Rainbow Warriors hold on to outlast Wildcats


Spencer Honda | ScoringLive
August 25, 2019, 12:00am

HALAWA — In a wacky, wild finish to the end, it was the Rainbow Warriors stopping the Wildcats short on the 1 yard line as time expired to outlast visiting Arizona, 45-38, Saturday evening at Hawaiian Financial FCU Field at Aloha Stadium in a non-conference matchup to open the 2019 college footall season.

Arizona had final possession of the ball starting at its own 16 yard line down seven points with 51 seconds remaining. Quarterback Khalil Tate completed passes of 11, 26 and 13 yards to move the ball to the Hawaii 31 yard line with 10 seconds left after the Rainbow Warriors called their final timeout.

After taking the snap, Tate stepped up in the pocket, rolled right and took off in a footrace for the end zone but was met simultaneously by defensive back Kalen Hicks and lineman Manly Williams (Farrington '14), who combined to stop him one yard shy with no time left on the clock.

While it ended up being a wild finish with a much-need game-saving tackle, Hawaii's offensive numbers would tell a different story.

The Rainbow Warriors put up 595 yards of total offense with 436 through the air and 159 on the ground. Arizona put up a nearly equal number of 539 yards of offense, but that was due in part to six turnovers given away by the Hawaii offense.

Nursing a 35-21 lead five minutes into the second half, the Rainbow Warriors lost the ball on three consecutive possessions from fumbles by running backs Dayton Furuta (Mililani '14) and Fred Holly III, and junior quarterback Cole McDonald throwing his fourth interception of the game.

Arizona capitilized on the latter two takeaways and recycled them into 14 points to tie it up at 35 at the end of the third quarter. Additionally, the Wildcats also scored touchdowns off earlier turnovers with an interception near midfield with just under a minute-half to go in the first quarter, and then a second INT with under three minutes to go in the first half.

While McDonald was responsible for four of those turnovers — starting with an interception on the team's opening drive — he was also responsible for Hawaii's offensive explosion as the Rainbow Warriors never trailed the entire game. McDonald threw for 378 yards on 29-of-41 passing with four TDs and four INTs. His top target was senior receiver Cedric Byrd II, who hauled in 14 passes for 224 yards and four scores. Still, the most glaring statistic for Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich was the four interceptions, so with the game tied at 35 at the end of the third period, he made the switch to redshirt freshman QB Chevan Cordeiro (Saint Louis '17).

"I think there was some questionable decisions when it got tough and we went with Chevan," Rolovich said. "Chevan's completely capable of leading this team. I think every one of our fans have seen that. Our team believes in both quarterbacks."

Cordeiro led the Rainbow Warriors down the field as they regained the lead on Ryan Meskell's field goal from 34 yards out.

On the other side, Tate quickly rallied the Wildcats to the Rainbow Warriors' doorstep at the 13 yard line, but his pass over the middle was picked off by Ikem Okeke and returned to near midfield.

Four plays later, Cordeiro hit Byrd in the end zone on a 30-yard dart to give Hawaii a 10-point cushion.

Arizona tacked on a long field goal just over a minute later and then forced Hawaii to punt for the first time on the ensuing possession to set up the final drive of the game.

The win gives the Rainbow Warriors their first win over the Wildcats in six contests played between the two schools. It was Hawaii's first win over a Pac-12 Conference team since the 2015 season opener.

Hawaii (1-0) will have a week off before welcoming Oregon State (0-0) to Aloha Stadium on Sept. 7.

Radford '16 grad Thomas Reid III did not log any statistics for the Wildcats but is listed on the game participation chart.


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