Florida and Hawaii Open 2019 College Football Season With Victories

Most Division I FBS college football teams will open the 2019 season over Labor Day weekend, but for those anxious for season to get underway, there were two games on August 24th. Both were pretty exciting, too.

Miami and #8 Florida opened things up in Orlando, in the first matchup of these in state rivals in six years. Miami led the all time series 29-26 going into the game. The Hurricanes were 7-6 last season, ending with a 35-3 blowout loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl. Miami also lost to Wisconsin in a bowl the year before, a 34-24 loss in the Orange Bowl. That 2017 season had ended with three straight losses after a 10-0 start, so there was some regression in 2018. Coach Mark Richt retired and was succeeded by former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Florida, on the other hand, improved form 4-7 in 2017 to 10-3 in 2018, including a 41-15 crushing of Michigan in the Peach Bowl.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another, but he also fumbled and threw two interceptions–both in the fourth quarter–as the Gators held on to beat Miami 24-20. The Gators were penalized nearly twice as many yards as they had rushing (100 vs. 52 rushing) in what was an error prone game for both teams (Miami was penalized 118 yards). But Florida was able to overcome its mistakes, helped by converting four of four fourth down attempts, while Miami was 0-2. Miami’s D.J. Dallas rushed 12 times for 95 yards and a touchdown.

So Florida gets off to a 1-0 start, and while Miami lost, they made it a close one against a top ten ranked team. In the ACC the race is almost certain to be who is the second best team behind Clemson, so the Hurricanes can go into their next game at North Carolina on September 7th with a little confidence. Florida is also in action next on the 7th, in a mismatch with FCS Tennessee-Martin.

Out in Honolulu, Hawaii hosted Arizona in the sixth all time meeting between the two, with the Wildcats having won the first five. The Rainbow Warriors were 8-6 in 2018, ending with a 31-14 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Hawaii Bowl (home field advantage didn’t work out this time). Arizona was 5-7 in a relatively weak 2018 Pac-12. This matchup was the first of three for Hawaii against Pac-12 teams; they will host Oregon State September 7th and then play at Washington on September 14th.

Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald threw four interceptions, but he also completed 29 of 41 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns as Hawaii outlasted Arizona 45-38. Although the Rainbow Warriors never trailed, they blew three 14 point leads. Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate was 22 of 39 for 361 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions. Tate also led the Wildcats in rushing with 108 yards on 13 carries, with one touchdown.