In a show of sheer sportsmanship and technique, the University of Hawai'i football team not only clinched a season-opener victory against Stanford, but also swept all the Player of the Week honors from the Mountain West. Quarterback Micah Alejado, safety Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen, and placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa turned in commendable performances that didn't go unnoticed.
Alejado, who is making waves as both a freshman and star offensive player, went 27-of-39 for 210 yards and notched two touchdowns, "leading both the game-tying and game-winning drives on UH's final two possessions of the game," according to Hawaii Athletics. Despite playing the second half on a sore right ankle, he managed an average of 9.5 yards on six non-sack scrambles, as detailed by the Star-Advertiser.
On defense, Mendiola-Jensen was unforgiving against Stanford's offense, and his highlight was a leaping interception with just six minutes to go, "that snuffed a key fourth quarter drive by Stanford," stated Hawaii Athletics. This crucial play set up the Warriors for the game-tying field goal and showcased the senior safety's impact on the game.
Matsuzawa, the specialist who sealed the game's fate with a 38-yard field goal right as the clock ran out, had his own narrative of perseverance. Born and raised in Japan, he was inspired to kick after watching an LA Rams game in 2018, learning his craft from YouTube videos and improving his English by communicating with junior college teammates before joining UH in 2023, the Star-Advertiser reports. During the victorious match against Stanford, he converted all five of his kicks, including two PATs, and scored 11 points.
