Foy spearheads ‘Iolani comeback

Starting quarterback Reece Foy re-entered the game and hit Chase Kanekuni with the game-winning 21-yard touchdown pass with 2:17 left to give ‘Iolani a thrilling 43-40 victory over Konawaena in the 49th annual Father Bray Classic on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

Foy threw for 286 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another as ‘Iolani won its ninth straight Father Bray game dating back to 2003.

Konawaena came back from a 36-21 deficit to take a 40-36 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by Bubba Ellis-Noa with 4:40 remaining.

Foy, who had sat the previous two series while backup Easton Tsubata played, returned to the field and promptly drove the Raiders 80 yards in six plays for the go-ahead score.

It’s the fifth time in Foy’s career he’s thrown for at least 275 yards in a game.

Konawaena’s last-ditch effort fell short when Kahoalii Karratti’s pass on fourth down from the Konawaena 45 fell incomplete.

Karratti finished 12-for-25 for 217 yards.

Kanekuni had six catches for 130 yards and Chad Hanaoka had six catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Raiders.

Both teams got off to quick starts on offense as ‘Iolani scored its first touchdown less than 3 minutes into the season.

Foy completed an eye-popping 36-yard throw to Kyle Kekina on third down after running from one side of the field to the other and back again.

Two Foy scrambles moved the ball to the Konawaena 1 and Kody Mento plowed into the end zone for a quick 6-0 lead.

The Wildcats bounced back with a score on the next play from scrimmage.

Running back John Kamoku took a pitch from Karratti and darted 69 yards through the ‘Iolani defense to give Konawaena the lead.

Foy answered with a 20-yard strike to Hanaoka, and the defense responded by knocking Kamoku out of the game on his next rushing attempt.

Without their starting running back, the Wildcats still managed to retake the lead, as Ellis-Noa plowed in from a yard out to put Konawaena up 14-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Foy, who hurt Konawaena early with his legs, got the passing game going, hitting Kanekuni for a big 30-yard gain to set up a 1-yard touchdown run.

After Austin Denis returned a blocked punt 25 yards for a score to give the Wildcats their third different lead of the half, Foy hit Hanaoka with his second TD pass — from 12 yards out — to put ‘Iolani in front 26-21 at the break.

Foy was 9-for-14 for 187 yards in the half and added another 35 on the ground to lead the Raiders in rushing.

The Raiders took the first double-digit lead of the game early in the second half off a Konawaena turnover.

Junior Max Look intercepted a pass to give ‘Iolani the ball on its own 43. Eight plays later, Foy tossed his third touchdown pass of the game, hitting Yuuya Kato from 23 yards out to take a 33-21 lead.

The Wildcats turned the ball over a second time when ‘Iolani linebacker Josiah Situmeang recovered a fumble by Koa Basque.

‘Iolani let a touchdown go to waste on a dropped ball, but Jordan Genovia hit an important 30-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 15-point lead at 36-21.

The Wildcats answered with a 68-yard drive that took just five plays and less than 3 minutes. Four consecutive runs by Basque totaling 40 yards set up a 28-yard touchdown pass from Karratti to Dominic Morris to make it 36-28.

The Wildcats pulled within two as Karratti found Morris from 13 yards out on their next drive to make it 36-34.

Morris hit Basque to convert a 2-point conversion to tie the game, but it was called back after a personal foul on Konawaena.

‘Iolani was whistled for pass interference on the Wildcats’ second attempt and Look batted away Karratti’s pass on the third attempt to keep the Raiders in front by two.

‘Iolani pulled Foy in the fourth quarter for Tsubata, who was intercepted by Mikey Rabara on his first throw with 6:54 left to give the Wildcats the ball on their own 49.

The Wildcats needed just six plays to take their fourth lead of the game, 40-36, on a 3-yard TD run by Ellis-Noa.