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When They Last Met

Hawaii Warriors defensive back Trayvon Henderson (39) knocks a pass away intended for UCLA Bruins wide receiver Darren Andrews (7) in the first half of a NCAA college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

By Lance Tominaga, ESPN Honolulu Web Editor.

The last time Hawaii and UCLA last played each other in football was on Sept. 9, 2017. Todd Graham wasn’t Hawaii’s head coach then. Chip Kelly was a year away from becoming the Bruins’ head coach, too. The game was played in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl. And it was not close.

Bruins QB Josh Rosen, now with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, threw for 329 yards and 5 TDs to lead a 56-23 romp over the visiting Rainbow Warriors. Rosen put on a stellar performance, completing 22 of 25 pass attempts.

The Hawaii offense, led by running back Diocemy Saint Juste, actually produced more yards than UCLA, 515 to 505. Saint Juste was the game’s leading rusher, finishing with 154 yards on 27 carries. Hawaii QB Cole McDonald, then a backup to Dru Brown, added 75 rushing yards, including a 58-yard scamper. Brown led the UH aerial attack with 227 passing yards and 2 TDs, including scoring strikes to Saint Juste and John Ursua.

Will tomorrow’s game be a repeat of 2017, or will the outcome be much closer? I’m expecting the latter. Todd Graham knows how to beat UCLA; he did it three times when he was the head coach at Arizona State.

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