Football
Warriors fend off late Governors' charge


Brandon Ching | ScoringLive
September 22, 2018, 1:22am

  


Fri, Sep 21, 2018 @ Kamehameha [ 7:30 pm ]

Farrington

21

Kamehameha

32

Final 1 2 3 4 T
Farrington (2-10-0) 0 0 7 1421
Kamehameha (4-6-0) 13 3 9 732
Christmas Togiai 105 yd 1 TD
Chris Afe-Alaivanu 122 yd 1 TD
Alec Serrao 137 yd 1 TD
Samsen Tanuvasa 22 yd 1 TD
Braden Akima 53 yd 1 TD
Raymond Millare 85 yd

KAPALAMA HEIGHTS — In the Battle of Kalihi, No. 6 Kamehameha topped No. 9 Farrington, 32-21, on homecoming night in an Open Division OIA-ILH interleague matchup at Kunuiakea Stadium Friday.

The Warriors got back on track to snap a two-game losing streak to improve to 3-3 overall, 2-3 in league play. For their final three games, Kamehameha has two games at Aloha Stadium and a road game at Waianae. 

"It feels good. This was our first and last home game of the season," Kamehameha senior running back Alec Serrao said of the win.

The Govs, who snapped a four-game skid of their own with a win over Kapolei last week, fell to 2-5 overall, 1-2 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

The Warriors rushed for 207 yards and gained 10 rushing first downs in the first half and finished with 305 net rushing yards and 16 first downs. Reino Bush and Serrao each went over the century mark with 107 and 137 yards, respectively, as Kamehameha pounded Farrington with 6.2 yards per carry.

"We've been working hard. The offensive line blocked and created plenty of holes and opportunities for us," Serrao said.

"Our running back group is the hardest working group on the field. It starts with their position coach Mike Morita. The offensive line, adding them in and the chemistry they have. They're smart players and they understand where we need to take the ball," Kamehahameha coach Abu Maafala added.

Senior offensive lineman Lokahi Pauole (77) raises Braden Akima (2) in the air following his 27 yard TD. CJ Caraang | SL    Purchase image

Christmas Togiai (105 passing yards) and Kiai Keone (21 passing yards) each threw a touchdown and Preston Rezentes made two field goals.

Serrao got the party started with 42-yard kickoff return that would set up his 21-yard run five plays later for a 6-0 lead.

Togiai threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Braden Akima — who had a team-high 53 receiving yards — to make it 13-0, and Rezentes added a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Kamehameha led 16-0 at halftime.

Keone threw a 3-yard touchdown to Davis Mun on a drive that covered nine plays to open the third quarter, but the conversion pass failed for a 22-0 lead.

Farrington answered with a scoring drive of their own as Chris Afe-Alaivanu completed passes of 38 and 29 yards to help set-up Samsen Tanuvasa's 2-yard run.

The Warriors padded their lead with Rezentes' field goal from 35 yards out and Laakea Ane added a 1-yard rushing touchdown to make it 32-7 with 8:41 left in the game.

The Govs capitalized on a short field that started at the Kamehameha 29 following a penalty and found the end zone six plays later as Afe-Alaivanu threw a 19-yard touchdown to Jace Ehia and Afe-Alaivanu's pass to Millare was good for two.

Joshua Matagi pounced on a fumble after a bad exchange between quarterback and running back on the Warriors' 36. Afe-Alaivanu completed a 25-yard pass to Selau Kalani then a 13-yard pass to Kalani two plays later that led to Afe-Alaivanu's TD sneak for the Govs' final points of the night.

"I was telling the team as we went into halftime that we have to play two halves of football and we didn't. We have to learn how to finish and we have three really good football teams coming up in three weeks. We need to learn how to finish to be successful. We are a good football team when we play hard and it's about keeping them focused. We have to learn to stay focused during the duration of the game," Maafala said.

The Kamehameha defense forced five Farrington punts in the first half and held the Govs to 20 yards of net offense. Ezra Evaimalo had four tackle for losses and Tiger Peterson recorded an interception and a pass breakup.

"We have a great defense and we have great players who invest a lot of time and energy into this," Maafala said.

Kamehameha faces Interscholastic League of Honolulu rival Punahou on Friday, Sept. 28 while Farrington travels to Waianae on Saturday, Sept. 29.


Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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