HONOLULU — Max Wittek delivered in his debut for Hawaii.
The senior quarterback, who sat out last season because of NCAA regulations after transferring from USC, threw three touchdown passes in a 28-20 win over Colorado at Aloha Stadium in the season opener for both teams.
“These players worked so hard in fall camp,” fourth-year Hawaii coach Norm Chow said. “The coaches did a great job preparing the team on both offense and defense and it was really a combination of a lot of things that contributed to today. This was a very good football team we played and I’m very proud of our players and coaches.”
Wittek completed 19 of his 38 passes for 202 yards for the Rainbow Warriors (1-0). The 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior also overcame a pair of first-half interceptions.
“I just told him to stick with it when things weren’t going well,” Chow said of Wittek. “You see he’s got a terrific arm and I just told him to just take what they could give us. He wanted to make a big play, but it was his leadership and skills that kept us in it.”
Marcus Kemp caught six passes for 116 yards with a score to lead all receivers. Quinton Pedroza and Isaiah Bernard also hauled in touchdown passes.
Michael Adkins II rushed for a game-high 90 yards and two first-half touchdowns to lead the Buffaloes (0-1). Diego Gonzalez, who made a pair of field goals in the loss, accounted for the rest of the scoring.
Rigoberto Sanchez converted field goals of 27 and 34 yards for Hawaii.
Hawaii avenged a 21-12 double-overtime loss at Colorado last year and now leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1925, 3-2. All three wins have come in Honolulu.
The Buffaloes, who are now 77-44-5 all-time in season openers, have now lost their last nine games. Their last victory was against Hawaii on Sept. 20 of last year. They were picked to sixth (last) in the Preseason Pac-12 Media Poll.
The Rainbow Warriors, who were picked to finish fifth in the West Division in the Preseason Mountain West Media Poll, improved to 59-35-5 all-time in season openers. They have opened the season against a Pac-12 opponent the last six years and are now 30-58 all-time against current members of the Pac-12.
Colorado and Hawaii are the only two FBS teams that are playing 13 consecutive weeks over the 2015 season.