Kahuku cleans up its game, wins big

Even after opening the season with a decisive win, Kahuku coach Lee Leslie found areas he wanted the Red Raiders to clean up.

He didn’t have much to pick on after win No. 2.

The fourth-ranked Red Raiders delivered an overwhelming performance in the first 14 minutes of Friday’s OIA Red game against Waipahu, scoring all of its points in their 51-10 win in that span.

After racking up the penalty yardage in the opener against Kapolei, Kahuku produced a cleaner performance while scoring in all three phases in the first quarter. 

"It was a full team thing," Leslie said. "These kids are good and they’re going to get better — that’s what’s good about it. The kids are playing really well together. I think everybody’s dialed in.

"I was not happy with last week’s win at all. I don’t have penalties like that and these kids know it."

Red Raiders safety Keala Santiago set up Kahuku’s first score with a 39-yard punt return, returned an interception for a touchdown and took another back to the Waipahu 1-yard line to help Kahuku take a 28-0 lead less than six minutes into the game.

"Defense played great, special teams played great," Leslie said. "It was a fun game plan we worked on all week."

Kahuku quarterback Tuli Wily-Matagi wasn’t on the field much in the first half as the Red Raiders ran just 17 plays on offense. He scored on a 10-yard keeper on Kahuku’s second play from scrimmage and Salanoa Alo Wily ran in two scores for the Red Raiders.

After having its opener against Farrington called in the second quarter when injuries depleted an already thin active roster, Waipahu’s sideline was far more crowded with the addition of more than 20 players who sat out last week on academic probation.

But the Marauders again found themselves down big in the game’s opening minutes in the first meeting between the schools since 2000.

"It’s kind of our first game with all our probationary players back, but we’re way out of sync on offense," Waipahu coach Eric Keola said. "Hopefully by next week we can get it going. That’s part of football."

After Wily-Matagi’s scoring run, Kahuku scored 21 points in a 51-second span starting with Kesi Ah Hoy’s 4-yard touchdown run to cap a six-play drive he extended with a 14-yard keeper after lining up to punt on fourth-and-5.

Santiago then returned an interception 32 yards for Kahuku’s third touchdown. He picked off another throw on Waipahu’s next play from scrimmage and was tackled just short of the end zone, with Wily scoring on the next play.

After Wily broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run, a Waipahu snap sailed into the end zone on a punt attempt and Hirkley Latu recovered for another score. 

A safety pushed the lead to 44-0 and Alohi Gilman returned the free kick 63 yards.

Waipahu scored its first points of the season on Storm DeAsis’ 22-yard field goal after the Marauders drove to the Kahuku 6. Kai Mercado-Aiona added a 1-yard touchdown run on a quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter.

Kah–Tuli Wily-Matagi 10 run (Gabriel Pinheiro-Alves kick)

Kah–Kesi Ah Hoy 4 run (kick failed)

Kah–Keala Santiago 32 interception return (Alohi Gilman pass from Wily-Matagi)

Kah–Salanoa Alo Wily 1 run (Pinheiro-Alves kick)

Kah–Wily 45 run (Pinheiro-Alves kick)

Kah–Hirkley Latu fumble recovery in end zone (Jurrell Kai kick)

Kah–Safety, receiver tackled in end zone

Kah–Alohi Gilman 63 free kick return (Jurrell Kai kick)

Waip–FG Storm DeAsis 22

Waip–Kai Mercado-Aiona 1 run (S. DeAsis kick)

RUSHING–Waipahu: Mercado-Aiona 11-14, Nehemiah Palimo’o 3-2, Brandon Tom 1-0, Team 1-(-15), Blaise DeAsis 6-(-32). Kahuku: Wily 2-46, Lisiate Tovo 8-33, Ah Hoy 3-23, Jrue Williams 3-18, Wily-Matagi 2-16, Jacob Afalava 1-4, Kingsten Aloua 4-3, Bryce Nihipali 1-3, Michael Mauai 1-(-2).

PASSING–Waipahu: B. DeAsis 10-22-1-82, Mercado-Aiona 2-4-1-7. Kahuku: Wily-Matagi 3-5-0-36, Nihipali 0-2-0-0.

RECEIVING–Waipahu: Jordan Taylor 3-21, Tom 3-19, Andrew Pecpec 3-(-5), Corey Fitiausi 1-(-3), Andrew Simanu 1-21, Palimo’o 1-36.  Kahuku: Ah Hoy 2-26, John Ofahengaue-Farley 1-10.

Junior Varsity–Kahuku 46, Waipahu 0

No. 8 Leilehua 32, McKinley 7

Kalanimoku Pauole threw four touchdown passes and the Mules beat the Tigers to stay unbeaten.

Leilehua has outscored opponents 82-14 in its first two league games and visits Waianae next week. McKinley opened its season after forfeiting its game against Mililani in Week 1. The Tigers host OIA Red co-leader Kahuku next week.

The Mules enjoyed a 26-0 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 32-0 in the third before the Tigers scored late.

Statistics not reported