California Golden Bears have beaten Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 51-31 at Sydney’s Olympic stadium in the first American college football match on Australian soil in nearly 30 years.
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California Golden Bears players reach up to touch the trophy presented to them ofter defeating the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the end the opening game of the US college football season at Sydney’s Olympic stadium in Sydney, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Hawaii junior returner Keelan Ewaliko fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Golden Bears sophomore Trey Turner recovered the ball at the Rainbow Warriors’ 34-yard line.
In a 51-31 win over Hawaii, Webb completed 38 of 54 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Chad Hansen tortured the Rainbow Warriors’ defensive backs throughout the game, quickly becoming Webb’s preferred target to the tune of 160 yards, 14 receptions and two touchdowns. Tailback Khalfani Muhammad scored the first touchdown of the game on a 34-yard run and was approaching 100 yards rushing late in the game. The Bears pulled away by scoring the final 20 points of the first half to lead 34-14.
Hawaii was without three key players for unspecified disciplinary reasons.
CALIFORNIA: Webb’s strong debut reinforced the faith coach Sonny Dykes showed in him from the outset.
The Hawaii entourage went straight from the stadium to the airport to get a scheduled 9 p.m. flight back to Honolulu.
First off, the game between Cal and Hawaii was being held in Sydney, Australia in front of 60,000 fans. Webb played in 23 games with 14 starts over three seasons at Texas Tech and had career totals of 5,557 yards and 46 touchdowns.
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While Cal’s offense looked like it picked up where it left off last season, unfortunately so did the defense. The Golden Bears will head home and get some rest as they don’t play next weekend, but travel south to face San Diego State on September 11.
