By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors had to leave the Island to begin the season. Despite the travel with a Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lane beaming for the Island, they defeated the Colorado State Rams, 43-34, on Saturday night at Sonny Lubick Field at Colorado State Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Rainbow Warriors are now 1-0 on the season. It’s the second straight year they have won a season opener, as they traveled to UMass Minutemen last year for their home opener and won.
The Rams fell to 0-1 on the season. Since the 2015 season, they have traded win-loss in the past four season-openers.
Rainbow Warriors quarterback Cole McDonald went 26 of 37 for 418 yards. He also had three touchdowns.
McDonald also had 96 rushing yards and two more touchdowns. Freddie Holly III also had 68 yards.
Cedric Byrd had 11 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown. John Ursua had seven receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Rams quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels went 34 of 50 for 537 yards. He also had five touchdowns and an interception.
Izzy Matthews had 63 rushing yards.
Preston Williams had nine receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Olabisi Johnson had six receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Warren Jackson also had five receptions for 72 receiving yards, while Matthews had six receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown.
The Rainbow Warriors had two touchdowns in the second half. McDonald hit Ursua for a 19-yard touchdown.
McDonald also hit Byrd for a 55-yard touchdown. Ryan Meskell made two of his three field goals in the second half.
The Rams had four touchdowns in the second half. Carta-Samuels first hit Williams for a seven-yard touchdoown. He then connected with Johnson for a 58-yard touchdown.
Carta-Samuels also hit Williams for a 26 yard touchdown. He then connected with Matthews for a nine-yard touchdown.
Hawai’i dominated the first half. McDonald hit Ursua for a four-yard touchdown. He also scored on a 12-yard run.
With 31 seconds left in the first half, McDonald also scored a six yard touchdown. Meskell also connected on a 21-yard field goal.
Carta-Samuels connected with Johnson for a 10-yard touchdown for the Rams in the first half.
