HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii football team is back in Las Vegas this week for a crucial matchup with rival UNLV.
The game has Mountain West championship implications and serves as a homecoming for multiple UH players.
Among them is quarterback Micah Alejado, who moved to Vegas from Ewa Beach and prepped at national powerhouse Bishop Gorman, where he won a national title.
“It’s exciting just to go back and play there again, and play in Allegiant (Stadium) again,” Alejado said. “At the end of the day, it’s just another game and that’s how we got to attack it.”
Rainbow Warriors fans are doing what they can to make this feel like a home game with a massive UH contingent expected at Allegiant Stadium.
“My mom bought 60 tickets for this game, for all of our family and friends and we’re so excited,” UH fan Fuchsia Yamashiro said. “Vegas takes the cake. In Vegas, you know, we call it the Ninth Island, but people that maybe haven’t even watched the team all year, they’re like, ‘I’m from Hawaii. Hawaii is in town,’ and it’s Hawaii against the world.”
Yamashiro and her family rarely miss games and this week is no different.
They’re hoping to see the ‘Bows beat the Rebels for the first time since 2022 and grab a share of first place in the conference standings.
“It’s really exciting. We know the team has exceeded expectations,” Yamashiro said. “So many games this year have gone very differently than we anticipated in the beginning and it’s fun.”
The team feels their presence. The ‘Bows are off to their best start since 2019 and have their eye on postseason success with a chance to win their first Mountain West title ever.
“A lot of outside noise, especially, you know, when we’re in the hunt, but for us the biggest thing is stay focused on the game,” Alejado said. “Like I said, at the end of the day, it’s just, it’s just a game.”
“We’re just really proud to represent them and and we look forward to seeing them out there,” head coach Timmy Chang said. “It should be a great environment.”
Kick off between the ‘Bows and Rebels is set for Friday at 5:30 p.m. Hawaii time on FS1.
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