Fresno State edges Hawai'i in defensive struggle
Fresno State defeated Hawai'i 23-21 in a tightly contested Mountain West matchup Saturday. The Bulldogs controlled the game's momentum despite a defensive battle that saw 24 lead changes and kept both teams in contention throughout.
E.J. Warner led Fresno State's offense with 230 passing yards and 38 rushing yards, while wide receiver Kamron Beachem contributed 84 receiving yards. The Bulldogs' defense made critical plays when needed, including K'Vion Thunderbird's 59-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that proved decisive.
Hawai'i kept pace through three quarters but couldn't overcome Fresno State's fourth-quarter execution. The Rainbow Warriors scored on a Jamih Otis 37-yard fumble return in the second quarter but struggled to generate consistent offensive momentum. Micah Alejado orchestrated Hawai'i's late-game drives with key completions, including a 38-yard connection to Pofele Ashlock in the third quarter.
The game remained closely fought, finishing with a win-probability swing of 57.87%. Fresno State covered the 2.5-point spread, while the combined 44 points fell under the 47-point over-under.
AI-generated recap · Aug 14, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fresno State | 0 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 23 |
 Hawai'i | 0 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 21 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Fresno State | Hawai'i |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 22-29 | 28-47 |
| Pass Yards | 230 | 219 |
| Rush Yards | 65 | 95 |
| Total Yards | 295 | 314 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| 3rd Down | 7-14 | 7-17 |
| Penalties | 8-87 | 7-41 |
| Possession | 30:10 | 29:50 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Kansei Matsuzawa kickoff for 65 yds , Rayshon Luke return for 19 yds to the FRES 19
Bryson Donelson run for 6 yds to the FRES 25
Rayshon Luke run for 3 yds to the FRES 28
Brandon Ramirez run for 1 yd to the FRES 29 for a 1ST down
E.J. Warner pass complete to Ezekiel Avit for 17 yds to the FRES 46 for a 1ST down
E.J. Warner pass incomplete to Ezekiel Avit
E.J. Warner pass complete to Ezekiel Avit for 11 yds to the HAW 43 for a 1ST down
Bryson Donelson run for a loss of 2 yards to the HAW 45
E.J. Warner run for 5 yds to the HAW 40
E.J. Warner pass complete to Ezekiel Avit for 8 yds to the HAW 32 for a 1ST down
Rayshon Luke run for 5 yds to the HAW 27
Rayshon Luke run for 2 yds to the HAW 25
Bryson Donelson run for no gain to the HAW 25 Bryson Donelson fumbled, recovered by FRES Bryson Donelson
Dylan Lynch 43 yd FG MISSED
Micah Alejado pass complete to Pofele Ashlock for 2 yds to the HAW 27
Micah Alejado pass complete to Tama Uiliata for 8 yds to the HAW 35 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado pass complete to Devon Tauaefa for 4 yds to the HAW 39
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Brandon White
Micah Alejado pass complete to Landon Sims for 1 yd to the HAW 40
PENALTY Hawaii Illegal Substitution 4 yards from Hawaii40 to Hawaii36. NO PLAY.
Billy Gowers punt for 24 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the FRES 40
Bryson Donelson run for 5 yds to the FRES 45
E.J. Warner pass complete to Bryson Donelson for 4 yds to the FRES 49
Brandon Ramirez run for a loss of 2 yards to the FRES 47
Nick Verdugo punt for 46 yds, fair catch by Tama Uiliata at the HAW 7
Landon Sims run for 3 yds to the HAW 10
Micah Alejado pass complete to Pofele Ashlock for 7 yds to the HAW 17 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado pass complete to Karsyn Pupunu for 4 yds to the HAW 21
Landon Sims run for 8 yds to the HAW 29 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado sacked by Merhauti Xepera for a loss of 5 yards to the HAW 24
run for a loss of 6 yards to the HAW 18 fumbled, recovered by FRES Jahzon Jacks
Rayshon Luke run for 5 yds to the HAW 13
E.J. Warner pass complete to Ezekiel Avit for 5 yds to the HAW 18
E.J. Warner pass complete to Jahlil McClain for 11 yds to the HAW 7 for a 1ST down
Bryson Donelson run for a loss of 1 yard to the HAW 8
E.J. Warner pass incomplete to Josiah Freeman
E.J. Warner pass incomplete to Jordan Brown
Dylan Lynch 26 yd FG MISSED
Micah Alejado pass complete to Brandon White for 27 yds to the HAW 47 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado sacked by Deijon Laffitte for a loss of 5 yards to the HAW 42
Micah Alejado pass complete to Jackson Harris for 9 yds to the FRES 49
Micah Alejado pass complete to Tama Uiliata for 11 yds to the FRES 38 for a 1ST down
Landon Sims run for 2 yds to the FRES 36
Micah Alejado sacked by Ryan Wilson for a loss of 3 yards to the FRES 39
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Tama Uiliata
Billy Gowers punt for 36 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the FRES 3
Fresno State Penalty, Offensive Holding (-4 Yards) to the FRES 4
Bryson Donelson run for 3 yds to the FRES 7
E.J. Warner sacked by De'Jon Benton for a loss of 14 yards for a SAFETY E.J. Warner fumbled, recovered by FRES Julian Polendo , return for 0 yards for a SAFETY
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Cam Barfield
Cam Barfield run for 6 yds to the HAW 31
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Karsyn Pupunu
Billy Gowers punt for 50 yds , Jordan Malau'ulu returns for 7 yds to the FRES 26
Rayshon Luke run for 2 yds to the FRES 28
E.J. Warner pass complete to Rayshon Luke for 7 yds to the FRES 35
Bryson Donelson run for 4 yds to the FRES 39 for a 1ST down
(04:32) Shotgun Donelson,Bryson rush right for 35 yards gain to the Hawaii26 (Benton,De'jon) PENALTY FSU Holding (Polendo,Julian) 10 yards from FSU39 to FSU29. NO PLAY.
E.J. Warner pass complete to Kamron Beachem for 20 yds to the FRES 49 for a 1ST down
Bryson Donelson run for 5 yds to the HAW 46
E.J. Warner pass incomplete to Richie Anderson III
(02:33) Shotgun Warner,E.J. pass complete short middle to Farrar,Jayon caught at Hawaii35, for 11 yards to the Hawaii35 (Manuma,Peter) PENALTY FSU Ineligible Downfield on Pass (Farrar,Jayon) 5 yards from Hawaii46 to FSU49. NO PLAY.
E.J. Warner pass complete to Rayshon Luke for 10 yds to the HAW 41 for a 1ST down
Jamih Otis 37 Yd Fumble Return (Kansei Matsuzawa Kick)
Kansei Matsuzawa kickoff for 60 yds , Rayshon Luke return for 38 yds to the FRES 43
E.J. Warner pass complete to Josiah Freeman for 13 yds to the HAW 44 for a 1ST down
E.J. Warner pass complete to Bryson Donelson for 5 yds to the HAW 39
E.J. Warner pass complete to Ezekiel Avit for 15 yds to the HAW 24 for a 1ST down
E.J. Warner pass complete to Richie Anderson III for 4 yds to the HAW 20
E.J. Warner pass complete to Jordan Malau'ulu for 7 yds to the HAW 13 for a 1ST down
E.J. Warner pass complete to Richie Anderson III for 13 yds for a TD (Dylan Lynch KICK)
Micah Alejado pass complete to Landon Sims for 2 yds to the HAW 27
Micah Alejado pass intercepted Camryn Bracha return for no gain to the FRES 45
E.J. Warner pass complete to Bryson Donelson for 7 yds to the FRES 38
End of 2nd Quarter
Rayshon Luke run for 8 yds to the FRES 46
Micah Alejado pass complete to Cam Barfield for 1 yd to the HAW 26
Cam Barfield run for 4 yds to the HAW 30
Micah Alejado pass complete to Karsyn Pupunu for 6 yds to the HAW 36 for a 1ST down
PENALTY Hawaii False Start (Milovale,James) 5 yards from Hawaii36 to Hawaii31. NO PLAY.
Cam Barfield run for 6 yds to the HAW 37
Micah Alejado run for 3 yds to the HAW 40
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Jackson Harris
Billy Gowers punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Jordan Malau'ulu at the FRES 15
Bryson Donelson run for no gain to the FRES 15
E.J. Warner pass complete to Josiah Freeman for 3 yds to the FRES 18
(10:23) Shotgun Warner,E.J. pass incomplete deep left to Avit,Ezekiel thrown to Hawaii48 PENALTY Hawaii Holding offsetting FSU Personal Foul offsetting. NO PLAY.
E.J. Warner pass incomplete to Jordan Malau'ulu
Nick Verdugo punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Tama Uiliata at the HAW 44
Micah Alejado pass complete to Brandon White for 4 yds to the HAW 48
Landon Sims run for 12 yds to the FRES 40 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado pass complete to Tama Uiliata for 3 yds to the FRES 37
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Jackson Harris
Micah Alejado pass complete to Pofele Ashlock for 9 yds to the FRES 28 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Landon Sims
Micah Alejado pass complete to Cam Barfield for 6 yds to the FRES 22
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Karsyn Pupunu
Kansei Matsuzawa 40 yd FG GOOD
E.J. Warner pass complete to Josiah Freeman for 6 yds to the FRES 31
Rayshon Luke run for 2 yds to the FRES 33
Bryson Donelson run for 1 yd for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Cam Barfield run for 1 yd to the HAW 26
Micah Alejado pass complete to Karsyn Pupunu for 4 yds to the HAW 30
Hawai'i Penalty, False Start (Ethan Spencer) to the HAW 26
Micah Alejado pass complete to Pofele Ashlock for 38 yds to the FRES 36 for a 1ST down
Landon Sims run for no gain to the FRES 36
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Landon Sims
Micah Alejado pass complete to Pofele Ashlock for 2 yds to the FRES 34
Kansei Matsuzawa 52 yd FG GOOD
E.J. Warner run for 28 yds to the HAW 47 for a 1ST down
Bryson Donelson run for a loss of 2 yards to the HAW 49
E.J. Warner pass complete to Rayshon Luke for no gain to the HAW 49
E.J. Warner pass complete to Jordan Brown for 15 yds to the HAW 34 for a 1ST down
(00:26) Shotgun Gilliam,Elijah rush middle for 1 yard gain to the Hawaii33 (Mendiola-Jensen,Kilinahe) PENALTY FSU Holding (Penright,Toreon) 10 yards from Hawaii34 to Hawaii44. NO PLAY.
Rayshon Luke run for 5 yds to the HAW 39
Fresno State Penalty, Personal Foul (-15 Yards) to the HAW 45
E.J. Warner pass complete to Bryson Donelson for 9 yds to the HAW 36
Dylan Lynch 54 yd FG MISSED
Micah Alejado run for 5 yds to the HAW 41
Micah Alejado pass complete to Pofele Ashlock for no gain to the HAW 41
Micah Alejado pass intercepted Al'zillion Hamilton return for 42 yds to the HAW 12
Bryson Donelson run for no gain to the HAW 12
E.J. Warner pass incomplete to Josiah Freeman
E.J. Warner run for 3 yds to the HAW 9
Dylan Lynch 27 yd FG GOOD
Micah Alejado pass complete to Tama Uiliata for 9 yds to the HAW 34
Micah Alejado run for no gain to the HAW 34
Landon Sims run for 4 yds to the HAW 38 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Brandon White
Micah Alejado run for 6 yds to the HAW 44
Cam Barfield run for 3 yds to the HAW 47
Brandon White run for 9 yds to the FRES 44 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado run for 1 yd to the FRES 43
K'Vion Thunderbird 59 Yd Interception Return (Dylan Lynch Kick)
(05:19) PENALTY Hawaii False Start (Spencer,Ethan) 5 yards from Hawaii25 to Hawaii20. NO PLAY.
Micah Alejado pass complete to Tama Uiliata for 16 yds to the HAW 36 for a 1ST down Fresno State Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Jahzon Jacks) to the HAW 36 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado pass complete to Jackson Harris for 8 yds to the HAW 44
Micah Alejado pass complete to Pofele Ashlock for 4 yds to the FRES 48 for a 1ST down Fresno State Penalty, Personal Foul (RL Miller) to the FRES 38 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Tama Uiliata
Landon Sims run for 1 yd to the FRES 37
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Karsyn Pupunu
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Pofele Ashlock
Bryson Donelson run for a loss of 1 yard to the FRES 36
Rayshon Luke run for 2 yds to the FRES 38
E.J. Warner pass incomplete to Josiah Freeman
Nick Verdugo punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Tama Uiliata at the HAW 23
Micah Alejado pass complete to Cam Barfield for 8 yds to the HAW 31
Micah Alejado run for 14 yds to the HAW 45 for a 1ST down
No Huddle-Shotgun Alejado,Micah pass incomplete short middle to Harris,Jackson thrown to FSU42, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY FSU Pass Interference (Hamilton,Al'zillion) 14 yards from Hawaii45 to FSU41, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Brandon White run for 5 yds to the FRES 36
Micah Alejado sacked by Finn Claypool for a loss of 3 yards to the FRES 39
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Pofele Ashlock
Micah Alejado run for 10 yds to the FRES 29 for a 1ST down
(01:01) Shotgun Alejado,Micah pass incomplete deep right to Ashlock,Pofele thrown to FSU04 PENALTY Hawaii Illegal Motion 5 yards from FSU29 to FSU34. NO PLAY.
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Brandon White
Micah Alejado pass complete to Blaze Kamoku for 10 yds to the FRES 24
Micah Alejado pass complete to Pofele Ashlock for 6 yds to the FRES 18 for a 1ST down
Micah Alejado run for 8 yds to the FRES 10
Micah Alejado pass incomplete to Blaze Kamoku
Micah Alejado pass complete to Blaze Kamoku for 10 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
E. Warner takes a knee