Bears Lose Hawai’i Bowl – Game Recap & Highlights

Rainbow Warriors Steal Victory from Cal in 2025 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl

A late touchdown with just 10 seconds remaining secured a 35-31 victory for Hawai’i over California in the 2025 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl on Wednesday evening at clarence T.C. ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu. Despite building a commanding 21-0 lead in the second quarter, the Golden Bears (7-6) were unable to hold off a determined rainbow warriors squad (9-4).

Did you know? – This was the frist meeting between Hawai’i and California in a bowl game as the 2007 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, which Cal won 42-36 in double overtime.

De Jesus Makes History in Defeat

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the night wasn’t without its bright spots for Cal. Wide receiver Jacob dejesus etched his name into the program’s record books,finishing the 2025 season with a remarkable 108 receptions – a new single-season standard for the Golden Bears. This achievement also ties him for second place in ACC history for single-season receptions. DeJesus contributed nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in Wednesday’s contest.

Early Dominance Fades for California

The Golden Bears came out firing, quickly establishing a dominant lead. DeJesus opened the scoring with a 41-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele midway through the first quarter. kendrick Raphael followed with a 19-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second period, extending Cal’s advantage to 14-0. True freshman Anthony League, making his first career start, added another touchdown with an 8-yard run, pushing the lead to 21-0 with 9:38 remaining before halftime.

however, Hawai’i responded with 21 unanswered points, shifting the momentum of the game. A 22-yard field goal by Chase Meyer briefly restored Cal’s lead at 24-21 with 8:56 remaining.The teams then traded touchdowns, with Sagapolutele connecting with League for a score.

Pro tip – Momentum swings are common in bowl games. Teams must maintain focus and execution, even after building a substantial lead, to avoid collapses like Cal experienced.

Last-Minute Heartbreak for the Golden Bears

With 1:57 left on the clock, Sagapolutele, a native of Ewa Beach, Hawai’i, plunged into the end zone from one yard out, giving Cal a 31-28 lead. The freshman quarterback finished the game completing 28 of 39 passes for a career-high 343 yards and a touchdown, concluding his debut season with 3,460 passing yards – the sixth-highest single-season total in program history. Senior Trond Grizzell also had a strong performance, hauling in eight catches for 105 yards.

despite the late surge, Hawai’i ultimately had the last word, scoring a game-winning touchdown with just 10 seconds remaining on the clock. “We jumped on them, which was a great start for us,” said Cal interim head coach Nick Rolovich.

Reader question – do you think Cal’s early dominance lulled them into a false sense of security, contributing to their inability to close out the game? Share your thoughts!

Expanded News Report:

Why did it end? The 2025 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl ended with a 35-31 victory for Hawai’i over California after a last-second touchdown with only 10 seconds left on the clock. The game was a tale of two halves, with Cal dominating early but ultimately succumbing to a determined comeback by