Two years ago, Kealoha Pilares was sitting in the stands at Aloha Stadium, cheering on the University of Hawai'i football team.

Last night, he scored a touchdown the first time he touched the ball in a Warriors' uniform.

Pilares scored the opening touchdown in a 63-6 Hawai'i victory over Northern Colorado last night at Aloha Stadium.

"It was just exciting to be on that field," Pilares said. "I remember sitting in this stadium watching and now I got to be out there. It's a dream come true."

Pilares, a 2006 graduate from Damien Memorial School, originally committed to play for Air Force before changing his mind to return home to play for the Warriors.

"Hell yeah, it feels good to be home," he said. "Just seeing all the fans was enough for me."

But Pilares, who is listed as a freshman, also got extensive playing time at running back in his first collegiate game.

He caught seven passes for 64 yards, including the 15-yard touchdown from quarterback Colt Brennan on Hawai'i's opening drive.

"The first play I went in, I had to block for Colt, so I think all my butterflies came out on that one," he said. "After that, I felt comfortable."

His touchdown came on a screen play that he said rarely works in practice.

"The defense always stuffs it out (in practice)," he said. "I always wondered what it would be like if it was open, and it was. I just had to run."

Junior David Farmer — who is considered the best blocker among the running backs — started last night's game. But Pilares and fellow newcomer Leon Wright-Jackson shared duties with the first team in the first half.

"I think we all can do different things, so we all can play," Pilares said. "I think we did the job as a unit tonight."

HAWTHORNE HAPPY

Hawai'i wide receiver C.J. Hawthorne also scored his first collegiate touchdown last night.

Hawthorne, who played defensive back last season, caught a 30-yard touchdown from Brennan in the first quarter.

"I just feel blessed that I got a chance to go back to offense," he said. "All the other receivers and Colt, they help me out a lot and that's why I was able to do what I did."

Ryan Grice-Mullins led the receivers with nine receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. Davone Bess added seven catches for 54 yards and a touchdown, and Jason Rivers contributed five receptions for 101 yards and one touchdown.

JAPANESE OBSERVERS

Two coaches from the Kansai Gakuin High School American Football team were guest observers with UH last night.

It was part of an international exchange between UH and the Nishinomiya-based football power.

Sixty members of the team and coaches took in a UH practice this week. Earlier this summer, UH assistants Dan Morrison and Jeff Rheinbold were guest coaches in Japan.

UH hopes to someday recruit a player from Japan.

NOTES

Michael Washington's 80-yard punt return in the third quarter is tied for the third-longest in UH history. Gerald Green holds the record with an 85-yard return in 1977.

Malcolm Lane also had a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It is the first time since 2001 that Hawai'i returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in the same game.

Hawai'i is 4-5 in season openers with June Jones as head coach.

Senior linebacker Timo Paepule led the team's pregame chant.

Danny Kaleikini sang the national anthem and Hawai'i Pono'i before the game. The UH marching band performed during the pregame and at halftime.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.