Kealakehe pulls away from Waiakea to snap losing streak

Kealakehe RB Hercules Nahale gets loose on a screen play in the first quarter. Michael Lasquero | SL

It wasn't the best start, but the Kealakehe football team found a way to get it done Saturday afternoon.

The Waveriders shook off four first-half turnovers — which included three fumbles in the red zone — to earn their first win of the year with a 34-14 win over host Waiakea in an BIIF Division I game at Ken Yamase Memorial Stadium.

Running back Hercules Nahale was a workhorse for Kealakehe (1-3 overall, 1-1 league) and scored the lone touchdown of the first half with a 2-yard plunge on the Waveriders' second possession of the game.

The Warriors (0-3, 0-3) nearly tied the game in the second quarter when Justin Ah Sing stripped the ball from Kealakehe Brennan Nishihara and took it back for a potential 88-yard scoop-and-score, but an illegal block negated the TD.

Waiakea's AJ Rodrigues also recovered a fumble to end Kealakehe's opening series and Haiden Kay recovered a loose ball on the Waveriders' final play from scrimmage in the first half.

Kealakehe was without a few key players, which included leading receiver Kainalu Willis and defensive lineman Nehasi Faleofa.