Late gamble pays off as Hawai‘i football earns first victory of 2026 season

MĀNOA — With the University of Hawai‘i football team's game against New Mexico State - and 2026 season - hanging in the balance on Saturday night at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, head coach Timmy Chang put his trust in analytics.

Facing fourth-and-5 at the NMSU 7 with 5:17 remaining and clinging to a 3-point lead, Chang knew another field goal wasn't going to do his team any good. Following a New Mexico State timeout, Rainbow Warrior slotback Tama Uiliata emerged behind center and took the snap. The former star Waipahu quarterback rolled to his right and threw to a wide open Frank Abreu for a touchdown, ultimately sealing the team's 29-19 victory on Saturday night. It was the first college reception for Abreu, a redshirt freshman from Kamehameha-Maui.

"We got good coaching," Chang said of his staff, "and we get creative in these situations, and it just keeps defenses on their toes. ... In that situation, the clock, the time and where it's at, three points doesn't really do anything for you, and so in a decision like that, you go for it. The clock is our enemy at that point. And if you don't get it, at least you've got them pinned down in that area. In those times, it works. If the play doesn't work, right, then you're gonna always question it."

After an 0-2 start to the season, the Rainbow Warriors got off the schneid behind an opportunistic defense and a gritty effort on offense, particularly quarterback Micah Alejado, who endured yet another injury that appeared catastrophic to the naked eye on first watch.

UH came out firing on Saturday, scoring in its first three possessions via two DeVon Rice rushing touchdowns and a Sean Olvera-Harle field goal to go up 16-0 in the second quarter. The Rainbow Warrior defense, which didn't come up with any takeaways against Stanford or UNLV, forced one in the game's opening possession when Wynden Ho‘ohuli punched out a fumble that was recovered by Jamih Otis.

New Mexico State trimmed the deficit to 19-13 at halftime after a 2-yard James Jones rushing score and 33-yard TK King reception.

The Aggies suddenly tied the game at 19 when Alejado was tackled and fumbled as his helmet flew off on a scramble, with De'Marcus Peters returning the fumble 84 yards for NMSU. Alejado, writhing in pain, stayed on the ground for multiple minutes. He didn't end up missing a snap for the Rainbow Warriors, though he showed up to the postgame press conference with his right arm in a sling.

"A lot of it just hurts to be honest. My whole right side (is in deep pain)," the left-handed Alejado said. "Probably the hardest hit I've took in quite some time, but that's part of football. You just got to get back up and keep chopping. When the team needs you, you keep fighting. You understand what's at stake. You got to keep going."

Alejado, who completed 41.4% of his passes with an interception against UNLV, returned to form against New Mexico State with a 33-for-45 performance, throwing for 346 yards and no interceptions.

Uiliata hauled in 10 passes for 107 yards, while Audric Harris, in moving from slot receiver to outside receiver, had 105 yards on four catches. On the ground, Rice had 16 carries for 59 yards.

Defensively, Otis had a team-high six tackles for Hawai‘i, including his fumble recovery and interception, accounting for two of the team's three takeaways. The other was a Jaylon Edmond interception in the third quarter.

The Rainbow Warriors are idle next week before taking on Wyoming on Sept. 26 in Laramie for its annual Paniolo Trophy game.

Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.

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