added multiple touchdowns, rushing for one score and connecting with Karsyn Pupunu, Jackson Harris and Pofele Ashlock for touchdowns through the air.
Hawaii now looks ahead with confidence and momentum, chasing bigger goals — and maybe even a shot at a conference championship — as the season enters its second half. They travel to Fort Collins, Colorado next week to take on the Colorado State Rams (3-3, 1-1 MW).
Gotta enjoy em
