The seventh-ranked Michigan Wolverines (1-0) opened the season with a 63-3 blowout of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0-2) in the season opener in Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoon.
Wilton Speight got the start at quarterback and went 10-of-13 for 145 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, which came on Michigan’s first play from scrimmage.
Chris Evans, the true freshman running back that was raved about in camp, led the way on the ground for the Wolverines with 8 rushes for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
Michigan was bit by the injury bug with De’Veon Smith, Taco Charlton and Bryan Mone leaving the game early. Jourdan Lewis, Ben Braden, Drake Johnson and Maurice Hurst did not play at all, dealing with their own injuries.
The Wolverines got the scoring started with 7:29 to go in the first quarter on a touchdown pass from Speight to Grant Perry. Jake Butt also found the endzone in the first.
Speight’s third touchdown of the day came on a 5-yard pass to Amara Darboh early in the second quarter. A Delano Hill pick-six and 18-yard touchdown scamper from Evans sent the Wolverines to the locker room up 35-0 at halftime.
Evans started the second half with a bang, finding paydirt for the second time on a 43-yard run. Channing Stribling had an interception overturned by a penalty, but quickly redeemed himself with a pick-six of his own. Khalid Hill scored on a four-yard run to put Michigan up 56-0 at the end of three quarters.
Hawaii ended the shutout on a 55-yard field goal from Rigoberto Sanchez to make the score 56-3 with 12:30 to play in fourth quarter. Karan Higdon added a five-yard touchdown rush to put Michigan up 63-3.
The Wolverines are back home next Saturday at noon to take on the University of Central Florida.