HONOLULU — The Hawai'i football team sent its 26 seniors out with a bang, reclaiming the Paniolo Trophy as the Rainbow Warriors defeated Wyoming 27-7 in the regular season finale Saturday night at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
 
The Warrior defense pitched a shutout, with the only Wyoming points coming on an early pick-six. The Hawai'i pass rush got home for three sacks, with solo sacks by Jalen Smith and Noah Wily and half sacks for Jackie Johnson III and De'Jon Benton. Senior Jaheim Wilson-Jones picked off Wyoming quarterback Mason Drube for his first career interception in his final regular-season home game.
 
Meanwhile, the UH offense recovered quickly from the early miscue and scored 27 unanswered points to clinch the victory. Alejado threw for 289 yards on 17-of-24 passing with two touchdowns. Alejado broke Timmy Chang's UH freshman single-season passing touchdowns record with his second TD pass of the game, giving him 21 on the season.
 
Jackson Harris continued his strong run of games, with his seventh 100+ yard receiving game in the past eight games. He caught four passes for a season-high 153 yards and a score. Pofele Ashlock added 71 yards on four catches.
 
Cam Barfield rushed for a career-high 77 yards on 15 carries, including a career-high 41-yard touchdown run. Barfield's 77 rushing yards is the second most by a UH rusher in a single game this season.
 
Kansei Matsuzawa made his first two field goals of the game, a pair of 47-yarders, to tie Washington kicker Chuck Nelson's FBS record (1982) of 25 consecutive made field goals to start a season.
 
Alejado made up for his early pick on the very next drive. After handing the ball off twice to start the drive, Alejado drove the 'Bows down the field with a 17-yard pass to Karsyn Pupunu followed by a 7-yard pass to Tama Uiliata. Two plays later, Alejado rolled out to his left and found Barfield for a 19-yard touchdown pass to cap off a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Matsuzawa later gave the 'Bows their first lead of the game with a 47-yard field goal to make it 10-7 UH.
 
The Rainbow Warriors scored quickly on their next drive. On just the second play of the drive, Harris caught a quick slant from Alejado and turned on the jets for a 78-yard house call to make it 17-7. Matsuzawa followed that up with his second field goal of the half to give UH a 20-7 lead at the break.
 
The halftime break didn't slow down the 'Bows offense. After completions of 20 and 24 yards from Alejado to Ashlock, Barfield took a delayed handoff and burst through a big hole opened by the offensive line before zig-zagging his way for a career-long 41-yard touchdown run.
 
Barfield's long touchdown run would prove to be the last score from either team. Matsuzawa had a chance to break Nelson's record on the next drive, but a kick that initially looked on-target drifted wide right of the goal posts to break up his perfect season.
 
With the regular season now over, the 8-4 'Bows will now wait for their bowl game assignment, which is expected to be announced in the coming days.