Weaver passes for 294 yards and 3 TDs in 1st start, Hawaii beats Sam Houston 37-20

On Saturday night, Luke Weaver made his debut start for Hawaii and put on an impressive performance, throwing for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Giovanni Iovino also shined with a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown, helping the Rainbow Warriors secure a 37-20 victory over Sam Houston.

Weaver’s presence was felt throughout the game, especially in the fourth quarter where he led three scoring drives. He connected with Pofele Ashlock for two touchdowns, one for 6 yards and another for 15 yards, while kicker Kansei Matsuzawa added a 19-yard field goal to the mix.

Matsuzawa was instrumental in the victory, also nailing a 38-yard field goal at the end of the first half and a 43-yarder early in the third quarter. Ashlock, who finished with seven receptions for 125 yards, continued his streak of at least one catch in 27 consecutive games and now has 22 receptions in just three games this season.

The Bearkats faced adversity as their starting quarterback, Mabrey Mettauer, was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter after a hard hit by Iovino. Mettauer, who was filling in for the injured Hunter Watson, completed 12 of 18 passes for 91 yards with an interception and added 45 rushing yards. Freshman Landyn Locke took over and threw a 21-yard touchdown to Elijah Greene, narrowing the deficit to 27-20 with 8:15 remaining.

Emon Allen also made a big play for Sam Houston, returning an interception 66 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Unfortunately, Hawaii’s quarterback Micah Alejado was sidelined with a leg injury and did not see any playing time.

Overall, it was a hard-fought game between the two teams, but Hawaii’s strong offensive performance and solid defensive plays ultimately led them to victory. Fans can expect more exciting matchups as the season progresses.

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