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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
2015 October 2 SPT - HSA PHOTO BY BRUCE ASATO - St. Francis' Wembley Mailei jumps over Pac-Five's Casey Nakamura on his way to a gain but was penalized for hurdling in the second quarter of the St. Francis vs Pac-Five football game at Aloha Stadium, Friday, October 2, 2015.
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Tyson Shimabukuro ran for 118 yards to lead St. Francis to a 12-9 win over Pac-Five in an ILH Division II game on Friday at Aloha Stadium.
St. Francis (3-4, 1-2) fielded its first varsity team in 2013 and was winless against ILH foes until Friday night. The Saints were 0-6 in league play in 2013 and 2014.
"I was ecstatic," Shimabukuro said. "Nothing could compare to that."
Pac-Five’s Casey Nakamura stripped the ball from Saint Francis quarterback Wembley Mailei to give the Wolfpack (3-2, 1-2) the ball with 1:12 remaining at their own 15-yard line. But Pac-Five couldn’t gain much yardage with three short passes and the game ended on an incomplete pass.
Mailei’s keeper extended the Saints’ lead to 12-3 early in the third quarter. St. Francis led 6-3 at halftime and the message during the break was to be a second-half team.
"Coach was telling us usually we’re down, we got to stay in the game," Shimabukuro said. "Coach said, ‘We’re winning, we have to keep the momentum and be a second-half team.’ "
Pac-Five got a big break late in the third quarter when Saint Francis’ punt returner couldn’t hang onto the ball. Nakamura pounced on the ball, giving the Wolfpack possession at the 1-yard line. Kainoa Ferreira then punched it in from a yard out to cut the deficit to 12-9 with 42 seconds left.