Honolulu, HI
San Jose State walked into Clarence T.C. Ching Complex on Saturday night facing a determined Hawai'i team looking to turn its season around. By the end of the evening, the Spartans had once again found a way to leave the islands with a victory. San Jose State Spartans defeated the Hawai'i rainbow warriors in a physical and dramatic Mountain West matchup, overcoming a strong second half push from the Rainbow Warriors before making the plays that mattered most down the stretch.
For San Jose State quarterback Luke Weaver, the night carried an added significance. It was a return to a place he once called home, only this time he arrived wearing a different uniform. The former Rainbow Warrior delivered a strong performance, completing 19 of 28 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns while helping the Spartans build an early lead and withstand Hawai'i second half comeback attempt. A year earlier, Weaver was part of the Hawai'i program, serving as a backup to current Rainbow Warriors quarterback Micah Alejado. He appeared in five games during the 2025 season, including two starts, and helped Hawai'i capture a victory in the Hawaii Bowl. This time, he returned to Manoa as the opposing quarterback, facing former teammates and familiar faces on the other sideline.
Weaver didn't allow the emotion surrounding his return to take him away from the task at hand. San Jose State controlled much of the opening half, playing with patience on offense and discipline on defense. Weaver kept the Spartans composed through the air and took advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves. He connected with Hawai‘i native and spartan te, Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole, for a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter, giving San Jose State its first points of the evening. later in the quarter, weaver would find freshman WR, Carson Clark for a 12-yard touchdown. Those plays helped the Spartans take a 14-0 advantage into halftime and put Hawai'i in an early hole.
The first half was a frustrating one for the Rainbow Warriors, who struggled to establish an offensive rhythm while San Jose State consistently managed to stay one step ahead. Despite the deficit, Hawai'i came out of halftime with renewed energy and quickly changed the momentum of the game. Alejado sparked the offense with his arm, connecting on several big plays and giving the Rainbow Warriors the rhythm they had been missing in the opening two quarters. The home crowd responded as Hawai'i began to find its confidence and put pressure on the Spartans.
One of the biggest moments came when warriors wide receiver, Devin Alves, hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass, bringing the crowd back to life and giving Hawai'i renewed belief that a comeback was possible. The Rainbow Warriors followed that play with an impressive third quarter surge, scoring 13 unanswered points and twice cutting San Jose State lead to just one point. What had appeared to be a comfortable advantage for the Spartans suddenly became a tense fourth quarter battle, with the momentum firmly on Hawai'i side and every possession carrying greater importance.
San Jose State defense responded when it needed to most. The Spartans intercepted Alejado twice, ending promising Hawai'i drives and preventing the Rainbow Warriors from taking complete control of the game. San Jose State also pressured Alejado throughout the night, recording three sacks and forcing the Hawai'i offense to make difficult decisions under pressure. The turnovers ultimately proved costly for Hawai'i, as the Rainbow Warriors struggled to overcome the mistakes despite the turnaround following halftime.
Alejado's performance was still one of the bright spots for Hawai‘i. His ability to make plays downfield gave the Rainbow Warriors a great opportunity to complete the comeback. Alves explosive touchdown reception provided one of the game most memorable moments. After being held scoreless in the first half, Hawai'i had completely changed the complexion of the contest and demonstrated the fight necessary to make the game competitive until the final minutes.
San Jose State remained composed when the pressure increased. With the game hanging in the balance late in the fourth quarter, the Spartans put together an important, time consuming drive rather than trying to force a quick scoring opportunity. The possession took valuable time off the clock and eventually resulted in a field goal with just 1:15 remaining. The kick extended San Jose State advantage to 20-16 and left Hawai'i needing a touchdown on its final possession.
The Rainbow Warriors had one final opportunity to complete the comeback. Hawai'i moved the ball down the field and searched for one last play that could change the outcome, but the San Jose State defense held firm. With time running out, Hawai'i took one final shot toward the end zone, but the Hail Mary fell incomplete, ending the comeback and allowing the Spartans to celebrate a hard fought road victory.
The game carried an added layer of significance because of the many Hawai'i connections on the San Jose State sideline. Weaver's return was perhaps the most obvious, but he was far from the only Spartan with ties to the islands. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo, a Hawai'i native and longtime figure in Hawai'i football, returned home to coach against the Rainbow Warriors, while offensive coordinator, Craig Stutzmann, also has deep connections to the University of Hawai'i program. Those relationships made an already meaningful conference matchup even more personal for the people watching from the stands.
The game also carried the history of the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy, which honors the legendary coach who spent time leading both Hawai'i and San Jose State. That history has helped give the matchup an identity that goes beyond a typical conference game, and Saturday night added another chapter to the relationship between the two programs. For Hawai'i fans, seeing familiar faces such as Weaver and Niumatalolo on the opposing sideline added another emotional element to an already important night.
In the end, San Jose State walked away from Honolulu with a 20-16 victory, while Hawai'i was left to wonder what might have been if it could have carried its second-half momentum into the opening two quarters. The Rainbow Warriors showed plenty of fight and gave their home crowd a reason to believe until the very end, but the Spartans made the critical plays when they mattered most.
For Luke Weaver, it was a homecoming he will likely never forget. He returned to Manoa surrounded by familiar faces and memories, only to leave as the opposing quarterback who helped defeat his former team. On a night filled with Hawai'i connections, momentum swings, big plays and late game drama, San Jose State proved that four quarters of composure can make all the difference.
Final Score: San Jose State 20 - Hawai'i 16
for more pictures, head over to our photo gallery
pictures taken by: Kennedy Velasco - @kennnchapo
