Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsvsStanford Cardinal
HAW 27/STAN 37
Things to say
Stanford beat Hawai'i 37-27 at Stanford Stadium to open the season 1-0.
01
opener
Stanford took care of Hawai'i 37-27. Closer than it looks though. Hawai'i actually had the lead in the fourth before it fell apart.
02
key player
Micah Ford was the guy. 25 carries, 99 yards, three touchdowns. He just kept punching it in in the red zone.
03
hot take
Warren threw for 310 but honestly this game was smashmouth. Stanford won it on the ground and let the defense bail them out late.
04
deep cut
Watch the tape, the dagger was a 31-yard fumble return for six by Tafiti. Hawai'i was down four and driving, then it just flipped.
05
exit
Anyway, 0-1 for Hawai'i, long flight home. We'll see if Stanford's for real next week.
The recap
Stanford opened the season with a 37-27 win that was way tighter than the final looked. Micah Ford was the workhorse, grinding out three short touchdowns behind the line of scrimmage, while Davis Warren was steady through the air at 310 yards.
Hawai'i actually grabbed a 27-23 lead when Micah Alejado hit DeVon Rice for a 29-yard strike late, but Ford punched in another score to put Stanford back on top with under two minutes left.
Then Tevarua Tafiti scooped a fumble and took it 31 yards to the house to seal it, turning a nail-biter into a comfortable-looking margin.