HONOLULU – The final chapter of a storied rivalry ended in heartbreaking fashion, as the Hawai'i football team fell just short at the finish line in a 23-21 loss to Fresno State on Saturday night at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (3-2, 0-1 MWC) had a chance to tie the game late, scoring in the final seconds to get within two points, but the ensuing two-point conversion fell incomplete and Fresno State (4-1, 1-0) kneeled out the win.
 
Kansei Matsuzawa continued his hot start to the season, staying perfect with two field goals to make it 13-for-13 on the year. His second, a 52-yarder, set a new career-long, the second straight week Matsuzawa has set a new career mark. Matsuzawa also tied Rigoberto Sanchez (2016) for most consecutive field goal conversions to start a season.
 
UH outgained Fresno State 308-301, but the 'Bows turned the ball over four times. Quarterback Micah Alejado, returning from injury and making his first appearance since the second game of the season, completed 28-of-47 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown, but threw three interceptions.
 
The 'Bows were held to just 75 yards of offense in the first half, but the UH defense picked up the slack. De'jon Benton knocked the ball out of Fresno State QB E.J. Warner's hand on an endzone sack. Fresno State fell on the ball in the endzone, preventing a UH touchdown but giving the Rainbow Warriors the first points of the game on the safety.
 
The 'Bows were aided by a pair of missed field goals by Fresno State kicker Dylan Lynch, one from 43 yards away and another from 25 yards that sailed wide right into the stands. Lynch later missed another 54-yard field goal.
 
On the next Bulldogs drive, Fresno State running back Bryson Donelson mishandled a backward pass, which was then recovered by Jamih Otis. Otis returned the ball 37 yards to the for a touchdown, fighting through contact into the endzone to give UH a 9-0 lead.
 
Otis' return marked the first time the UH defense recorded a safety and a fumble return touchdown in the same game since at least 1995.
 
Fresno State managed to avoid the first-half shutout, scoring on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Richie Anderson III to close the gap to 9-7 at the halftime break.
 
Matsuzawa knocked in a pair of field goals in the third quarter. A 40-yard field goal kicked off the scoring in the second half. He then set a new career-long with his second field goal of the third quarter, a 52-yarder.
 
Fresno State scored a quick touchdown between Matsuzawa's two field goals, on a 64-yard reception turned 1-yard TD run that briefly gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, but Matsuzawa retook the lead with his second field goal.
 
The Bulldogs took control in the fourth quarter off of back-to-back interceptions. The first pick led to a 27-yard field goal, while the second by K'Vion Thunderbird was returned 59 yards for an FS touchdown to go up 23-15.
 
Trailing by eight, Hawai'i made a final effort to even things up. Alejado led the 'Bows on a 12-play 77-yard drive, which was capped off by Alejado's 10-yard touchdown pass to Blaze Kamoku. But the two-point attempt fell incomplete.