Tihada, Lunas post second-half rally to turn back Warriors

Glen Pascual | ScoringLive

Kaulana Tihada ran for three touchdown and made a pivotal fumble recovery on defense with nine seconds to play to carry No. 9 Lahainaluna to a thrilling 19-13 win over No. 15 Kamehameha-Maui Saturday night.

A sellout crowd of 5,000 fans at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku saw the Lunas go to 3-0 on the season with their 42nd consecutive win in Maui Interscholastic League play.

The Warriors were dealt their first loss to fall to 5-1 on the year.

Kamehameha-Maui held a 7-0 lead after Kaikea Hueu scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with 7:25 left in the second quarter.

KS-Maui led at halftime, 7-0.

Tihada got Lahainaluna on the board less than a minute into the second half. His 51-yard TD run was followed by Joseph Arcangel's PAT to tie it at 7.

The Warriors pulled back ahead just before the midway point of the third quarter with a 7-yard scoring strike from Makana Kamaka-Brayce to Frank Abreu. The extra point was blocked to keep it a 13-7 lead for Kamehameha-Maui.

Tihada answered soon after with a 4-yard TD run with 5:00 to play in the third quarter, then added an insurance score with a 30-yard TD run with 9:35 left in the game.

Tihada finished with 215 rushing yards on 23 carries and also racked up seven tackles, including two for losses.

Hueu ran 19 times for 68 yards for the Warriors.

Lahainaluna will take on Baldwin next Saturday, then close out the regular season against Maui on Oct. 28.

KS-Maui will have a bye before it takes on Kekaulike on Oct. 27.