Alejado Lifts No. 6 Hawaii Past No. 10 UConn, 42–35, In Late Shootout

By Brad Wilson, The Stateline Gazette

STORRS, Conn. — Micah Alejado turned a high-stakes showdown into a personal showcase, throwing for 443 yards and accounting for five touchdowns as No. 6 Hawaii (3–1) held off a furious rally from No. 10 UConn (1–3) for a 42–35 victory Sunday night.

Alejado completed 32 of 38 passes for three touchdowns and added two more scores on the ground, steadying the Rainbow Warriors each time momentum threatened to swing. His final throw — a strike to Pofele Ashlock on third-and-16 — sealed the outcome and allowed Hawaii to run out the clock.

“We knew if the game became a track meet, Micah could handle it,” Hawaii coach Steve Hultgren said. “He stayed aggressive, protected the football when it mattered, and made winning throws late.”

Hawaii finished with 501 total yards, including 443 through the air, repeatedly exploiting a UConn defense that struggled to limit explosive plays. The Rainbow Warriors scored on six of their first eight meaningful possessions and never trailed.

UConn countered with precision of its own. Quarterback Joe Fagnano completed 22 of 25 passes for 309 yards and five touchdowns, spreading the ball efficiently and keeping the Huskies within striking distance throughout.

“Joe was outstanding,” UConn coach Kyle Bojda said. “That’s the level of execution we’re demanding. We just left too many points out there early and gave them short fields.”

Alejado opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run and later added a 10-yard rushing score as Hawaii jumped ahead early. Pofele Ashlock delivered the night’s biggest play to start the second half, taking a short pass 57 yards for a touchdown on his way to eight catches for 154 yards.

Tight end Devon Tauaefa caught nine passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Karsyn Pupunu and Brandon White added scoring receptions as Hawaii’s depth proved decisive.

UConn answered repeatedly behind Fagnano’s efficiency.

Skyler Bell caught five passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Reymello Murphy added three catches for 96 yards and two scores, including a 75-yard jet-sweep pop pass that pulled the Huskies within seven entering the fourth quarter.

Each surge was met with an answer.

After Murphy’s long touchdown trimmed the deficit, Alejado responded with a 7-yard scoring pass to Pupunu to restore a two-score cushion. UConn later capitalized on a short field when Fagnano found tight end Juice Vereen for a touchdown, cutting the score to 42–35 with time remaining.

That was as close as the Huskies would get.

“That’s winning football,” Hultgren said. “Third-and-long, hostile environment — that’s where you learn who you are.”

Hawaii’s final drive featured the defining moment, with Alejado finding Ashlock across the middle on third-and-16 to move the chains and drain the clock.

“We didn’t blink,” Bojda said. “Now we have to finish games. That’s the next step.”

Despite finishing with just 344 total yards, UConn’s five touchdown passes underscored an offense capable of stressing defenses across the league. Hawaii left with a statement road win. UConn left with belief — and the rest of the conference took notice of both.

Team Statistics

Hawaii: 501 total yards (58 rushing, 443 passing)UConn: 344 total yards (35 rushing, 309 passing)

Hawaii Leaders

QB Micah Alejado — 32-of-38 passing, 443 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT; 12 rushes, 52 yards, 2 TD

WR Pofele Ashlock — 8 catches, 154 yards, TD

WR Devon Tauaefa — 9 catches, 86 yards, TD

UConn Leaders

QB Joe Fagnano — 22-of-25 passing, 309 yards, 5 TD

WR Skyler Bell — 5 catches, 92 yards, 2 TD

WR Reymello Murphy — 3 catches, 96 yards, 2 TD