Portland State Visits Hawaii with Former Rainbow Warrior at Quarterback

HONOLULU – The last time the University of Hawaii designated its homecoming game against a team quarterbacked by one of its former players, things did not go well for the Rainbow Warriors. Chevan Cordeiro lead San Jose State to a 35-0 rout of UH at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

That was nearly two years ago. John-Keawe Sagapolutele, then a true freshman out of Punahou, watched that game from the UH sideline.

On Saturday, Sagapolutele hopes for a homecoming callback in Manoa. His Portland State Vikings of the Football Championship Subdivision visit the ching Complex as a sizable underdog – by nearly 40 points as of Friday afternoon – but with little to lose.

“It’s a game I’ve always been looking forward to, just being able to go back home and play in hawaii,” sagapolutele told Spectrum News in a phone interview this week. “It has always been a dream come true, especially at the collegiate level. Not only that, I’m just excited to see some of the guys that I’ve shared the field with, but now this time on the opposite side of the field.”

Avoiding underestimating the Vikings (0-3), who have been outscored by a combined 161-20 by Tarleton State, BYU and North Dakota, was Timmy Chang’s concern.