Kahuku wins battle in the trenches

There are secrets to be kept when it comes to early-season, interleague competition, but there’s nothing delicate about smashmouth football.

Top-ranked Kahuku, savoring the opportunity to battle with a physical Kamehameha defense, put on a display of stubborn, in-the-trenches execution en route to a 13-3 win last night at Aloha Stadium.

The Red Raiders (2-0), who moved ahead of Saint Louis in the Star-Advertiser Top 10 this week, relied on a young offensive line and the legs of Aofaga Wily. The line overcame an injury to center Nijiahl Auelua midway through the game but continued to move the chains, with Wily gaining 81 yards on 21 carries. Backup Mahonilai Fakatou was also impressive, gaining 47 yards on eight attempts, including some key yardage after initial contact out of a classic I-formation.

"We felt comfortable with our kids, sustaining our blocks, keep pounding on them, keep pounding on them, just give our running backs a crease and keep the clock running," Kahuku interim head coach Walter Santiago said. "We’ve been consistent on defense. Our three down linemen are underclassmen, we had some guys go down, so Rashaan (Falemalu) played defense. We had to piece it together as we went along."

Eighth-ranked Kamehameha fell to 0-2 in nonconference play with another close loss to an Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East powerhouse. Last week, the Warriors lost to Farrington 26-21.

After Kahuku quarterback Viliami Livai connected with Bronson Beatty for a second-quarter touchdown pass, Kahuku’s defense kept Kamehameha under wraps. The Warriors, alternating quarterbacks Cid Camanse-Stevens and Nephi Stevens, finished with 159 total yards, including 73 on the ground by Bronson Barretto out of a pistol formation.

In the second half, Kamehameha got no deeper than the Kahuku 22-yard line. A leaping interception by Kai Saniatan snuffed out one of the Warriors’ drives.

The Red Raiders’ rushing game kept the Warriors offense on the sideline. Kahuku ate up 6 minutes and 11 seconds with a win-sealing 15-play, 72-yard drive in the fourth quarter. With a 6-3 lead, Livai found Kawehena Johnson, one of several two-way performers, on an 18-yard strike in the end zone to ice the game with 1:31 to play.

"Bronson actually set it up. He ran the corner in and (Livai) threw a nice ball," said Johnson, who starts in the secondary but sees plenty of action on offense. He finished with two receptions for 51 yards.

It was a chess match between Kahuku offensive coordinator Sterling Carvalho and Kamehameha coach David Stant. The two are surfing buddies in the offseason, but there wasn’t much in the way of razzle-dazzle trick plays last night.

With a steady drizzle falling on the synthetic turf in the first half, both teams kept their offensive game plans simple: smashmouth football between the tackles. Kamehameha capped its second possession with a 35-yard field goal by Kanekoa Pawn-White for a 3-0 lead with 3:18 left in the opening quarter.

Kamehameha’s talented, young defense stopped Kahuku — and its no-huddle offense — on its first four series, but the Red Raiders’ offense came to life in the final 2 minutes of the first half. Livai threw deep into double coverage, but Johnson came up with the ball for a 33-yard gain to the Kamehameha 18-yard line.

On the next play, Livai fired a perfectly placed spiral down the sideline to the 6-foot-2 Beatty, who gathered the ball in the corner of the end zone despite tight coverage for the game’s first touchdown. After a blocked point-after kick, Kahuku led 6-3 with 36 seconds remaining in the half.

"We did a backside throw and the safety was cheating on the trip side and Bronson is way more taller than the corner," said Livai, a first-year starter. "Props to the O-line. We wanted to score more, but a win’s a win."

Kahuku fans were irate just before the half after a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown by Evan Ramirez was called back due to a penalty during the runback.

Beatty, another two-way player, is starting to look ahead.

"Now it’s on to Kailua next week," he said.

Pac-Five 15, Castle 0

Senior Jack Foster completed 14 of 37 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown as the Wolfpack shut down the Knights.

Castle was held to minus-9 yards on 18 carries in the game.

OIA RED WEST

Radford 14, No. 6 Mililani 7

Erik Lutali scored on a 79-yard interception return and Jeff Linzy returned a fumble 21 yards for a score — both in the second half — as the Rams beat the Trojans.

Radford’s Andrew Togiailua caught six passes for 125 yards.

OIA WHITE

Kalaheo 40, Waialua 0

Rashaan Matalolo rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another as the Mustangs routed the Bulldogs.

Matalolo scored on 70- and 5-yard runs, and completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Makena Johnston.

Kaimuki 22, McKinley 0

Senior running back Brandon Kekoa rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown, and senior defensive lineman Amu Moefu returned an interception 4 yards for a score as the Bulldogs scored 13 fourth-quarter points to put away the Tigers.

Kaimuki took a 7-0 lead at halftime on an 8-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Nahoa Spencer to senior wide receiver Kanoe Barcenas.

Also

Pearl City 46, Anuenue 6

Friday’s Game

Moanalua 27, Damien 7

Jay Laudato rushed for two touchdowns and caught a 25-yard scoring pass from Dillon Turk as Na Menehune beat the Monarchs in an interleague game.

Laudato rushed eight times for 141 yards for Moanalua, which led 20-0 after the first period.

Damien quarterback Alan Mohika remains in intensive care after suffering an injury in the third period.

Mohika was hit on a touchdown pass by Na Menehune and rushed to the hospital immediately after the play was stopped.