MĀNOA — Luke Weaver didn't have to be anything more than himself on Saturday night.
When the University of Hawai‘i's backup quarterback received word that its game against Sam Houston would belong entirely to him, the former junior college All-American didn't bat an eye.
With regular starter Micah Alejado sidelined due to a recurring ankle injury, Weaver says his pre-game prep wasn't anything out of the ordinary. The only difference was that some family members, including his mother and sister, felt inclined to fly from the Mainland to Honolulu in order to be there in person for his first career start.
Weaver completed 27 of his 43 passes for 294 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a 37-20 victory over Sam Houston, leading the Rainbow Warriors to a 2-1 start for the 2025 season. He also had 10 carries for 26 rushing yards. Though he wasn't perfect, he maintained his California cool from beginning to end, reinforcing the confidence placed in him by the Rainbow Warrior coaching staff.
"Luke is awesome. Luke did what he's supposed to do, and I'm very proud of him," head coach Timmy Chang said in the postgame press conference. "The stuff that we talked during the week, he put the time in, and it was like, hey, you stay consistent, stay calm. You're gonna do just fine, and that's what he did."
Added Weaver: "Coach Chang all week was really emphasizing just keeping it simple and keeping my reads simple, just playing football at its purest form. So really, that's all it was, finding who I was reading and just putting the ball in the receivers' hands to make a play."
Following the game, after the Rainbow Warriors were done linking arms for the singing of their alma mater, Weaver was embraced by teammates and coaches. He then walked over to the family members that made the trip over.
"I'm blessed with a great (support system), especially at home," said Weaver, a native of Manteca, Calif. "I already was on FaceTime with my dad and my brother on the field. I just checked my phone real quick, and all my old teammates and all my friends are texting me and stuff. It's very cool having all the support from my old teammates, friends, coaches, all that. Very blessed."
Hawai‘i got off to a quick start on Saturday. After forcing a Sam Houston three-and-out to begin the game, Hawai‘i's first play on offense was a 47-yard strike from Weaver to Pofele Ashlock. The drive was capped off by a 1-yard touchdown pass from Weaver to Landon Sims on fourth and goal.
After a Sam Houston field goal, the Rainbow Warriors added another touchdown on a 41-yard Giovanni Iovino interception return for a touchdown, the program's first pick-six in a game since Penei Pavihi did so against Duquesne in 2022.
"(Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen) makes a great play on the ball, breaks it up, tips it up to me perfectly," said Iovino afterwards. The linebacker estimates he hasn't scored a defensive touchdown since his days playing pee wee ball. "I just took the opportunity. I turned to the field. ... I knew I just had to run as fast I could."
With Hawai‘i up two scores in the third quarter, the Bearkats got back into the game with a 66-yard Emon Allen pick-six, one of Weaver's rare mistakes on Saturday.
"That's one of our team's biggest emphasis right now — it's just one one snap and clear," Weaver said. "Can't let the last play affect the next play. Just have to move on, whether it's good or bad."
UH then responded with a 6-yard touchdown from Weaver to Ashlock, putting the Rainbow Warriors in front by two scores again.
After Sam Houston cut the UH lead to 27-20 on a 21-yard shovel pass for a touchdown with 8:15 left, Hawai‘i put the game away by scoring on consecutive possessions. A 19-yard Kansei Matsuzawa field goal with 3:01 left gave the Rainbow Warriors a 30-20 lead. Then, on fourth-and-2 with 1:47 remaining, Hawai‘i served the dagger with a perfectly placed 15-yard touchdown from Weaver to Ashlock.
Matsuzawa made the ensuing extra point and has yet to miss a kick in 2025, making all eight of his field goal attempts through three games, as well as all six extra point tries.
Hawai‘i will host Portland State on Sept. 13 for its annual homecoming game. The FCS-level Vikings (0-3) have been outscored 161-20 in 2025, its most recent loss a 50-20 loss at North Dakota in Grand Forks. When Portland State takes the field at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex next week, the contest will be its third road game in as many weeks.
"Coach Chang said enjoy the night, but starting tomorrow, we get right back to business and start recovering, and then start mentally getting prepared for this week, and just do it as a new week, and we're 0-0," Weaver said.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
