Cardinal linebacker Gabe Kaminski (left) sacks Hawaii Rainbow Warriors quarterback Micah Alejado (right) at Stanford Stadium. (photo by Honolulu Star Advertiser)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. –As the Stanford Cardinal (1-0) opened the 2026 season on Pacific Islander Heritage Day, they dispatched the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0-1), 37-27, on a sunny Saturday Afternoon in the Bay.

Although the visitors from the middle of the Pacific Ocean won the coin flip, they were generous guests and deferred possession of the ball until the second half. The Cardinal did not do much with their immediate gift, and returned it to the sender. Neither team did anything on their initial possessions.

However, midway through the first quarter Stanford went on an 89-yard drive, resulting in them being first to affect the scoreboard. The series was topped off with a two-yard touchdown by junior running back Micah Ford. The 7-0 score remained until the end of the first stanza.

In the second quarter the Rainbow Warriors made it deep into enemy territory. They were in the “red zone,” then eventually the goal line. Hawaii was able to capitalize on that great field position less than five minutes into the period. Running back DeVon Rice scampered into the end zone three yards from scrimmage. Hawaii tied the game 7-7.

Less than a minute later, Stanford was able to respond to the equalizing score by the Rainbow Warriors. Senior QB Davis Warren converted a 6-yard TD pass to freshman WR Atticus Joseph, to put the home team back up by seven, 14-7. Right after the 2-minute timeout, the Cardinal tried to extend their lead before recess, but it was denied.

Senior kicker Emmet Kenney lined up for a 33-yard FG, but Hawaii thought otherwise and blocked the kick attempt. Despite Hawaii taking over possession of the ball, no one scored before the halftime whistle. The Cardinal led !4-7 after 30 minutes of play.

Early in the second half, the opposite half of Stanford’s special teams unit managed to put two points on the scoreboard, on a blocked punt by Charlie Eckhardt. As the ball rolled out of the end zone, it resulted in a safety, garnering two points for Stanford, somewhat making up the three points they lost before the half. They were up by nine points, 16-7, early i n the second half.

Just under six minutes later, the Cardinal extended the advantage to 16 points 23-7), after Micah Ford;s second rushing touchdown (2 yards). That score managed to last nearly 10 minutes, and remained at that score after 45 minutes of game play, Stanford led 23-7, after three quarters.

In the final quarter, Hawaii showed that they did not fly five hours over the Pacific Ocean to just lie down against their California foes on the mainland. The Rainbow Warriors forged a 20-0 in just under 16 minutes of the fourth quarter, giving them a 27-23 lead late in the game. The Hawaii section of the stadium was amped up at the point of the game, and the theme of the contest was so apropos with their momentum.

However, within the last two minutes of the battle, Ford was able to calm the tide and comfort most of the 23,222 fans in the stands, after scoring his third rushing touchdown of the game. The Cardinal went back up by three points, 30-27.

With just over a minute left in regulation, the Cardinal sealed the game on a fumble-six. Senior linebacker Tevarua Tfiti scooped up the fumbled ball and returned it 31 yards for the dagger touchdown. That play put them back up by double -digits, 37-27, and put the game to rest.

After the allotted 60 minutes elapsed, the Cardinal had won game one of the season by 10 points, 37-27.

The Cardinal will next be in action Friday, September 4, as they host the Miami Hurricanes at 6 PM PT on ESPN. Hawaii will fly back home to host UNLV Saturday September 5 at 7 PM LT on the CW.