Despite crosswinds of up to 30 miles per hour and a defiant Delaware State football team, quarterback Brayden Schager led Hawaii to a 35-14 victory at the Ching Complex.

In front of 10,279 spectators, Schager scored two touchdowns and ran for two more to help the Rainbow Warriors win the first season opener in Timmy Chang’s three-year tenure as head coach.

“The kid is tough,” Chang said. “Schager is a good football player. I love that kid. He’s tough, he’s competitive and he can throw the ball. He was challenged tonight. He was challenged by the elements and the gusts. And he fights through the wind. He did great. As he goes, we go.”

Despite a 14-point lead from the end of the second quarter to the beginning of the third quarter, the Hornets endured the hellish journey.

The Hornets were scheduled to arrive in town Tuesday afternoon. The pregame schedule included two practices, a trip to Pearl Harbor and a luau. But the Wertz Motor Coaches’ difficulties in picking up the team at the Dover campus on Tuesday morning and then finding the right route to John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, NY, caused the 110-person traveling party to miss the 10 1⁄2-hour nonstop flight to Honolulu.

On Thursday afternoon, the last of the Hornets’ four tour groups arrived in the city.

However, the Hornets did not have a system in place that allowed direct communication between the coaching staff and a quarterback. Since each team is responsible for its own system, Chang was able to relay plays to Schager’s helmet while the Hornets relied on hand signals and gestures.

The Hornets’ biggest problem, however, was getting Schager going, who completed just 8 of 20 passes for 72 yards in the first half, dropping three of his pinpoint passes.

The Hornets tied the score at 14-14 when quarterback Marqui Adams ran for 10 yards with ten seconds left in the first half and Jaden Sutton scored a 6 yard touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter.

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But the Warriors answered on their next possession, driving 67 yards in eight plays to take a 21-14 lead they would never relinquish. Schager took the final 15 yards to a keeper, finishing with a left-handed street arm to defensive back Amir Anderson.

“I always knew we were going to go down and score a goal,” Schager said. “I was angry that we put ourselves in that situation. But I never had any doubt that we weren’t going to win the game. That was something we had to do better.”

Schager thanked assistant head coach Chris Brown, who oversees the strength training program, for his jab near the goal line.

“He helped me with that (with my stiff arm) by getting me in the weight room,” Schager said of Brown. “I think that’s important. I have confidence in myself when I run the ball. I think I’m athletic enough and good enough to bring that aspect to my game. I was happy to be able to do that.”

Schager averaged 4.6 yards on nine non-sack scrambles and keepers.

The Warriors increased the lead to 28-14 when Schager threw a 29-yard pass to Dekel Crowdus, who was running blurry down the right sideline.

“Brayden and I built this bond in practice,” said Crowdus, who transferred from Kentucky this year. “We tested it out on the field today. I bought it because we had problems all game. They weren’t playing. We had a problem on the play before. And then we had a problem and we went for it. I knew I was going to be free for the touchdown.”

In the fourth quarter, Schager threw a pass – which was incomplete – and was then brought down by defensive lineman Marquise Brunson with the game remaining. Brunson was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Over the communications system, Chang requested a run-pass option in which Schager would keep the ball. Schager ran 5 yards – symbolizing his willingness to get the rebound.

“When you take a hit like that, you drop your shoulder (the next time),” Schager said. “It shows my commitment to the team. It shows that I’m going to do whatever it takes to help us win. If it means running the ball and dropping my shoulder, then that’s what I’m going to do. I just want to win.”

Four plays later, Schager found a completely free Pofele Ashlock in the end zone. But Schager’s pass was caught in the wind and Ashlock caught it on his knees at the 1 for a 29-yard gain.

“In a normal atmosphere, it was definitely a good ball,” said Schager. “I have to be able to handle it and make a good throw.”

On the next play, Schager fought his way to his second touchdown.

The Warriors also dominated the punt/return phase. Tylan Hines intercepted Nathan Wilson’s bouncing punt at the DSU 44-yard line, broke coverage to the left sideline and ran the rest of the way for a touchdown, giving the Warriors a 14-0 lead with 10 seconds left in the first quarter.

“I trusted my God-given ability. When I caught the ball, I saw the hole open, everyone had their block and I just went for it. It was exciting. I thought about going full speed ahead.”

Lucas Borrow, who transferred from Ball State this summer, placed three punts inside DSU’s 20-yard line, including one that Spencer Curtis knocked out of bounds at the 1-yard line.

“It was certainly tough conditions, but both teams have to go out and get it done,” Borrow said. “We train for these kinds of situations here at Manoa with the wind. In the mornings when we go out at 5:50 a.m. to punt (in practice), the weather is not nice at all. It’s really important to be able to go out on certain occasions. That played a big role in today’s game.”