Football
No. 5 Kahuku holds off No. 6 Kamehameha


Michael Lasquero | ScoringLive
August 10, 2019, 11:47pm

  

Sat, Aug 10, 2019 @ Kahuku [ 6:30 pm ]

Kahuku

21

Kamehameha

13

Final 1 2 3 4 T
Kahuku (9-4-0) 0 7 14 021
Kamehameha (3-7-0) 0 0 0 1313
Kawika Clemente 141 yd 2 TD
Zealand Matagi 82 yd 1 TD



KAHUKU — A season opener isn't fun without some drama.

After building a 21-0 lead after three quarters, No. 5 Kahuku survived a late rally by No. 6 Kamehameha for a 21-13 season-opening win at Carleton E. Weimer Field Saturday night.

The Red Raiders totaled five interceptions against the Warriors, which included a 56-yard pick-six by Frisco Aveau in the third quarter to give Kahuku (1-0) a 14-0 lead. Kahuku's other two touchdown drives were also jumpstarted by interceptions, both of which were brought down by Masi Pasi.

Zealand Matagi scored on a 2-yard run just before the end of the first half and Alex "Mana" Fonoimoana-Vaomu ran in a 7-yard TD for Kahuku's final points of the game. Fonoimoana-Vaomu also came down with the game-sealing interception on Kamehameha's final play from scrimmage, a fourth-down deep throw over the middle.

"This is all because of our hard work in practice," said Fonoimoana-Vaomu, who started the game taking snaps behind center. "We come out everyday in practice, give our full percent and just ball out."

After the Red Raiders went up 21-0, they started to rotate their defensive reserves, which opened the backdoor for Kamehameha (1-0).

Kawika Clemente sparked the Warriors' comeback bid with 14 carries for 141 yards and two TDs, which included an 80-yard scamper off a draw play with 3:09 left in regulation.

"We didn't like how we finished, but pretty much everybody got into the game. That's what we wanted to do," said Kahuku second-year coach Sterling Carvalho. "It's a long season, and every team is physical so we just got to be sure we manage our reps and make sure that everyone is healthy."

Regardless, it was the Red Raiders' game to win. In addition to the five interceptions, Kahuku racked up eight sacks and pressured Kamehameha quarterback Kiai Keone all night long.

"The defense is experienced," said Carvalho. "A lot of our defense is either a three- or four-year starter. They're very experienced for us and they fly to the ball. Hats off to them."

Kahuku also went back to a traditional run-first offense and had 47 run plays to just 11 pass attempts. Matagi rushed 19 times for 82 yards, Fonoimoana-Vaomu had eight carries for 52 yards and Lilio Kaluna added 48 yards on nine carries to lead the rushing attack.

"The O-line, they wanted the game, so we put the game on their back," Carvalho said of the offensive game plan.

But the game wasn't without its controversy however. Late in the second quarter Matagi fumbled a ball at the line of scrimmage, but was credited by the officials with a TD with 30 seconds left in the first half.

A 23-yard completion to Skyler Ramos that would have given Kamehameha a fresh set of downs at the Kahuku 9-yard line with under two minutes to play was wiped away by an offensive pass interference call. Still, two personal fouls against the Red Raiders aided the start of the Warriors' final drive that began with 2:57 to play after Kamehameha recovered a Kahuku fumble near midfield.


Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.


IMAGE GALLERY


MORE STORIES

KIF on cusp of hosting D2 state tournaments in girls and boys volleyball

The Kauai Interscholastic Federation is expected to be included in the host rotations of the boys' and...

Track and field proposals among those being considered at HIADA conference

Athletics administrators from across the state are gathered at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, where the...

HHSAA inducts 44th class into Hall of Honor

Twelve student-athletes from 10 different schools and representing three of the state's leagues were...

Iolani's Nakanelua garners All-Hawaii Player of the Year honors

Senior setter Bailey Nakanelua was the engine that helped drive the Raiders back to the top of state...

Pearl City's Ngirmidol headlines All-OIA Division II picks

Chargers' setter Marley Ngirmidol named Player of the Year in OIA Division II; Pearl City head coach...

Moanalua sweeps All-OIA East Boys Volleyball top honors

Na Menehune outside hitter Lionel Gannon named Player of the Year and head coach Alan Cabanting named...