Kalani holds off late Nanakuli charge, 34-32

Kalani's Blaise Manabe scampers for a 40 yard score to open up the game against Nanakuli. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Brandon Roberts intercepted a Hail Mary pass in the end zone with two seconds remaining Saturday to help Kalani preserve a thrilling 34-32 Homecoming victory over Nanakuli at Kaiser Stadium.

The Falcons improved to 4-3 overall, 4-2 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's White Conference. The Golden Hawks fell to 2-4, 2-3.

Kalani led, 34-16, after Cody Sakamoto's 2-yard touchdown run and Marc Teshima's extra point with 4:28 left in the game, but Nanakuli struck back quickly and closed it to 34-24 just over one minute later after Chazz Troutman's 25-yard TD pass to Naliko Kea followed by a two-point conversion pass connecting the same pair.

The Falcons then went three-and-out on their next possession, and the Golden Hawks scored quickly again -- this time on a 58-yard double-pass from Troutman to Kale Kanehailua near the right sideline to Kea all alone downfield. Troutman then threaded a two-point conversion pass to Eric Au Hoon-Ka'awa to close it to 34-32 with 29 seconds showing on the clock.

Nanakuli then recovered the ensuing onside kick and advanced the ball to the Kalani 31-yard line on Troutman's 17-yard scamper with nine seconds remaining. But on the next play, Kanehailua heaved a Hail Mary into the crowded end zone, and Roberts came up with the interception to finally seal the victory.

Noah Brum completed 14 of 28 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns in the first half as Kalani jumped out to a 21-8 lead. The Falcons extended it to 27-8 barely three minutes into the third quarter on Brum's 51-yard TD pass to Enrique Gruver.

The Golden Hawks closed it to 27-16 with 7:41 left in the game after Troutman's 13-yard scoring strike to Au Hoon-Ka'awa and Naliko Kea's two-point conversion run.

Brum finished with 17 completions in 35 attempts for 330 yards and four touchdowns. Troutman rushed for 190 yards on 19 carries -- including a 77-yard scamper to paydirt in the first quarter -- and also threw for 119 yards and one touchdown.