Radford stifles Kalani, 53-6

Radford quarterback Quintin Iriarte threw four touchdowns passes and ran for two more in a 53-6 win over Kalani. CJ Caraang | SL

AIEA—Quintin Iriarte accounted for six total touchdowns as Radford smothered Kalani, 53-6 in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II matchup at Aiea High School on Friday night. The Rams, ranked third in the Hawaiian Electric/ScoringLive Division II Power Rankings, improve to 3-0 in the OIA. The Falcons fall to 1-3 overall, 1-2 OIA.

"It's not about me, I have to thank my o-line and my receivers got open and got the job done for me," said Iriarte. "It's not how we start, it's how we finish. My teammates and coaches helped me out and we overcame setbacks."

"Quintin is a good player and transferred from Guam. He's learning the passing game and it's a work in progress. We have to shore up on the mistakes he made, but right now he's doing the job," said Radford coach Fred Salanoa.

Iriarte accounted for five of his six of his total touchdowns in the first half. He threw four touchdowns went for 219 yards on 10-of-20 passing and rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Blaise Manabe, who transferred from Kalani, led all receivers with four catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns and Thomas Reid added four grabs, 78 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams rushed for 314 net yards. Kodi Ongory-Mathias rushed for 116 yards and Ace Faumui, another former Falcon, rushed for 85 yards.

"Coming into the game, I was kind of nervous, I had butterflies since it's my former team. It's another game and it's important but we worked hard this week. Everyone got their touches and no one was selfish on the sideline," said Manabe.

"He transferred a long time ago and we consider him a Radford Ram so it was never about these three guys against Kalani, or we're doing it for these three guys. We were doing this for one another because we're all teammates. It's one thing in our favor is to spread it the ball to other people and not give it to one specific person. We take what the defense gives us," said Salanoa.

Iriarte threw an incompletion to start off the game, but threw a 59-yard strike to Manabe for the first score. He added a 25-yard rushing touchdown and Roman Gennero's kick made it 13-0.

Jaemi Harris added a 55-yard touchdown for the Falcons, but from there it was all Radford as the Rams scored 40 unanswered points. Harris rushed for 94 yards on six carries.

Iriarte threw his second touchdown to Manabe for 23 yards with 29 seconds remaining to make it 26-6 in the first quarter.

Iriarte kept it for a 63-yard touchdown and threw a 60-yard touchdown to Thomas Reid to make it 40-6 in the second quarter.

The Rams defense made a big statement holding the Falcons to 78 net rushing yards and picking off Seth Tina-Soberano three times. Ace Faumui and Jonathyn Faulkner-Smith each had interceptions. Jonah Soakai picked off Tina and returned it 75 yards for the score.

"We pride ourselves on defense and coach Matt Manuma and his staff and I give credit to that side of the coaching as far as getting our kids ready and flying to the ball," said Salanoa.

In the second half, Iriarte threw a 16-yard touchdown to Reid to initiate the mercy rule and Ongory-Mathias added a 70-yard touchdown for the final score.

Radford was penalized 12 times for 115 yards for the game.

"Too many penalties but I think it comes with the lack of playing games and I think this is good to get these penalties out and move into the season we can minimize those things," said Salanoa.

Radford will play Kaimuki (1-1 overall, 1-0 league) on Sept. 5 while Kalani will play Roosevelt (2-2 overall, 1-2 league) on the same night.

Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].