After it was dealt a pair of lopsided losses on Oahu in consecutive weeks, some home cooking was just what the doctor ordered for the Lahainaluna football team. 

Kyle Thomas and the Lunas delivered accordingly in a 48-21 win over Kekaulike at Sue D. Cooley Stadium Friday night and they did so with the program's tried and true tradition of running the football. 

Lahainaluna amassed 480 rushing yards with eight different ball carriers. It logged 52 rushes and averaged better than 11 yards per carry. Thomas, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound junior, led the way with 20 carries for 227 yards and four touchdowns. 

"It's great to see that type of production coming out of a kid like that, that's what you always wish for a player," Lunas coach Dean Rickard said of Thomas, a third-year varsity player and second-year starter. 

"At the same time, we weren't surprised because we knew he always had it in him, but I think the wow factor for us is that he's a two-way player and to play at that level and have that type of game is great, but I think he understands well that it's not a one-man team. The other ten guys have to be doing their jobs as well and he'll be the first guy to tell you that," Rickard added. 

Despite his breakout performance in the offensive backfield, Thomas' primary job duties lie on the other side of the ball as a defensive back. He typically plays cornerback but can also align as a safety. 

"It depends on the situations, but right now his primary duties are on defense and we try to spot play him but he plays a lot of offense, too. He's unselfish, he really likes playing on offense and likes carrying the ball, but at the same time he'll do whatever is asked of him for the betterment of the team, that's the type of person he is," Rickard said. 

To be sure, however, Thomas relishes his opportunities at running back. 

"Any time he has a chance to carry the rock he'll take it. If we gave him the ball every single down he wouldn't back away from that. He wouldn't take any plays off and he would step up so to see the game he had Friday, we're very proud of that achievement and I'm sure he's happy about it as well," Rickard added. 

The Lunas' start to the ball game was about as perfect as Rickard could have hoped for. 

After Kekaulike lost possession of the ball on a fumble seconds into the contest, Lahainaluna cashed in with a 37-yard touchdown run by Ezekiel Opunui on the very next play. Rickard disclosed that, after he reviewed the film, the Lunas ran the play with only 10 players on the field. 

"(Linebacker/running back) Stylez (Sa) was so excited we got the fumble recovery that he forgot to stay out there and stayed on the sideline so we ran the play with ten guys, we didn't have a fullback," Rickard said. 

Regardless of that, the Lunas' offensive line executed their assignments well enough to spring Opunui to the end zone. 

"All we ever ask our guys to do is just make sure you attach yourself to somebody and it'll give us a chance at success on each and every play," said Rickard, who oversees the offense line position group. 

After Na Alii got the ball back they went for it on a fourth down, but were unsuccessful. That gave the Lunas possession at their own 32-yard line. On the very next play — their second from scrimmage — Thomas broke free for a 68-yard touchdown scamper. 

Kekaulike found the end zone to culminate its third possession before Lahainaluna got the ball back just past the midway point of the opening quarter. It was more of the same offensive as Opunui scooted his way for a 67-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive. 

The Lunas' first three plays from scrimmage resulted in three touchdowns on three run plays, which totaled 172 yards. 

"Surprised is an understatement. I mean, we were shocked. Of course, we were happy, but at the same time it doesn't come without execution," Rickard expressed. 

It was just the start the Lunas needed after suffering double-digit losses to Waianae (42-21) and Kapolei (52-0) to open the season. 

"You could see the morale with our kids was not where it should be and as coaches we were trying to figure things out, whether we needed to design new schemes, but basically it came down to figuring our personnel out and trying to have some type of platoon in our trenches," Rickard said. 

Ultimately, Lahainaluna went back to what it does best: run the football. 

"We had the bye the week before so we had two weeks to prepare for King K and we just went back to fundamentals and techniques — getting off the ball, sustaining drives, making sure our pad level was lower than our opponents' — just getting back to old school ground and pound and seeing what we can do," Rickard said. 

The Lunas have long relied upon speed, misdirection and fine-tuned execution of their modified wing-T offensive scheme. 

"We're not gifted with physically oversized players. We're smaller than most teams in our league and it's been that way for years. This year we don't have a lot of depth either so our line and our backs did a great job. There's still a lot of things we need to fix, but it was good to see them execute and do what we ask of them this last game," Rickard said. 

In addition to Thomas' stellar night, Opunui also finished with 141 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries. Rickard said most of the recognition for the production belongs to the blockers up front: left tackle Paulo Galoia, left guard Kden Pu, center Nash Aguiran, right guard Tua Olakauatu, right tackle David Kauvaka, as well as tight ends Andrew Malafu and Chase Loebl and blocking backs Brayden Valencia and Sa. 

"Those guys were the ones leading the way for our ball carriers, so they deserved a lot of credit," Rickard said. 

Rickard was especially happy for Thomas, a workaholic who has put in the necessary sweat equity over the years and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor. 

"Everything he's achieved is based upon his work in the offseason. His level of preparedness leading into the season is more mature than most of the young players we have. Honestly, we wish we had about forty Kyles, with that type of mentality and level of dedication. He's not the most physically outstanding player, but he plays bigger than he really is for his size and that's a testament to his offseason training. He puts in a lot of work in the weight room and his speed and quickness work, so I think everything that he exhibits is what we want," Rickard said. 

Thomas is also a sprinter on the Lunas' track and field team in the spring, which has paid dividends for him on the football field this fall. 

"He's able to accelerate, decelerate and then accelerate again and he's good with his jump cuts, plus he has good vision, so it makes him more elusive than other backs that we've had throughout the years. He's got speed, but he's able to stop on a dime and accelerate again and that's something that he's worked on in the offseason," Rickard described. 

Thomas' versatility isn't limited to just offense and defense, however. He also fills a vital role on special teams as a kick returner. In fact, he scored on an 80-yard kickoff return for touchdown in the season-opening loss at Waianae on Aug. 8. 

"Aside from his athleticism, versatility and the strength he has for his size, his knowledge of the game is tremendous. He has a good football IQ and puts himself in the right position at the right time to make plays and again, he's an unselfish guy so he'll do whatever is needed for the team," Rickard said. 

Thomas, whose family was displaced by the wildfire that ravaged Lahaina in August of 2023, makes the commute daily from Kihei. 

"He makes no excuses and is there for all the mandatory meetings and practices and finds a way," Rickard said. 

Thomas also excels in the classroom and has hopes to play collegiate football in the future. 

"He's academically sound and he understands that to get to the next level he can't just be an athlete but he has to be a student and he takes that serious. His goal is to play at the next level and I think every coach would want an athlete like him, for sure; He's a rare diamond in the rough," Rickard said. 

Friday's win helped the Lunas get off on the right foot in the Maui Interscholastic League's Division I race. They are seeking an 18th consecutive state tournament appearance. 

"It was a good victory, but we've still got a lot of work ahead of us," Rickard cautioned. 

Lahainaluna hosts Maui High Saturday at Cooley Stadium. 

Information from Rob Collias of the Hawaii Journalism Initiative and MauiNow.com was used in this report.

FOOTBALL

Kainalu Alves, Konawaena — Ran 31 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Jacob Ballesteros, Kapolei — Threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-17 passing without an interception in a win over Kapaa 

Zedekaiah Campbell — Scored on a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown and also ran for a touchdown in a win over Maui 

Zak Davis, Kalaheo — Caught four passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns and also intercepted a pass in a win over Castle 

Vainuupo Fanuaea, Nanakuli — Caught eight passes for 126 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Moanalua 

Kamuela Farias, Moanalua — Ran 10 times for 137 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Nanakuli 

Tyler Gines-Hufana, Moanalua — Threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-24 passing without an interception in a win over Nanakuli 

Kael Johnson, Konawaena — Caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Kaeden Kaiser, Waianae — Scored on a 65-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over Radford 

Nai Kalauokaaea, Kalaheo — Threw for 424 yards and seven touchdowns on 26-of-36 passing with two interceptions in a win over Castle 

Naehu Kipi, Nanakuli — Ran 13 times for 119 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Moanalua 

Ezekiel Opunui, Lahainaluna — Ran seven times for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kekaulike 

Shawdan Pacheco, Waianae — Caught seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Radford 

Charleston Salazar, Keaau — Ran 27 times for 235 yards and a touchdown in a win over Hilo 

Nikko Smith, Kapolei — Scored on a 98-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Kapaa 

Kane Texeira, Pearl City — Caught 10 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns in a win over McKinley 

Jeremyah Toilolo, Kalaheo — Caught eight passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Castle 

Bradin Tollefsen, Kalani — Threw for 173 yards and five touchdowns on 8-of-10 passing without an interception in a win over Kaimuki 

Ikaika Torres, Pearl City — Threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-51 passing without an interception in a win over McKinley 

Allix Yap, Nanakuli — Threw for 428 yards and five touchdowns on 20-of-36 passing without an interception in a loss to Moanalua