(BCSNN) — Stanford opened the Tavita Pritchard era with a win that required both early dominance and late resolve. Micah Ford’s third touchdown, a 2‑yard run with 1:41 remaining, capped a rally that lifted the Cardinal to a 37–27 victory over Hawaii on Saturday after nearly surrendering a 16‑point fourth‑quarter lead.

“It’s been a theme throughout our entire early goings together through the offseason, in the spring, up until training camp is how we finished,” Pritchard said. “We finished tonight.”

Stanford appeared in control for much of the night before Hawaii surged with three fourth‑quarter touchdowns, flipping a 23–7 deficit into a 27–23 lead and threatening the biggest fourth‑quarter comeback in program history. But quarterback Davis Warren, making his first start since the end of Michigan’s 2024 season, engineered the decisive response.

Warren finished 22 of 34 for a career‑high 310 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers. His poise on the final drive — 5‑for‑5 passing for 58 yards — set up Ford’s go‑ahead score.

Hawaii’s last chance ended moments later when quarterback Micah Alejado fumbled and Stanford linebacker Tevarua Tafiti scooped it up, returning it 31 yards for the game‑sealing touchdown.

Warren’s night showcased both efficiency and explosiveness. He threw a 6‑yard touchdown to Atticus Joseph and set up Ford’s first two scores with long completions: a 57‑yard strike to JonAnthony Hall and a 48‑yard deep ball to freshman Zion Robinson to the Hawaii 4 on Stanford’s first drive of the second half.

Warren, who sat out last season with a knee injury before transferring to Stanford, won the starting job this summer and delivered a debut that matched the moment.