Hawai’i Pulls Away From Utah State In Disappointing Post-Bye Performance
Oct 12, 2025, 1:35 AM
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 27: Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall of the Utah State Aggies reacts to a play during the first half of the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
(Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
MANOA, Hawai’i – The Rainbow Warriors shut down Utah State in the second half as Utah State dropped to .500 with a 44-26 loss.
Utah State traveled to Paradise to face the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday, October 10.
Final
Hawaii 44 – Utah State 26
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 12, 2025
First Quarter
Both teams traded punts before either could establish an offensive momentum.
Hawai’i took control on its second possession and set up a 31-yard field goal from Kansei Matsuzawa.
Utah State got rolling after a 15-yard pickup by Barnes, followed by a 33-yard gain from Miles Davis.
The drive ended when Tanner Rinker hit a 20-yard FG with 4:31 left.
Mr. Reliable ➡️ @Tanner_Rinker ties it up in the 1st!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/3YreNrrucI
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 12, 2025
The Rainbow Warriors’ advantage grew to 10-3 when Micah Alejando completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Pofele Ashlock.
Second Quarter
Utah State safety D’Angelo Mayes got involved early in the period when he picked off a pass for the game’s first turnover.
PICKED OFF ➡️ @DAngeloMayes10 #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/xAAzj1C7h3
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 12, 2025
The Aggies started moving the football after both teams punted.
A 16-yard completion to Brady Boyd was aided by a Hawai’i personal foul that moved the Aggies into the red zone.
Utah State capped the drive with a one-yard rushing score from Davis on fourth down. It was the former BYU Cougar’s third touchdown of the year.
Davis. Miles Davis!
Punches it in on 4th down 🥊 pic.twitter.com/Rph1tSXfsH
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 12, 2025
The Aggies grabbed their first lead later in the half on a trick play after forcing a turnover on downs.
Barnes took the snap and threw to Anthony Garcia in the left flat. Garcia gathered the football and found a wide-open Javen Jacobs. The former New Mexico Lobo ran untouched into the end zone for a 30-yard TD.
SURPRISE!
Barnes ➡️ Garcia ➡️ Jacobs pic.twitter.com/RhK4dEURKi
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 12, 2025
Jacob Conover came in for Barnes late in the quarter after the Milford, Utah native entered the medical tent with training staff. Barnes was seen throwing on the sideline shortly after.
The Rainbow Warriors sandwiched two touchdowns to end the half around a 40-yard field goal from Tanner Rinker.
Hawai’i led 24-20 after 30 minutes.
Third Quarter
Bryson Barnes returned to start the second half.
USU re-took the lead when Barnes hit TE Broc Lane down the sideline for a 32-yard TD.
🎯🎯🎯@bryson_barnes10 ✈️ @BrocLane pic.twitter.com/YS758uWHLn
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 12, 2025
The extra point was blocked, leaving the lead 26-24.
Both teams punted in the middle portion of the quarter.
END 3️⃣ | 🔵🔵🔵🔘 pic.twitter.com/uAA2HDKhLH
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 12, 2025
Hawai’i grabbed a 27-26 lead when Matsuzawa hit his second FG. The advantage carried into the final period.
Fourth Quarter
The Bows extended their lead when Alejado found a crease for a 15-yard touchdown run that made the score 34-26 with 11:55 left.
USU put itself behind the eight-ball when Miles Davis fumbled, and the home team recovered the football with less than seven minutes to play.
Hawai’i blew the game wide open when Landon Sims finished a 36-yard drive with a four-yard TD. The deficit ballooned to 18 after the extra point.
Second effort gets Sims in 💪
📺 Spectrum | MWN pic.twitter.com/q65KTUzCcV
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) October 12, 2025
Hawai’i held on for the 44-26 win.
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Utah State hosts the San Jose State Spartans on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Friday, October 17. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. MT.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
