Hawaiian Electric Game of the Week
Saints muzzle Bulldogs to remain unbeaten


Brandon Ching | ScoringLive
September 22, 2018, 11:55pm

  

Sat, Sep 22, 2018 @ Farrington [ FORFEIT ]

Kaimuki

2

Saint Francis

0

Final 1 2 3 4 T
Kaimuki (10-3-0) 0 0 0 02
Saint Francis (1-8-0) 0 0 0 00
Bubba Akana 195 yd 2 TD
Jonah Faasoa 35 yd
Alden Rosa 70 yd 1 TD
Koby Moananu 20 yd



UPDATE: It was later ruled that Saint Francis used an ineligible player and thus had to forfeit this game as a result.

KALIHI — A strong defensive effort and a pair of Bubba Akana passing touchdowns helped Saint Francis smother Kaimuki, 13-0 in a Division II interleague contest at Farrington's Edward 'Skippa' Diaz Stadium at Henry Kusunoki Field Saturday night.

The Saints improve to 6-0 overall, 5-0 in league play. The Bulldogs fall to 4-2 overall, but is still unbeaten in Oahu Interscholastic Association play at 4-0.

"The battle was going to be won in the trenches. It was billed as a game to feature linemen and it was just that," Saint Francis coach Kip Akana said.

Above GIF: Saint Francis DL Sione Lolohea sacks Kaimuki QB Jonah Faasoa in the third quarter.

Bubba Akana threw for 195 yards on 7-of-25 passing, two touchdowns and two picks for the game.

"He made some good possession passes and hit some big plays. He's getting better," coach Akana said of his son.

Sione Lolohea had five tackle for losses, three were sacks and Shepherd Kekahuna added a tackle for loss and had two interceptions to lead the defense that held the Bulldogs to 36 yards of net offense in the first half and 12 yards of net offense in the second half.

"They stepped up big, they did what was expected of them. No surprise there. Hats off to Kaimuki, they're a formidable opponent," coach Akana said.

Kaimuki had a chance to draw first blood in the opening period, but came away empty-handed as Jonah Faasoa's 36-yard touchdown pass to Koby Moananu was wiped out by a false start penalty and a play later the Bulldogs were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct that forced a punt. 

Bubba Akana led the Saints downfield through the air and with his feet to the Kaimuki 5, but Saint Francis was called for three-straight holding penalties pushing its offense back to the 41. It was all for naught however as Bubba found his brother Chase for a 41-yard touchdown after the series of penalties. The 2-point run failed to leave the score at 6-0 just before the end of the first quarter.

The Saints scored again midway through the second quarter after Bubba Akana completed a 28-yard pass to Jett Tanuvasa on a third-and-14 to immediately set up his 22-yard touchdown pass to Alden Rosa. Makana Poole put through the kick for a 13-0 lead that held up for the rest of the game.

The Saints had 198 yards of net offense in the first half while the Bulldogs just had 36 yards of net offense.

Saint Francis finished with 268 yards of total offense for the game and managed to win despite being flagged 22 times.

"Those penalties almost costed us today," coach Akana said.

Naomas Asuega-Fualaau had 39 kick off return yards and 99 punt return yards to lead all players on special teams.

KJ Narvaez had three tackle for losses, one was a sack while Kaulana Kaluna, Jr. and Elijah Lemau had an interception each for Kaimuki.

Saint Francis plays Kalaheo at Kailua's Alex Kane Stadium Friday, Sept. 28. Kaimuki plays Kaiser at Edward 'Skippa' Diaz Stadium on the same night.


Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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