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Even the state’s top-ranked team wasn’t exactly perfect on Saturday night.
But the Kahuku Red Raiders pounced on just about every Moanalua misstep for a decisive 31-15 win before a packed house at Na Menehune’s field. The senior-night crowd saw Kahuku tailback Aofaga Wily pound and spin his way to 153 yards and touchdowns of 22 and 4 yards.
Kahuku closed regular-season play with a 6-0 mark in the OIA Red East (7-0 overall), amassing 312 total yards with superb play in all phases. Moanalua finished third in the division at 4-2
(4-4 overall) and will host Waipahu on Friday in the opening round of the playoffs. Kahuku will have an opening-round bye as one of the top two teams in the division.
"We get to have some time off to recuperate and clean up our technique," coach Reggie Torres said.
It was an often-bruising night for Wily, who carried the ball 25 times, thanks to a relentless Moanalua defense led by Scott Pagano.
"They’re a great team. They showed why they’re
6-0. We made mistakes and we have to clear that up for the playoffs. We’re going to bounce back and play for that championship," said Pagano, a defensive tackle who committed to Clemson during the summer.
Kahuku’s defense did the job once again, swarming on Moanalua running backs Ishmil Scott and Richard Parham. Moanalua finished with minus-3 rushing yards against the Red Raiders, who were sparked by linebacker Johnny Tapusoa and tackle Ezra Soli.
Soli filled in with two defensive linemen, Toiva Tufaga (knee) and Siamau Mapu (shoulder) sidelined.
"He had a great game," Torres said of the 5-foot-11, 277-pound senior.
Big Red got two fumble recoveries from safety Jayven Mohetau and another by linebacker Rashaan Falemalu. Linebacker Matai Paselio had two sacks and forced a fumble, and safeties Lasselle Thompson and Kawehena Johnson picked off Moanalua quarterback Micah Kaneshiro once. In all, they sacked him four times.
"They’re a great team, and when you make mistakes against a great team, they capitalize on them quickly," Moanalua coach Arnold Martinez said just before the senior-night celebration began. "You can’t make mistakes against Kahuku."
The visiting Red Raiders drove 64 yards in nine plays on the opening possession, scoring on Wily’s 22-yard run off left tackle.
Their next series stalled near midfield when Mohetau’s high, short punt glanced off a Moanalua up-blocker and was recovered by Mohetau at the Moanalua 47-yard line. Six plays later, Wily blasted up the left side through a tangled web of tacklers to score on a 4-yard run, and Kahuku led 14-0 with 37 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Moanalua had its opportunities. Livai fumbled a snap early in the second quarter and defensive end Chaz Winham recovered at the Kahuku 10-yard line. However, after driving to the 4-yard line, Moanalua got no closer and Lamone Williams sacked Kaneshiro on third down. Landon Kagawa was wide left on a 38-yard field-goal try, and the Red Raiders pounded away again.
A 39-yard pass from Viliami Livai to Johnson set up a 3-yard sneak over the goal line by Livai, and Kahuku had a commanding 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
Moments later, Kaneshiro and Scott botched a handoff exchange and Falemalu recovered at the Moanalua 29-yard line. On third and 10 at the Moanalua 18-yard line, Livai found Johnson down the right sideline in single coverage and hit his target in the end zone. Kahuku led 28-0 with 2:27 to go in the first half.
Three plays later, Donald Lambert caught a long lateral from Kaneshiro and heaved a deep spiral to Sheldon Pagba, who had beaten his defender by 5 yards. However, Pagba dropped the pass, a sure touchdown.
Na Menehune opened the second half with their first scoring drive. Kaneshiro found Jon-Michael Sharsh for a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Moanalua’s defense made a stand on fourth and 2, stopping Wily to regain possession. But two plays later, wide receiver Chad Aragon was drilled by Tapusoa as he made a catch on the sideline. Moanalua’s coaching staff reacted strongly and received two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and one assistant was ejected.
Kahuku’s defense continued to assert itself. Johnson stole the ball from Pagba on a reception over the middle, and the Red Raiders drove deep into Moanalua territory. Jake Samsel’s 30-yard field goal lifted Kahuku to a 31-7 lead with 7:57 remaining.
Moanalua got a 66-yard touchdown pass from Kaneshiro to Sharsh, who snagged a deflected pass and raced to pay dirt against Kahuku’s reserves. After Kaneshiro hit Scott with a pass for the 2-point conversion, Moanalua was down 31-15 with 2:48 to go.
Coupled with a personal foul on Kahuku, Na Menehune tried an on-side kick and Cody Wright recovered at the Kahuku 42-yard line. The drive stalled, however, and Kahuku got the ball back with 1:31 left.
Torres sent his first team back on the field to close out the game.
At Moanalua
| Kahuku (6-0, 7-0) |
14 |
14 |
0 |
3 |
— |
31 |
| Moanalua (4-2, 4-4) |
0 |
0 |
7 |
8 |
— |
15 |
Kah–Aofaga Wily 22 run (Jake Samsel kick)
Kah–Wily 4 run (Samsel kick)
Kah–Viliami Livai 3 run (Samsel kick)
Kah–Kawehena Johnson 18 pass from Livai (Samsel kick)
Moa–Jon-Michael Sharsh 12 pass from Micah Kaneshiro (Landon Ogawa kick)
Moa–Sharsh 66 pass from Kaneshiro (Ishmil Scott pass from Kaneshiro)
RUSHING–Kahuku: Wily 25-153, Polikapu Liua 11-67, Livai 10-6, Pupi Siilata 2-3, Soli Afalava 2-0, Quayd Ah You 1-0. Moanalua: Richard Parham 7-24, Scott 8-1, Kaneshiro 6-(-28).
PASSING–Kahuku: Livai 5-12-0-83. Moanalua: Kaneshiro 16-25-2-179, Donald Lambert 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING–Kahuku: Johnson 3-69, Afalava 1-7, McKay Lewis 1-7. Moanalua: Sharsh 7-118, Lambert 5-32, Sheldon Pagba 2-13, Chad Aragon 1-14, Scott 1-2.
Junior varsity–Kahuku 48, Moanalua 7.
McKinley 21, Castle 12
After a fumble recovery in the end zone by McKinley’s Tyrell Tuiasosopo accounted for the lone first-half score, Bradley ripped off scoring runs of 48 and 15 yards in the third quarter.
Bryson Shea tossed two second-half scoring passes but also was intercepted five times.
At Roosevelt
| Castle (1-5, 1-7) |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
— |
12 |
| McKinley (3-3, 4-4) |
7 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
— |
21 |
McK–Tyrell Tuiasosopo fumble recovery in end zone (Liva Logoi kick)
McK–Gerime Bradley 48 run (Logoi kick)
McK–Gerime Bradley 15 run (Logoi kick)
Cast–Isaiah Ukaoka 63 pass from Bryson Shea (kick failed)
Cast–Kyle Urasaki 90 pass from Shea (run failed)
RUSHING–Castle: Don Kaio 5-23, Shea 6-(-30). McKinley: Bradley 20-189, Matthias Tuitele-Fafeta 12-94, Kona Bagood-Makanui 3-79, Tuiasosopo 1-16, Brandon Walker 10-7, Liva Logoi 2-3.
PASSING–Castle: Shea 18-36-5-361. McKinley: Brandon Walker 6-13-0-54, Denzel Kalahiki-Gaspar 2-8-1-6.
RECEIVING–Castle: Ukauka 4-151, Cullen Shiroma-Fernandez 3-23, Kyle Urasaki 2-91, Sonny Oana 2-30, Joseph Lilio 2-23, Avery Carvalho 2-11, Makana Bee 1-32, Chad Figueroa 1-1, Don Kaio 1-(-1). McKinley: Tyrell Tuiasosopo 2-21, Matthias Tuitele-Fafeta 2-19, Micah Kuhia 2-5, Kona Bagood-Makanui 1-14, Vincent Garrido 1-1.
OIA RED WEST
No. 6 Leilehua 36, Waianae 34
Justin Jenks completed 23 of 37 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns as sixth-ranked Leilehua escaped with a win in the OIA West as Waianae missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt with 47 seconds left.
Jemery Willes rushed for three touchdowns and Alakai Kealoha rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown to lead Waianae.
OIA WHITE
Kalaheo 44, Anuenue 28
Willie Lynch rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns as the Mustangs outscored Na Koa.
Anuenue jumped out in front early behind Kainalu Kaleo’s 7-yard first-quarter scoring run, but Makena Johnston responded with a 22-yard TD run as Kalaheo scored 31 unanswered points.
At Kailua
| Anuenue (2-5, 2-6) |
6 |
0 |
8 |
14 |
— |
28 |
| Kalaheo (4-3, 4-4) |
14 |
10 |
14 |
6 |
— |
44 |
Anue–Kainalu Kaleo 7 run (attempt failed)
Kalh–Makena Johnston 22 run (Reece Demello kick)
Kalh–Sua Atanoa 2 run (Demello kick)
Kalh–Shem Sukumaran 10 pass from Steven Lee (Demello kick)
Kalh–FG Demello 17
Kalh–Willie Lynch 10 run (Demello kick)
Anue–Kaleo 2 run (Kaimalino Bobiles run)
Kalh–Cristian Johnston 2 run (Demello kick)
Kalh–Lynch 20 run (kick failed)
Anue–Malaeloa Liua 19 run (Kawena Cowell kick)
Anue–Kakela Lee 5 run (Cowell kick)
RUSHING–Anuenue: Liua 10-75, Anuenue Tui 14-63, Kainalu Kaleo 11-60, Lee 9-27, Hemakana Yam-Lum 1-6, Bobiles 1-3. Kalaheo: Lynch 10-108, Cristian Johnston 7-62, Makena Johnston 5-39, Steven Lee 4-7, Omar Silva 1-3, Atanoa 1-2.
PASSING–Anuenue: Kimo Romena 1-4-0-4. Kalaheo: Lee 8-12-1-166.
RECEIVING–Anuenue: Tui 1-4. Kalaheo: Shem Sukumaran 3-42, Nainoa Frank 2-30, Sione Purdy 1-47, Kenny McFadden 1-31, Lynch 1-16.
Radford 42, Nanakuli 7
Zach Tinao-Rabellizsa returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown as the Rams downed the Golden Hawks.
Cody Liu-Yuen passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns, and Andrew Killen finished off Radford’s scoring with a 100-yard interception return in the third quarter.
Brandon Felisi led Nanakuli with 109 yards on 16 carries.
At Radford
| Nanakuli (4-3, 4-3) |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
7 |
| Radford (6-1, 7-1) |
14 |
0 |
21 |
7 |
— |
42 |
Rad–Zach Tinao-Rabellizsa 95 kickoff return (Cayman Conley kick)
Nana–Nyenoa Ulangca-Kauweloa 56 run (Joseph Shelton kick)
Rad–Jameson Pasigan 4 pass from Cody Liu-Yuen (Conley kick)
Rad–Julian Brown 21 pass from Liu-Yuen (Conley kick)
Rad–Pasigan 8 pass from Liu-Yen (Conley kick)
Rad–Jordan Murao 15 run (Conley kick)
Rad–Andrew Killen 100 interception return (Conley kick)
RUSHING–Nanakuli: Brandon Felisi 16-109, Khade Paris 13-52, Chazz Troutman 8-30, Ulangca-Kauwelo 1-56, Rodney Banis 3-6, Charles Garcia 5-5, Eric Au Hoon-Kaawa 2-0, Team 1-(-17). Radford: Chris Jackson 14-55, Murao 3-42, Tinao-Rabellizsa 1-4, Keanu Keaweehu-Ancog 1-1, Team 1-(-10), Lui-Yuen 4-(-13).
PASSING–Nanakuli: Troutman 1-8-3-8, Ulangca-Kauwelo 0-2-1-0. Radford: Lui-Yuen 20-34-2-312.
RECEIVING–Nanakuli: Nathan Kipi 1-8. Radford: Pasigan 6-55, Dre’ell Blackwell 4-93, Jackson 4-75, Brown 2-51, Murao 2-10, Tinao-Rabellizsa 1-17, Mana Kakiva 1-11.
Junior varsity–Nanakuli 40, Radford 14.
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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM