Postgame Notes & Quotes: Self-Inflicted Mistakes Cost Hawai‘i Against San José State

Hawai‘i had the yardage, had opportunities, and got another strong performance from its defense. But penalties, turnovers and an inability to finish drives proved costly in a 20-16 loss to San José State Saturday night at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

The Rainbow Warriors fell to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in Mountain West play, while San José State retained the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy with its sixth straight win in the series.

The numbers: Hawai‘i finished with a season-high 438 yards of offense, outgaining San José State by 114 yards. UH threw for 341 yards and averaged 7.0 yards per play, compared with 5.2 for the Spartans. But the Warriors committed 12 penalties for 85 yards, turned the ball over twice and scored on just one of two red-zone trips.

Penalties continue to hurt: The 12 penalties were a season high, with all but one committed by the offense. Head coach Timmy Chang took responsibility afterward.

Chang added that those mistakes become magnified in close games: “In these one-possession games… they come back to haunt you.” 

Alejado takes responsibility: Micah Alejado completed 23-of-35 passes for 341 yards and a touchdown, but his two interceptions led to 10 San José State points. The first ended a streak of 97 consecutive attempts without an interception. 

Alejado called the mistakes “self-inflicted wounds” and was especially critical of the offense’s inability to capitalize after moving the football.

On the red-zone problems, Alejado said many of the issues are mental and added that five games into the season, “it’s unacceptable.”

Big plays were there: UH produced a season-high seven explosive pass plays, highlighted by Devin Alves’ breakout performance. Alves caught three passes for a career-high 121 yards, including a 49-yard reception and a 58-yard touchdown that pulled Hawai‘i within 14-13 in the third quarter.

Alejado also surpassed 5,000 career passing yards, becoming the 11th Rainbow Warrior to reach the milestone and moving into UH’s career top 10 in passing yards.

Defense keeps UH in it: After allowing two touchdowns in the second quarter, Hawai‘i’s defense held San José State to just six points after halftime. The Spartans finished with only 324 total yards and were held to 78 rushing yards on 34 attempts. UH also recorded a season-high seven tackles for loss.

That continues a trend at Ching Complex: Hawai‘i has held opponents to 20 points or fewer in seven of its last 12 home games. The problem has been matching that production offensively — UH is now 1-22 under Chang when scoring 20 points or fewer.

Special teams delivers: Sean Olvera-Harle went a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, connecting from 44, 24 and 44 yards. Both 44-yarders matched a new career long. 

Where things stand: Hawai‘i has now lost the turnover battle three times this season and is 4-23 under Chang when losing the turnover margin. UH also failed to force a turnover for the fourth time in five games and is 0-6 since the start of last season when it doesn’t create one. 

Despite the 0-3 conference start, Chang emphasized the response rather than dwelling on the record.

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