Hawaii Holds Off UNLV, Wins Island Showdown
Las Vegas, NV — For three quarters Saturday night, #19 Hawaii looked like a playoff-caliber team. They were fast, balanced, and disruptive in the trenches, building a 20-point lead on the road against #23 UNLV. But the final 15 minutes told a different story — one that will have coach Timmy Chang and players alike talking about “finishing” all week.
From the jump, Hawaii’s game plan was clear: set the tone early with an efficient passing attack and force UNLV into obvious passing downs. They executed to perfection. The Rainbow Warriors’ front four collapsed the pocket over and over, generating multiple sacks and never letting Alex Orji settle in.
The pivotal moment came late in the first half when Hawaii’s defense turned an interception into six points — a momentum-shifting pick-six that put them firmly in control. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, Hawaii had extended the lead with a bruising goal-line score by Micah Alejado, making it 40–20.
And then came the lapses.
UNLV’s offense, which had been inconsistent all night, suddenly found rhythm. They hit explosive plays in the passing game, finished drives in the red zone, and fed off a home crowd that sensed a comeback. Hawaii’s defense — so aggressive early — started giving up space underneath, and their tackling slipped. Just like that, the lead was down to one score with time still on the clock.
What saved Hawaii? Two things: their composure and their ability to win key downs late. On their final possession, the Rainbow Warriors converted in short-yardage situations, forcing UNLV to burn timeouts. They were able to drain the remainder of the clock thanks to running back Landon Sims, who finished with a season-high 54 yards, most of which came on that game-sealing drive.
Bottom line: Hawaii gets out of Las Vegas with a 40–34 win, extends its winning streak to eight, and keeps its playoff hopes alive. But this was a reminder that even elite teams can’t afford to lose focus. Against a lesser-unranked opponent, a 20-point lead might hold without drama. Against a top-25 rival on the road? You have to finish — and Hawaii nearly learned that the hard way.
I really had Orji and the boys winning this one, but he got cooked in this face off
