The University of Hawaiʻi football team ended just short of upsetting UCLA on national television, falling 16-13 Saturday before a sellout crowd of 15,194 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
Hawaiʻi and UCLA were tied with a minute left to play, when UCLA kicker Mateen Bhaghani sealed the Bruins win with a 32-yard game winning field goal. It was the first time UCLA took the lead in the game.
The game was UH‘s first sold-out football game in the expanded Ching Athletics Complex. Hawaiʻi previously sold out three games in 2022 when the stadium capacity was 9,346.
Brayden Schager threw for 227 yards and a touchdown pass on 25-of-42 passing with two interceptions. Pofele Ashlock caught Schager’s touchdown pass, along with a game-high 112 receiving yards on nine receptions.
The UH defense shined, holding UCLA scoreless in the first half. Logan Taylor and Jalen Smith each picked off Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers in the first half, and the defense held the UCLA rushing attack to just 71 yards on the game. The Bruins scored just one touchdown, as Hawaiʻi held UCLA to three second-half field goals.
Peter Manuma led the Warriors with a game-best eight tackles, including seven solo tackles.
The Warriors have a bye this week before heading to Huntsville, Texas, to face Sam Houston State University on September 14. The team returns to face Northern Iowa on September 21, before starting the conference schedule. (See full 2024 schedule.)
