Marcus Mariota is Oregon's first Heisman winner. (USATSI)
Marcus Mariota is Oregon's first Heisman winner. (USATSI)

NEW YORK -- Hawaii's native son is now the best in America.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night marking a series of firsts.

Mariota, a redshirt junior from Honolulu, is the first Oregon player and first Hawaii native to win the prestigious award.

Heisman voting
Player, School 1st 2nd 3rd Totals
Marcus Mariota, Oregon 788 74 22 2,534
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin 37 432 275 1,250
Amari Cooper, Alabama 49 280 316 1,023
Trevone Boykin, TCU 8 45 104 218
J.T. Barrett, Ohio St. 0 19 40 78
Jameis Winston, FSU 4 10 19 51
Tevin Coleman, Indiana 2 8 22 44
Dak Prescott, Miss. State 2 4 28 42
Scooby Wright III, Arizona 0 4 13 21
Bryce Petty, Baylor 1 3 4 13

Oregon (12-1) is trying to become the first first-time national championship winner since Florida in 1996.

Mariota, the nation's highest-rated passer, beat out fellow finalists Amari Cooper of Alabama and Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin . The redshirt junior quarterback has led the Ducks to the Pac-12 title and a berth in the College Football Playoff next month.

His season is one of the most consistent in recent memory by a Heisman winner. Mariota had thrown 38 passes against only two interceptions. He has thrown at least two touchdown passes in 17 of the last 18 games and all 13 games this season.

The product of powerful St. Louis High in Honolulu is believed to be the most decorated Oregon player in history, already having won the Davey O'Brien Award (best quarterback), Camp and Maxwell awards (best players) and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm (best senior quarterback).

Mariota becomes one of the greatest Hawaiian athletes in history. Two years ago Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o finished second in the Heisman voting but his legacy was affected by the fake girlfriend scandal.