Explosive first half helps Hawai’i to blowout win at Northern Illinois

Explosive first half helps Hawai’i to blowout win at Northern Illinois

Oct 24, 2026

Explosive first half helps Hawai’i to blowout win at Northern Illinois

Now THAT’S more like it.

Behind a balanced offensive attack and opportunistic defense, the University of Hawai’i football team stepped on the gas and never looked back during a 56-21 victory at Northern Illinois (0-7, 0-3 Mountain West) on Saturday.

The Rainbow Warriors (2-6, 1-4 Mountain West) leaned on the legs of DeVon Rice and Cam Barfield early and often, getting 200 total yards and four rushing touchdowns from the Bishop Gorman duo. Barfield found the end zone for the first time this season while tallying 70 yards receiving and another 58 on the ground and Rice chipped in 71 rushing yards and three touchdowns across 12 carries for Hawai’i.

The improved ground attack opened up the air for Micah Alejado and the UH receiving core as the offense posted a season-high 504 total yards on the way to the program’s first 50+ point performance under fifth-year head coach Timmy Chang.

Hawai’i got off to a quick start, finding paydirt on the team’s opening possession for just the second time in eight games this year as Rice rumbled into the end zone from three yards out to cap off the 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

NIU answered right back with the help of blown coverage as QB Taron Dickens delivered a 49-yard touchdown strike to a wide-open DeAree Rogers to tie the game up, 7-7. Hawai’i hit back quickly with the help of a fantastic 46-yard catch from Audric Harris, setting up the Rainbow Warriors on the doorstep of the redzone before Alejado hit redshirt TE Frank Abreu for a 13-yard touchdown reception four plays later to give a 14-7 advantage to the visitors through 15 minutes of action.

Dickens and Rogers hooked up again at the start of the second quarter, connecting for a 25-yard touchdown to tie things up at 14 with 13:46 left in the opening half.

Then, Hawai’i decided to take it to another level.

DeVon Rice rushed through a massive hole untouched on the way to a go-ahead 33-yard touchdown and Cam Barfield set the Rainbow Warriors up on the very next drive by taking a screen pass 62 yards to the doorstep of the end zone before pushing in from a yard out two plays later to help Hawai’i double-up the Huskies, 28-14, with just over five minutes left before halftime.

Jeremiah Hughes grabbed his third interception in the past two games on the next drive, giving UH’s offense one more chance to add on before the break. Alejado hit Harris again for a 40+ yard gain to put Hawai’i on the NIU 23-yard line as the two-minute timeout hit and then connected with Abreu on an incredible toe-tap touchdown grab to send the Rainbow Warriors into the locker room with a new season high in points in just 30 minutes of action.

After a shanked punt by NIU set Hawai’i’s offense up at the Huskies’ 35-yard line, redshirt freshman WR Titan Lacaden helped the visitors convert on a third-and-6 with a 22-yard catch-and-run to set up first-and-goal for the offense. Rice did the rest, wrapping up his hat trick of touchdowns to extend the lead to 28 for the Rainbow Warriors.

Hawai’i added on once more before the end of the third as Alejado hit a wide-open Josiah Fetui for a 44-yard touchdown, the first score of the sophomore’s college career.

Elijah Porter gave a chance for the home fans to cheer in the fourth frame, extending out to break the plane for a three-yard touchdown run with 8:55 left to play and end a run of 35 straight points by Hawai’i.

True freshmen closed out the fantastic day for the Rainbow Warriors as RB TJ Fo’ilefutu rumbled into the end zone from six yards out for his first career touchdown to push UH over the 50-point mark and DB Kydel Stone wrapped up the game with his first career interception on the final defensive drive.

Alejado completed 22-of-32 passes in the victory for Hawai’i, eclipsing the 300 passing yard mark for the third time this year with 323 yards through the air and three touchdowns along with a late interception.

Audric Harris needed just two catches to lead the receiving room with 90 yards. Hawai’i finished the day with 12 different players recording a catch, tying a season-high for a single game. Frank Abreu set a new career-high with 31 receiving yards and two touchdowns across three catches.

Julian Smith and Wynden Ho’ohuli each forced fumbles for the UH defense while Hughes and Stone each snagged interceptions, setting a new season-best of four total takeaways by the unit.

Elijah Palmer led the defense with eight tackles (six solo) while sophomore DT Ozzy Pollard added a season-high six total tackles (three solo) in the victory.

Hawai’i enters a much-needed bye week after enduring through a five-game gauntlet, returning to action next on November 7 with a matchup on the road against UTEP.

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Three players to watch as Hawai’i heads to Northern Illinois for the first time

Three players to watch as Hawai’i heads to Northern Illinois for the first time

Oct 23, 2026

Three players to watch as Hawai’i heads to Northern Illinois for the first time

HONOLULU – It’s a rivalry as old as… well, this year.

The University of Hawai’i football team travels to face Northern Illinois for the first-ever meeting between the programs on Saturday as both squads look to secure their first Mountain West victory of the 2026 campaign.

It’s been a tough year for both squads, seeing the Rainbow Warriors drop six of their first seven games after entering the year as a potential conference favorite while the Huskies have stumbled to an 0-6 start overall and 0-2 mark in their first go-round in the Mountain West.

It’ll be Hall of Fame weekend in De Kalb, Ill, as NIU celebrates seven new members to the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame and retires former QB Jordan Lynch’s number. The Huskies will be looking at Saturday as their best opportunity so far to get off the snide while Hawai’i tries to keep longshot bowl hopes alive and spoil a special weekend for the hosts.

With both sides desperate for a win, here’s a look at three players who could play a big role in a potential road upset for the Rainbow Warriors.

RB DeVon Rice

Rice was the darling of an otherwise disastrous offense early in the year, scoring four touchdowns across the first three games for Hawai’i. The speedy sophomore snagged a receiving touchdown and ran another in during the season-opener at Stanford and had a pair of trips to the end zone in the team’s lone win of the year against New Mexico State on September 12.

DeVon Rice gets taken down by the San Jose State defense. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

His role has curiously dipped in October, getting no more than seven touches in a game through three games this month. Part of that is the return of senior RB Cam Barfield from an ankle injury suffered against Stanford, but another part has been a strange refusal to run the ball more from the Hawai’i offense.

The Huskies have shown an ability to slow down opposing passing attacks throughout the year, allowing under 200 yards passing in four of the team’s last five games. While the Rainbow Warriors will want to continue the aerial attack on the road, allowing Rice to return to his productive self with more touches on Saturday could go a long way towards snapping UH’s four-game losing streak.

WR Devin Alves

Alves has turned it on over the past month for Hawai’i, collecting three or more catches and 60 or more yards in all three games in October. The speedy 6-foot-3 senior has separated himself as QB Micah Alejado’s top downfield target in that time with an explosive catch of 20+ yards in each contest this month and had his first UH touchdown catch against San Jose State.

Against a team that’s done far better limiting opposing passing attacks, Alves could play a key role in stretching the defense and providing a lift on the road that the Rainbow Warriors could really need. With Pofele Ashlock and Carson Brown each trending towards being out another week, Alves’ role should only continue to grow for Hawai’i.

If the senior can find his way to paydirt from more than 20 yards out for the second time this season, it could also help alleviate some of the scoring woes that the Rainbow Warriors have faced in the red zone this season. Any help is appreciated for an otherwise helpless UH offense on the road.

DB Jeremiah Hughes

Hughes had a huge night against New Mexico, collecting his first two career interceptions while receiving his highest single-game PFF grade of the year. It was a nice bounce back outing for the junior corner after posting his worst grade of the season the week before at Arizona State.

Hawai’i DB Jeremiah Hughes celebrates after one of his two interceptions against New Mexico. | Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo, HSRN

With Mountain West receptions leader DeAree Rogers waiting across the way on Saturday, Hughes (and the rest of the Rainbow Warrior secondary) will have plenty to worry about in De Kalb. If Hawai’i’s defensive backs can handle Rogers with care, it should help the front of the defense slow down a rushing attack that has been finding its groove with three straight games tallying over 100 yards on the ground.

The UH defense has handled business for long stretches of action this year. They’ll have to do it again on Saturday to help secure the team’s first road win of the year and snap a four-game losing streak.

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Hawai‘i Seeks First Conference Win in Historic Road Trip to Northern Illinois

Hawai‘i Seeks First Conference Win in Historic Road Trip to Northern Illinois

Oct 23, 2026

Hawai‘i Seeks First Conference Win in Historic Road Trip to Northern Illinois

Hawai‘i heads into unfamiliar territory this weekend, both geographically and in its pursuit of a much-needed victory.

The Rainbow Warriors (1-6, 0-4 Mountain West) travel to DeKalb, Illinois, for their first-ever meeting with Northern Illinois (0-6, 0-2 MW) on Saturday, October 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Hawai‘i time at Huskie Stadium, with coverage on K5 and MW+.

The matchup marks Hawai‘i’s first football game in the state of Illinois and a historic journey of 4,255 miles — the longest distance an FBS program has traveled for a conference game within the United States, according to UH’s game notes.

But the Rainbow Warriors have more pressing concerns than the lengthy trip. Hawai‘i has dropped four consecutive games, matching its longest losing streak under head coach Timmy Chang, and is still searching for its first conference victory of the season.

Coming off a 21-10 Homecoming loss to New Mexico, Chang has placed renewed emphasis on preparation, attention to detail and offensive execution.

“The things that we can control, let’s control them,” Chang said during Tuesday’s media availability. “Let’s be better prepared. Let’s be better detailed so when the bullets are flying, we are ready.”

Hawai‘i Looking to Turn Opportunities Into Points

The Rainbow Warriors’ latest setback was particularly frustrating after taking a 10-0 halftime lead against New Mexico and forcing three turnovers. However, Hawai‘i was shut out in the second half as the Lobos scored 21 unanswered points.

The loss highlighted an ongoing issue for UH, who have scored fewer than 20 points in four consecutive games for the first time since 1998.

Chang acknowledged that the responsibility for improving the offense falls on both the coaching staff and players.

“I think the defense is playing well and has given us the ball,” Chang said. “My attention and our coaches’ attention is on the offense and executing and making sure that we’re doing things correctly and putting guys in position.”

Chang also revealed that he has become more involved in the offensive operation as the season has progressed.

“I’ve actually dove in deeper into play calling and taking over the whole offense,” Chang said. “There are things that I saw early on that were gonna be problems, and so I wanted to address them right now.”

Despite the team’s struggles, sophomore quarterback Micah Alejado continues to put up impressive passing numbers. He leads the Mountain West with 266.1 passing yards per game and ranks third nationally with 25.7 completions per contest.

Alejado has thrown for 1,863 yards this season and recently moved into ninth place on Hawai‘i’s career passing list with 5,554 yards.

But protecting the quarterback and establishing offensive balance remain challenges. Alejado has been sacked 20 times this season, while the Rainbow Warriors managed just 48 rushing yards against New Mexico.

Chang believes the offense is closer to breaking through than its recent results suggest.

“Because we’re so close, there’s just things that we definitely can clean up,” Chang said. “You stay on track.”

QB Micah Alejado looks up at the scoreboard during a home loss to New Mexico. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Northern Illinois Searching for Its First Win

Northern Illinois enters Saturday’s matchup looking for its first victory under interim head coach Rob Harley.

The Huskies have endured a difficult start to the season, losing all six games, including a 41-23 defeat at Wyoming last weekend. However, the offense has shown signs of improvement behind quarterback Taron “Tyger” Dickens and running back Telly Johnson Jr.

Dickens leads the Mountain West in completion percentage at 65.8 percent and has thrown for 1,193 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Wide receiver DeAree Rogers has been his most productive target, ranking third nationally with 8.17 receptions per game. Rogers has totaled 49 catches for 422 yards and two touchdowns through six games.

Meanwhile, Johnson is coming off his best performance of the season, rushing for 139 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries against Wyoming. He has scored a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games and accumulated 423 rushing yards over his last five contests.

That production presents a challenge for a Hawai‘i defense that allowed 243 rushing yards against New Mexico.

Harley emphasized that establishing the run is essential to controlling the tempo of the game.

“What’s not different is the mentality to control the clock, control the ball, and control field position,” Harley said. “That’s what the run game helps you do.”

Harley also praised Johnson’s vision and physicality, crediting the offensive line for creating opportunities.

“He’s a big back. He’s tough to tackle, and he continues to have good vision,” Harley said.

Northern Illinois running back Telly Johnson Jr. | Photo Credit: Scott Walstrom, NIU

Huskies Preparing for Alejado and Hawai‘i’s Passing Attack

While Northern Illinois has struggled to find victories, its pass defense has been a relative bright spot.

The Huskies are allowing 187 passing yards per game, ranking fifth in the Mountain West and 33rd nationally. They have also recorded an interception in four of their six contests.

Harley acknowledged that defending Hawai‘i’s pass-heavy offense will be a significant challenge.

“They’re leading the league in passing offense, so it’ll be a great test for our defense to continue to work on being consistent,” Harley said.

The Huskies are particularly focused on limiting Alejado’s ability to extend plays outside the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield.

“That’s what this guy can do,” Harley said. “He keeps his eyes downfield so he can continue to hurt you with his arm.”

Rather than overcomplicating the defensive approach, Harley said the focus will be on fundamentals, disciplined pass rushing and maintaining proper containment.

“We just gotta do the basics and not let him be who he is,” Harley said. “Let’s make him perform under pressure and have to beat us.”

Hawaii DB Jeremiah Hughes celebrates an interception against New Mexico. | Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo, HSRN

A Long Road Ahead

The historic trip to Illinois presents another challenge for Hawai‘i, which has traditionally struggled when traveling more than 4,000 miles.

The Warriors are 5-20 all-time in those contests, with their last victory on a trip of that distance coming in 2017 against UMass.

Chang acknowledged the difficulties associated with the travel, including the time difference and an early kickoff for Hawai‘i fans, but said the team has prepared accordingly.

“From time change to the amount of travel and all those things and the time in which we’re playing, things are gonna change for sure,” Chang said. “We just get our mindset right, be tough about it and go find a way to go win.”

Saturday’s game also presents an opportunity for both programs to change the trajectory of their seasons.

For Northern Illinois, it is another chance to earn its first victory under Harley. For Hawai‘i, it is an opportunity to halt a four-game skid and avoid its first five-game losing streak since 2017.

With five games remaining on the schedule, Chang remains focused on improving the details rather than making wholesale changes.

“We have to coach better, and the players gotta play better,” Chang said.

Game Information
Hawai‘i (1-6, 0-4 MW) at Northern Illinois (0-6, 0-2 MW)
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. HT
Huskie Stadium | DeKalb, Illinois
TV: K5 / MW+

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New Mexico overcomes nightmare first half to hand fourth straight loss to Hawai’i

New Mexico overcomes nightmare first half to hand fourth straight loss to Hawai’i

Oct 18, 2026

New Mexico overcomes nightmare first half to hand fourth straight loss to Hawai’i

HONOLULU – The devil is in the details.

Despite holding a double-digit halftime lead, committing less penalties and forcing more turnovers than the defense that entered the night pacing the country in total takeaways, the University of Hawai’i football team saw a final result that’s become far too familiar as they fell 21-10 against New Mexico (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) on Saturday night inside Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

Hawai’i (1-6, 0-4 Mountain West) saw its cursed offense fail to get off the ground again, managing just three points off the three takeaways produced by the defense while getting shut out after halftime.

“Well-fought, hard played game,” head coach Timmy Chang said to open his postgame press conference. “That’s a really good team on the other side, well-coached, and the guys gave them all that they could handle. Just a few more plays were made on that side of the ball, so the result is losing by 11.”

New Mexico turned in a nightmare first half in the islands, committing 12 of the team’s 16 total penalties in the opening 30 minutes to help Hawai’i extend multiple drives while forcing the Lobo offense to deal with multiple speed bumps before the break.

Hawai’i failed to take advantage of the slow start by New Mexico, mustering up only three points in the first quarter after DB Jeremiah Hughes’ first career interception set the offense up near midfield. With help from a pair of late hit penalties against the Lobos, the Rainbow Warriors pushed inside the red zone before being forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal from Sean Olvera-Harle, taking a 3-0 lead midway through the opening frame.

The UH defense provided another boost at the start of the second quarter, forcing another turnover as DB Matagi Thompson punched the ball free after a 40-yard scramble by New Mexico QB Toa Fa’avae that DB Kona Moore fell on top of it to start the Hawai’i offense again out near midfield.

This time, the hosts failed to capitalize at all from the second turnover of the half as WR Audric Harris got the ball punched away on a would-be touchdown catch before Olvera-Harle misfired on a 29-yard FG attempt, keeping the lead at 3-0 with 10:14 remaining in the first half.

A few more flags on the New Mexico offense, combined with a botched snap, sent the ball back to Hawai’i in plus territory with just under two minutes remaining until halftime and one timeout to work with.

This time, Hawai’i perfectly handled business as the hosts drained down the remainder of the clock before Titan Lacaden scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard catch to open up a 10-0 lead for the Rainbow Warriors heading into the locker room.

The New Mexico offense finally got going to start the second half, marching 75 yards in nine plays to open the third quarter with help from a 4th-and-4 trick play conversion that saw Fa’avae take a pass 35 yards to the doorstep of the end zone. UNM RB Scottre Humphrey hammered into paydirt from a yard out a few plays later, cutting the deficit to 10-7 a little over five minutes after play resumed.

Hughes grabbed some momentum back for Hawai’i towards the tail end of the third, securing his second interception of the night after back-to-back punts by the Rainbow Warrior offense spanned the middle portion of the period.

QB Micah Alejado and the offense seemed primed to put more points on the board at the start of the fourth quarter after the sophomore gunslinger connected with WR Josiah Fetui on a 47-yard rainbow before entering the final 15 minutes, but the Lobos defense stood tall and forced a fumble at the goal line from Alejado to keep the Rainbow Warrior lead at three.

New Mexico didn’t let the turnover go unpunished, draining seven minutes off the clock before Fa’avae finished off a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive with a tough 21-yard touchdown run that put the visitors ahead for the first time all night, 14-10.

Hawai’i reverted back to bad habits on the following drive, seeing an unnecessary roughness penalty push the offense out of a potential fourth-and-short situation near midfield and force a punt back to the Lobos with 3:32 to play.

Starting in Hawai’i territory, New Mexico needed just one play to drive home the dagger as Humphrey hustled 49 yards to open up a two-score lead for the visitors late in the fourth. Alejado and company attempted to rally one last time, but a pass from Alejado that bounced off the chest of WR Tama Uiliata straight up into the air was intercepted by UNM’s Tavin Combs to close out any chance at a comeback for the Rainbow Warriors.

Alejado finished the night completing 23-of-40 passes for 250 yards, a touchdown and an interception while also fumbling once. Lacaden tallied seven receptions for the second straight game, adding 41 receiving yards and the lone trip into the end zone for the Rainbow Warriors.

“It’s not really much to say,” Lacaden said about the continued poor execution. “We’ve got to clean up the little things. I feel like that’s the story every week for us … Call a spade a spade, that’s what it is. It’s the little things for us, we’re killing ourselves with the pre-snap errors, the penalties, the offsides, the holding. We’ve just got to make the plays when plays come our way.”

Humphrey handled his business in a big way after halftime, racking up 78 of his 90 rushing yards and both touchdowns in the second half. After a rough opening quarter of turnovers, Fa’avae also put together a solid evening with 171 yards of total offense as he passed for 59 yards, ran for 77 more and had one reception for 35 yards in the win.

Hawai’i will wrap up a five-games-in-five-weeks stretch next weekend, hitting the road to take on Northern Illinois on October 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. HT as the Rainbow Warriors and Huskies each look for their first conference victory of the season.

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Postgame Notes & Quotes: Hawai‘i Falls to New Mexico After Second-Half Shutout

Postgame Notes & Quotes: Hawai‘i Falls to New Mexico After Second-Half Shutout

Oct 17, 2026

Postgame Notes & Quotes: Hawai‘i Falls to New Mexico After Second-Half Shutout

HONOLULU — Hawai‘i carried a 10-0 lead into halftime Saturday night but was unable to hold off New Mexico, falling 21-10 in its 75th Homecoming Game at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

The Rainbow Warriors (1-6, 0-4 Mountain West) held the Lobos scoreless through the first two quarters and forced three turnovers, but New Mexico (5-1, 2-0 MW) scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to secure the comeback victory.

Hawai‘i’s defense delivered one of its strongest first-half performances of the season, highlighted by two interceptions from junior defensive back Jeremiah Hughes, the first two of his collegiate career. The Warriors also recovered a fumble and limited New Mexico to just 94 passing yards for the game.

Offensively, Micah Alejado completed 23-of-40 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown but committed two costly fourth-quarter turnovers. Freshman wide receiver Titan Lacaden caught his first career touchdown on a one-yard pass from Alejado with six seconds remaining in the first half.

New Mexico’s rushing attack eventually took control, finishing with 243 yards and three touchdowns. Scottre Humphrey rushed for 90 yards and two scores, including a 49-yard touchdown run that extended the Lobos’ lead to 21-10 late in the fourth quarter.

Hawai‘i finished with 298 total yards, converted just three of 13 third downs and scored on only two of four red-zone opportunities.

Following the game, head coach Timmy Chang, Lacaden and Hughes addressed the media about the loss, missed opportunities and the challenge of moving forward.

The following Q&A has been condensed and edited for clarity and length while preserving the speakers’ original comments.

HEAD COACH TIMMY CHANG

Opening thoughts on the game

“Well-fought, hard-played game. That’s a really good team on the other side, well-coached. The guys gave them all that they could handle. Just a few more plays were made on that side of the ball, and so the result is losing by 11.”

Q: What changed after halftime with Hawai‘i leading 10-0?

Chang: I think the mistakes started to happen on our side of the ball more than New Mexico’s. I thought we played a lot of good ball in there. There’s opportunities in there to capitalize on, but you give your hats off to a good team like that.

Q: How costly were Micah Alejado’s two fourth-quarter turnovers?

Chang: He’s a warrior, man. He’s trying to make plays. The kid on the other team just made a good play hitting the ball out on the three-yard line, and then just a tipped ball. They did a really good job of creating turnovers.

Those two turnovers do hurt as you’re trying to push through. I know Micah feels it right now. We’re at a point where we’re up three, heading into the end zone right there on the two-yard line. Instead of going up 10, you end up losing by 11.

Those are life lessons. He’s gonna get stronger from it. He’s a tough kid. He’s gonna play his heart out for this school, and he’s gonna play his heart out for the state.

Q: How frustrating is the loss considering the defense created three turnovers and kept New Mexico scoreless in the first half?

Chang: Didn’t capitalize in some areas. I thought defense played awesome. They flew around, they shut down the run for a lot of the game. They kept the running back in there. The quarterback tried to spit out a little bit a couple times, and they played the receivers tough down the end.

I thought they played tremendous tonight and gave us a great opportunity to go out there and win this game.

Q: What happened on the option play near midfield late in the fourth quarter that resulted in penalties and a punt?

Chang: That was a mistake on my part. We were looking for an option play. Not giving too much scheme away, but it was supposed to go the other direction, and so it didn’t happen.

We ended up getting a penalty two ways on it, and we were forced to punt the ball.

Q: How is the team handling another difficult loss?

Chang: The team’s hurting. No doubt that they’re hurting, and they should hurt. They put so much effort and work into trying to be good and trying to win these games and trying to play for the state. Then, for whatever reason, we come up short.

These are good life lessons for them on how to deal with adversity, how to handle it, what type of person we’re gonna be during this time. I know more than ever they’re gonna stick with each other and play hard.

I want them to remember these hard times because during these hard times you can always fall back January through July and remember what we didn’t do and what these things cost us.

Q: What needs to change in practice as the team enters the final stretch of the season?

Chang: I think it’s more of understanding who we are and understanding what we’re doing. As we’re coaching, how do we understand our guys? How do we coach them to do the things that we’re asking them to do?

As a player, we’re gonna ask them to continue to be mentally tough and fight through this thing.

Q: What message do you have for Hawai‘i fans as the team prepares for two road games and a bye week before returning home?

Chang: These men are reminded every day of what they play for and who they play for. With their energy and their love and their tenacity, how they go out there and just continue to fight and fight and fight, there’s no quit in these boys, and I would love for the fans to be proud of that.

But in football, there’s other things that count and matter that we have to take care of. Those are the life lessons that we’re learning right now. We’ll be ready to go.

WR TITAN LACADEN

Lacaden finished with seven receptions for 41 yards, including his first collegiate touchdown on a one-yard reception just before halftime.

Q: What are your emotions following the loss?

Lacaden: First and foremost, I wanna give all the glory to my Savior, Jesus Christ. Obviously, it’s not what we want. It’s not what we prepared for. It’s not what we worked for throughout the week.

The main thing for us is how can we continue to move forward? Coach Timmy just said it the best: mental toughness. How can we overcome what we’re facing right now? The biggest thing is being able to show up to work on Monday and having that same mindset.

Q: What did it mean to score your first collegiate touchdown?

Lacaden: I give all the glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Very happy. Accomplished a lifelong dream, a milestone of mine that I’ve always worked for and wanted.

But ultimately, that doesn’t satisfy me. I’m a team player. This team comes first. That’s one of the rules and the standard that we hold here. I’m happy for myself, but at the same time, definitely not what I had in mind coming out tonight.

Q: What changed offensively after halftime?

Lacaden: We gotta clean up the little things. I feel like that’s the story every week for us. We’re killing ourselves with the pre-snap errors, like penalties, offsides, holdings.

We just gotta make the plays when plays come our way. That’s all.

Q: Did New Mexico make adjustments in the second half, or were Hawai‘i’s struggles more about its own mistakes?

Lacaden: They definitely came out harder in the second half than they did in the first half. But it’s more on ourselves and the mistakes that we’re making. We’re not doing our jobs, and we’re not playing the full six seconds.

It comes down to just giving our best in those six seconds and being able to flush whatever happened that play and move on to the next.

Q: Did Alejado’s fourth-quarter fumble take away the team’s confidence in its ability to come back?

Lacaden: We definitely still felt like we had a chance. I tip my hat off to him. He played a hell of a game, and I’m proud to call him my quarterback, proud to call him my brother.

It’s the little things for us. We gotta clean up our ball security, clean up our blocking, clean up our routes, clean up our catching and just continue to move on. Have a great mindset come Monday.

Q: How does the team move forward after another disappointing result?

Lacaden: The vibes are a lot different when you’re on the losing side, and that’s just what it is for us right now. We just gotta show up on Monday and put our best foot forward.

It’s all about mentality for us. We know that we can play the best. We played ASU, we moved the ball on them. I believe New Mexico had the best front six that we would face in conference, and look what we could do. We moved the ball on them.

Continue to have a great mindset and clean up the little things.

DB JEREMIAH HUGHES

Hughes recorded the first two interceptions of his collegiate career, becoming the first Hawai‘i player with multiple interceptions in a game since Peter Manuma against Wyoming in October 2022.

His first interception came on New Mexico’s opening possession, and his second came late in the third quarter.

Q: How do you assess the defense’s performance despite the loss?

Hughes: Every drive, just come in with the mindset to get the ball back. Knowing we’re a great defense, we just go out there and execute. We’re gonna play fast.

Just trusting my brothers, too. Trusting my brothers and allowing them to let me play fast.

Q: What does your two-interception performance say about the improvements you’re making?

Hughes: That’s all it’s about. Every day just coming in with the mindset to get better. Even in practice, just wanting to get better every day.

Coach Thurman’s been installing that in the defense. Just come get better. No matter what the situation is, just come get better. That’s all we control. Just being able to control the controllables and capitalize off that.

Q: What was Coach Chang’s message about staying together through the remainder of the season?

Hughes: It’s all about coming in and getting better, staying faithful. We’re a Christ-based team, so just putting our faith in God, letting him take us wherever we’re gonna go.

We control what we control, but God controls the narrative. Just letting God control it and doing the best we can, putting our best foot forward every day.

Q: What was the defensive game plan against New Mexico’s offense?

Hughes: We just went out there, played our game. Played fast. Everyone did their one-eleventh.

Just going out there playing fast, playing confident, having that swagger and playing with my brothers. Just playing around with my brothers on a Saturday night. That’s it.

Q: With five games remaining, what’s the message to the team?

Hughes: Just coming in and getting that work in every day. Coming in and being focused and having attention to detail, and just coming in with that mindset to get better every day.

We get to play again on Saturday, and we’re gonna get to be ready and get to compete and have fun again on Saturday. Just coming in every day and getting better.

Additional Postgame Notes

  • Hawai‘i’s 10 points were its fewest against New Mexico in the last nine meetings, dating back to a 24-10 loss in 1995.
  • The Warriors recorded three takeaways — two interceptions and a fumble recovery — for the second time this season. UH had gone three consecutive games without forcing a turnover.
  • Hawai‘i held an opponent scoreless in the first half for the first time since its 17-0 halftime lead against Nevada on Oct. 26, 2024.
  • The Warriors were shut out in the second half for the second consecutive home game.
  • New Mexico finished with 243 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, while Hawai‘i managed 48 rushing yards on 27 attempts.
  • Hawai‘i converted three of 13 third downs and finished two of four in the red zone.
  • Wynden Ho‘ohuli and Jamih Otis shared the team lead with 10 tackles apiece.
  • Sophomore defensive end Nazaiah Caravallo made his first collegiate start, becoming the 17th different Warrior to make his first career start this season.
  • Hawai‘i is now 1-24 under Chang when scoring 20 points or fewer, including 0-5 this season.

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Hawai‘i Looks to Turn the Page Against Surging New Mexico on Homecoming

Hawai‘i Looks to Turn the Page Against Surging New Mexico on Homecoming

Oct 17, 2026

Hawai‘i Looks to Turn the Page Against Surging New Mexico on Homecoming

HONOLULU — At the midway point of the season, Hawai‘i finds itself searching for answers. The Rainbow Warriors have remained competitive in stretches but have struggled to turn opportunities into victories, a trend they hope to reverse Saturday when they host one of the Mountain West’s hottest teams.

Hawai‘i (1-5, 0-3 MW) welcomes New Mexico (4-1, 1-0 MW) to Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex for its 75th Homecoming Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Hawai‘i time, with television coverage on FS1.

The Rainbow Warriors are coming off a 30-12 loss at Arizona State, their fourth consecutive defeat, while the Lobos enter following a bye week and a dominant 61-7 victory over UTEP.

For Hawai‘i head coach Timmy Chang, turning the season around starts with accountability and making the most of opportunities.

“It’s on us. It really is on us and nobody else to flip the script,” Chang said during Tuesday’s media availability. “Coach better, play better, all these different things that gotta happen for us to win. And make it count. When the plays are to be made, make ’em count.”

Hawai‘i Searching for Offensive Consistency

Despite its record, Hawai‘i continues to produce respectable yardage through the air. Quarterback Micah Alejado is averaging 268.8 passing yards per game, helping the Rainbow Warriors rank among the nation’s top passing offenses.

However, those numbers have not translated into consistent scoring. Hawai‘i is averaging just 16.7 points per game and has scored 20 or fewer points in four of its six contests.

The running game has also struggled to establish itself, averaging 82.3 yards per game. Chang acknowledged the need to get his running backs more involved, particularly with Cam Barfield returning to the rotation alongside DeVon Rice.

“Getting that running game going and being consistent with it, that’s a key,” Chang said. “Making sure that those guys do touch the ball ’cause they are dynamic.”

Hawaii RB DeVon Rice dashes away from the defense during Hawai’i’s opening weekend loss against Stanford. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista

Chang also pointed to encouraging signs in the passing game, particularly Alejado’s ability to connect with receivers downfield.

“I love that they’re starting to click and the ball’s starting to get thrown on the third level,” he said.

That development will be tested against a New Mexico defense that has emerged as one of the nation’s best.

New Mexico’s Defense Presents a Major Challenge

The Lobos enter Saturday allowing just 10.6 points and 255.6 total yards per game, ranking among the national leaders in both categories. Their defense has also been opportunistic, forcing 18 turnovers through five games, including 12 interceptions.

New Mexico’s plus-18 turnover margin is the best in the country, a significant advantage for a team that has capitalized on opponents’ mistakes.

However, the Lobos could be without two important defensive contributors. Linebacker Jaxton Eck, the Mountain West’s 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and cornerback Frankie Edwards III were both listed as out in the conference’s initial Wednesday availability report.

Eck has recorded 25 tackles this season, while Edwards has contributed nine tackles and an interception.

New Mexico head coach Jason Eck recognizes the challenge presented by Hawai‘i’s run-and-shoot offense, particularly Alejado’s ability to extend plays.

“I think their quarterback is an outstanding player, very quick release, can really escape, can really extend plays,” Eck said. “They spread the ball around and they have a number of fast, good receivers.”

Hawaii QB Micah Alejado rolls to the left against Wyoming. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista, HSRN

Eck said the Lobos’ defensive priority will be limiting explosive plays and forcing Hawai‘i to sustain longer drives, particularly as the field becomes more condensed near the end zone.

“You gotta eliminate big plays. You can’t let them get big chunk plays,” Eck said. “You wanna make them drive the field against you.”

The approach presents another challenge for Hawai‘i, which has struggled to capitalize on red-zone opportunities throughout the season.

Lobos Bring Balanced Offense and Strong Ground Attack

New Mexico has been equally impressive offensively, averaging 43.4 points and 386.2 total yards per game.

The Lobos have relied heavily on their rushing attack, averaging 208.8 yards per contest with 18 rushing touchdowns. Running back Scottre Humphrey has been a key contributor, while quarterback Toa Fa’avae provides another dimension to the offense.

That ground game could be a significant factor against a Hawai‘i defense allowing 170.3 rushing yards per game.

Eck emphasized the importance of controlling possession against a Warriors offense capable of moving the ball quickly.

“We like to possess the ball,” Eck said. “We like to run the ball, try to protect our defense as far as not having them play a million snaps.”

New Mexico QB Toa Fa’avae scrambles out of the pocket at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, NM | Photo Credit: Mike Sandoval, Albuquerque Journal

Despite New Mexico’s impressive start, its only game outside its home state resulted in a 14-6 loss at Oklahoma. All four of the Lobos’ victories and all of their touchdowns this season have come within New Mexico.

Saturday presents another opportunity for the Lobos to demonstrate that their success can translate away from familiar surroundings.

Eck, however, cautioned against overlooking Hawai‘i based on its record.

“This is a Hawai‘i team that’s a good team. It’s deceptive looking at their record,” Eck said. “They certainly are a different team at home as well. I think they play very hard. They fly around, very good team speed.”

Homecoming Provides Opportunity for a Fresh Start

Saturday’s matchup carries additional significance for Hawai‘i, which has historically performed well on Homecoming.

The Warriors have won seven of their last eight Homecoming games, while Chang is 3-1 in those contests as head coach. He was also undefeated in four Homecoming starts during his playing career.

Chang hopes the occasion will help energize both his team and the home crowd.

“I would love a very hostile, rowdy atmosphere,” Chang said. “We have to get the people excited about it offensively, making sure that we stay on par and be consistent and get the ball in the end zone.”

The matchup also brings back memories of Alejado’s first collegiate start against New Mexico in 2024, when he threw for 469 yards and five touchdowns in Hawai‘i’s 38-30 victory.

For Chang, Homecoming is about more than the game itself. As a Hawai‘i native and former Rainbow Warrior quarterback, representing the state remains deeply personal.

“Hawai‘i’s everything to me,” Chang said. “Being able to play here and represent the state at such a high level in the great football program, it means something.”

With six games remaining, Hawai‘i still has opportunities to change the direction of its season. But against a New Mexico team excelling on both sides of the football, the Warriors will need to execute consistently, protect the ball and find ways to turn offensive production into points.

Chang remains confident in his team’s resilience despite the difficult first half of the season.

“These boys, more importantly, they work so hard. They wanna do well. They wanna win,” Chang said. “Right now we’re looking to just get over that hump.”

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