FRESNO, Calif. – In its much-anticipated 2020 debut, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team took down Fresno State, 34-19, Saturday at Bulldog Stadium. UH used a balanced offense and a ball-hawking defense to launch the Todd Graham era in impressive fashion.
 
UH amassed 552 yards of offense –including 323 yards on the ground—and the Rainbow Warrior defense recorded four takeaways to win its fourth straight season opener. It was UH's most rushing yards and most takeaways in a game since the 2016 season.
 
Both Miles Reed (109 yards) and Chevan Cordeiro (116) ran for over 100 yards to spearhead the UH rushing attack. Cordeiro, who rushed for two touchdowns, also notched 229 yards on 20-of-30 passes. Senior safety Eugene Ford tallied two of UH's three interceptions, while sophomore linebacker Darius Muasau led UH with 11 tackles, tying a career high.
 
UH won despite an inauspicious start. The Rainbow  fumbled the opening kickoff, giving the Bulldogs the ball on the 26-yard line. Fresno State took full advantage as Ronnie Rivers scored on a 7-yard scamper for an early 7-0 lead. The Rainbow Warriors then went three-and-out on their first offensive possession.
 
The Rainbow Warriors, however, settled down and eventually took control of the game late in the second quarter. After Fresno State scored with under two minutes left, UH responded with a 72-yard drive, capped by a Corderio three-yard touchdown, to take a 17-13 lead at the half.
 
It was a lead UH would not relinquish. The Rainbow Warriors out-scored the Bulldogs 17-6 after the break, getting it done on both sides of the ball. UH recorded two takeways in the second half, while UH amassed 336 yards, including 262 on the ground, in the final two quarters. Calvin's Turner's second touchdown of the half, a 4-yard run with less than five minutes left, essentially sealed the game as UH built a 15-point cushion.  
 
Graham became the first coach to win his UH debut since Bob Wagner in 1987.
 
UH will remain on the road for a game on Friday, Oct. 30 at Wyoming. Kickoff is at 7:45 p.m MT/3:45 p.m. HT and the game will be broadcast on FS1.