The California Golden Bears suffered a stunning defeat in the Hawaii Bowl on December 27, 2023, as they relinquished a commanding 21-point lead to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. A late touchdown pass from backup quarterback Luke Weaver to Nick Cenacle with just 10 seconds remaining sealed the game for Hawaii, resulting in a final score of 35-31.
Weaver entered the game after starter Micah Alejado was injured on the previous play, marking a pivotal moment in a contest that saw Hawaii rally from a significant deficit. Cal initially surged ahead, scoring on each of their first three drives to establish a 21-0 lead. The Bears’ momentum, however, dwindled as the Rainbow Warriors mounted an impressive comeback.
The Bears secured a brief lead late in the game when freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele executed a 1-yard quarterback sneak to put Cal ahead 31-28 with less than two minutes left. This touchdown capped a 75-yard drive following a possession change with 7:19 on the clock. Hawaii, however, responded decisively, orchestrating a 68-yard drive that culminated in Weaver’s touchdown pass to Cenacle.
The Rainbow Warriors, who finished the season with a record of 9-5, demonstrated resilience throughout the game. After trailing by three touchdowns, they began their comeback with a 39-yard field goal from All-America kicker Kensei Matsuzawa, narrowing the gap to 21-13 with just under six minutes left in the third quarter. Hawaii then leveraged their momentum, scoring on five consecutive possessions, including a 17-yard touchdown pass from Alejado to Brandon White, which gave them a 28-24 lead.
Cal briefly regained the lead with Sagapolutele’s touchdown, but the Rainbow Warriors swiftly answered back. The emotional tension boiled over after the game, resulting in a brief scuffle between players, though it quickly subsided.
The Bears, finishing the season at 7-6, were under the leadership of interim head coach Nick Rolovich, a former quarterback and head coach at Hawaii. This game marked a significant challenge as Rolovich aimed to secure back-to-back victories for the team. Looking ahead, Tosh Lupoi has been named the new head coach for the Bears, taking over after Justin Wilcox was dismissed following a loss to Stanford.
Sagapolutele had a standout performance, completing 28 of 39 passes for 323 yards and a touchdown. Jacob De Jesus also made an impact, catching nine passes for 137 yards while setting a new program record with 108 receptions in a single season.
Cal’s early dominance was evident as they scored three touchdowns in the first half, including a 41-yard touchdown pass from Sagapolutele to De Jesus and a rushing touchdown by freshman Anthony League. However, the tide turned as Hawaii found their offensive rhythm, culminating in a series of scores that dramatically shifted the game’s momentum.
The Hawaii Bowl showcased the unpredictability and excitement of college football, reminding fans of the thrilling nature of postseason play.