Hawaii Beats UTEP 17-14 as Micah Alejado Throws for 303 Yards

Micah Alejado threw for 303 yards and a touchdown while Titan Lacaden hauled in 11 passes for 109 yards, powering Hawaii to a 17-14 victory over UTEP on Saturday in El Paso.

The win marks a significant turning point for the Rainbow Warriors, who have now secured four victories in their last five meetings against the Miners.

The offensive rhythm began early. Newsday reported that Hawaii jumped ahead in the first quarter when Alejado connected with Lacaden on a 20-yard touchdown pass with just 2:57 remaining. Sean Olvera-Harle extended that advantage midway through the second quarter, splitting the uprights with a 20-yard field goal to put the Rainbow Warriors up 10-0.

Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors vs UTEP Miners Highlights | FOX College Football

UTEP struggled to find momentum early but responded before halftime. Lamar Sperling punched the ball into the end zone from the 5-yard line, capping a drive fueled by a 22-yard burst from Carver Cheeks and a 23-yard gain from Sperling on the subsequent play.

The third quarter proved to be a defensive stalemate, with neither team able to find the scoreboard. Hawaii eventually broke the silence in the final frame, orchestrating an impressive 12-play, 98-yard drive. Sitani Mikaele finished the march with a 6-yard touchdown run, pushing the Hawaii lead to 17-7 with 10:08 left on the clock.

Hawai‘i football holds off UTEP for 17-14 road win, improves to 3-6

The Miners fought to close the gap late in the game. Raymond Moore III orchestrated a seven-play, 79-yard drive, finding Judah Ezinwa for a 15-yard touchdown pass to pull UTEP within three points. Despite the late surge, the Hawaii defense held firm to preserve the narrow victory.

Category	Hawaii	UTEP
Passing Yards	303	109
Rushing Touchdowns	1	1
Record (Conf.)	2-4	0-5

According to CBSSports.com, the game highlighted career-best performances for Hawaii’s receiving corps. Beyond Lacaden’s 109-yard night, Audric Harris contributed 101 yards on four receptions, providing the deep-threat balance needed to pass the UTEP secondary. For the Miners, Moore finished with 109 passing yards, while Sperling paced the ground attack with 63 yards on 11 carries.

Hawaii quarterback micah alejado in the first half during an ncaa football game against arizona on saturday aug in tucson ari

The victory moves Hawaii to a 3-6 overall record as they look ahead to their upcoming schedule. The Rainbow Warriors are set to host North Dakota State next Saturday. Meanwhile, UTEP, currently sitting at 1-8, will look to regroup as they prepare to host Wyoming.

This matchup continues a trend of success for Hawaii in this series, reinforcing their recent dominance over the El Paso program. As both teams move into the final stretch of the season, the focus shifts to whether Hawaii can build on this offensive efficiency or if UTEP can find the consistency required to secure their second win of the year.