The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa football team (3-1) rode a stifling defense and the leg of Kansei Matsuzawa to a 23-3 homecoming win over Portland State on September 13 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
The Rainbow Warrior defense held the Vikings to 230 yards and three points, both the lowest totals by a UH opponent this season. UH held an opponent out of the endzone all game for the first time since 2019.
Elijah Palmer finished with one interception, his first of the season, and a team-high seven tackles. Lesterlaisene Lagafuaina and Jamar Sekona each registered a solo sack, while Jackie Johnson III and Qwyn Williams combined for a sack.
Matsuzawa hit all three of his field goal attempts including a career-high 44-yard field goal that he later surpassed with a 47-yard field goal. Matsuzawa finished with a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to move to a perfect 11-for-11 on field goal attempts this season.
Quarterback Luke Weaver, making his second straight start in place of injured starter Micah Alejado, completed 26-of-42 passes for a game-high 240 yards and two touchdown passes. Cam Barfield was on the receiving end of both of Weaver’s touchdown tosses. Barfield finished with 72 all-purpose yards, including a team-high 50 receiving yards on four catches. Landon Sims was a force in both the passing and rushing attacks, finishing with 46 receiving yards and a team-leading 41 rushing yards.
The Rainbow Warriors return to the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on September 20 for their Mountain West Conference opener against Fresno State (3-1). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
