Hawaii helped Stanford score its first touchdown and take an early 10-0 lead in its Week Zero matchup in an unfortunate two-play sequence midway through the first quarter.
Following a 23-yard field goal by Emmet Kenney, the Cardinal kicked off to the Rainbow Warriors. Hawaii kick returner Brandon White fielded the kick, calling for a fair catch and downing the ball at the 1-yard line.
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However, the kick had bounced off the turf. So White should have let the ball bounce into the end zone for a touchback, which would have placed the ball at the 25-yard line. Or if the ball went out of bounds, a penalty would have given Hawaii the ball at the 35-yard line.
Yet since White fielded the ball and downed it at the 1, that’s where officials spotted the ball.
Starting their opening drive backed up against the goal line, Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado was sacked by Stanford defensive tackle Clay Patterson and fumbled on the play. Linebacker Wilfredo Aybar recovered the turnover for a touchdown.
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On the ensuing kickoff, Kenney booted the ball for a touchback. Yet Hawaii may still have been disheveled from their two-play gaffe. The Rainbow Warriors failed to get a first down on the subsequent possession and had to punt.
Hawaii then composed itself as Alejado threw a pair of touchdown passes to give his team a 14-13 lead going into halftime.