Tokyo-born kicker hits game-winner as Hawaii stuns Power Four opponent
When the clock hit zero in Honolulu, a silence fell before Aloha Stadium erupted. Hawaii’s Kansei Matsuzawa, who once learned football by watching YouTube videos in Tokyo, drilled a 38-yard field goal to deliver a 23-20 upset over Stanford. It was Hawaii’s first win over a Power Four program since 2019, and it came off the foot of a kicker who didn’t touch a football until age 20.
Matsuzawa’s story is as improbable as the finish.
First, his transition: a soccer player in Japan, he saw his first NFL game and decided he wanted to try American football. With no coaches, he taught himself how to kick by studying clips on YouTube.
Second, his persistence: after two seasons at Hocking College in Ohio, where he hit 12 field goals with a long of 50, he transferred to Hawaii in 2023. He redshirted, adapted to a new culture, and worked to earn trust from coaches.
Third, his breakthrough: in Week 0, Matsuzawa went 3-for-3 on field goals and perfect on two PATs, capped by the game-winner against Stanford.
For Hawaii, it was a victory years in the making. For Matsuzawa, it was proof that belief and discipline can carry you across oceans. His next goal? Keep building confidence one kick at a time.
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