In Hawaii Football’s season opener against Colorado State, we learned that this year’s team is much different from last year’s team for the better.
Hawaii got off to a strong start right away. On the opening drive, of the first game of the year, Hawaii marched down the field and scored with ease. The Colorado State Rams responded equally with a score of their own. After that, Hawaii was in complete charge throughout the rest of the first half. The Rainbow Warriors were able to move the ball down the field, despite repeated penalties on offense.
Hawaii jumped ahead early in the second half and led at one moment by 30 points. However, that lead quickly decreased to 17 by the start of the fourth quarter. Then the lead was down to 10 by the middle of the fourth quarter. By 4:42 left in the fourth the lead was only six.
In the end, the Rainbow Warriors pulled out the win despite some questionable clock and play management towards the end of the game.
Hawaii’s offense was led by the very talented, Cole McDonald.
3. A dual-threat at quarterback
In Saturday’s game against the Rams, Cole McDonald established himself as Hawaii’s No. 1 quarterback after a battle with Chevan Cordeiro. McDonald demonstrated he could beat defenses both in the air and on the ground.
In the first half alone, Cole McDonald completed 15-of-19 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. On the ground, McDonald rushed for 57 yards on six carries and accounted for two rushing touchdowns.
McDonald continued his performance by capping off the first drive of the second half with a 19 yard touchdown completion to his number one receiver, John Ursua. Ursua had 123 yards receiving and two touchdowns in his first game back since tearing his ACL last season. McDonald finished with 514 total yards and five total touchdowns.
With any good offensive performance, it is important that the offensive line be recognized. Hawaii’s offensive line combined for nine starts prior to this week’s game. Seven of those nine starts came from one player, J.R. Hensley. The youth on the offensive line was highlighted in their multiple false start and delay of game penalties. Regardless of the inexperience the offensive line proved they are ready to compete this year.
Let’s see what we learned about the defense.
2. Doubts on defense
The Hawaii Warriors came out in the first half and looked like a completely new defense from last year.
Prior to Saturday’s game, Colorado State’s quarterback, K.J. Carta-Samuels, who is a graduate transfer from Washington was highly regarded and expected to walk all over the Hawaii defense. However in the first half, the Rainbow Warriors held the Rams to only seven points and forced one interception from Carta-Samuels. Seven points in the first half is the lowest score for the Rams at home since 2015.
This defensive performance in the second half was less impressive. The Warriors gave up a handful of big plays in the air and struggled with tackling. While these plays may have just been due to a lack relaxation with such an initial big lead, we see the youth and lack of leadership in the Hawaii defense.
Though this diminished performance in the second half may be explained by the fact that the Rainbow Warriors were without their defensive captain, Jahlani Tavai. Tavai averaged 10.3 tackles per game last year, which was 10th in the FBS. The announcement came moments before the game that Tavai was not going to play due to a “violation of team rules”. This suspension likely has something to do with his arrest during the offseason. Tavai was arrested for assault, however no charges were made. Tavai and teammate Kaiwi Chung were defending of a woman who was being abused by another man, against whom the alleged assault was made.
With a good quarterback, and a defense that should be getting its defensive leader back, the Rainbow Warriors will look to put it all together throughout the rest of the season.
1. Optimism Ahead
After defeating a Colorado State team who has made it to three straight bowl, optimism is high for this Hawaii team. With a mark already in the conference win column, and the strong performance Saturday, the Rainbow Warriors look like they may be able to compete for first place in the Mountain West western conference.
This win also gets them one game closer to eligibility, which initially looked to be doubtful for Hawaii before the season started. The Rainbow Warriors should get wins against Rice and Duquesne.
However, Hawaii does not get a bye week until after their 11th game in the season. Additionally, Hawaii has to travel across country to play an Army team in West Point, New York in their fourth week of play which will be taxing on the players.
The Rainbow Warriors host a good Navy team in their home opener next Saturday.
Continuing the season with a second win will be quite challenging for Hawaii. Navy coach, Ken Niumatalolo, is a graduate of Hawaii, and isn’t looking to take it easy on his alma mater. Navy will have fresh legs in their first game of the season and ready to start their season with a win.