Kamehameha storms back

After sitting out the first half, Kamehameha quarterback Noah Sua-Godinet was on the field for just four possessions on Friday night. 

That would be enough to help propel the third-ranked Warriors to a 48-9 win over Saint Francis in their ILH opener at Kunuiakea Stadium.

Trailing 9-7 at halftime, Kamehameha scored 41 unanswered points after the break, with Sua-Godinet and running back Makoa Freitas each reaching the end zone twice in the second half.

Sua-Godinet was among "a number" of Kamehameha players who didn’t play the first half due to "some internal business with our team we had to take care of," Warriors coach Doug Cosbie said.

While the Kamehameha offense struggled for much of the first half after scoring on its opening possession, the Warriors defense held Saint Francis to 17 yards in the first half and 24 for the game while keeping the Saints offense out of the end zone.

"The offense played well once we got guys out there who are used to playing together, and the defense played great all four quarters as usual," Cosbie said. "(Defensive coordinator) Byron (Beatty) and the defensive coaches do a great job."

Sua-Godinet played just the third quarter and rushed for 72 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown run, and passed for 82 while completing five of six attempts. He led Kamehameha to touchdowns on his four drives behind center. Freitas picked up all of his game-high 82 rushing yards in the second half.

"Fatu’s a really talented guy, he’s the engine of our offense especially with (running back Kaulana) Apelu out now, and Fatu did what we expected him to do," Cosbie said of Sua-Godinet.

Apelu suffered a knee injury in Kamehameha’s 25-17 win over Del Oro in California last week and the Warriors jumped ahead early Friday despite the on-field absences.

Four plays after the Warriors took possession on an interception by Kanoa Gilliland, running back Jordan Bayudan burst up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown run.

The Saints defense provided the tying score on Kamehameha’s next possession when Janson Kupau jumped an out route and returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.

A Saint Francis punt pinned the Warriors inside their 10 and two penalties pushed them back to the 3 going into the second quarter. A fumbled exchange rolled into the end zone and the ball squirted past the end line during the ensuing scramble for a Saint Francis safety that gave the Saints a 9-7 lead.

Sua-Godinet led Kamehameha on a seven-play march to open the third quarter, with Kaysan Nakatsu providing the go-ahead touchdown with an 11-yard run. Kaulana Werner scored on a 13-yard sweep and Sua-Godinet and Freitas capped the next four possessions with touchdown runs.

"The second half they were getting the outside edges on us and wore us down," Saint Francis coach Mike Ulufale said. "For the most part we hung in there and took a lead into halftime and you just have to be proud of your kids."

Kamehameha faces Damien next Thursday, again on the Kapalama campus. St. Francis takes on top-ranked Punahou next Saturday.

KS–Jordan Bayudan 32 run (Wesley Faagau kick)

StF–Janson Kupau 30 interception return (Chenoa Johnston kick)

StF–Safety, fumble out of end zone

KS–Kaysan Nakatsu 11 run (Noah Crabbe kick)

KS–Kaulana Werner 13 run (Crabbe kick)

KS–Noah Sua-Godinet 36 run (Crabbe kick)

KS–Sua-Godinet 5 run (Crabbe kick)

KS–Makoa Freitas 3 run (run failed)

KS–Freitas 2 run (Crabbe kick)

RUSHING–St. Francis: Leighton Rosa 2-5, Jeremiah Leaeno 2-0, Justin Main 6-0, Blaze Umiamaka 1-(minus-7), Micah Teal 4-(minus-16), Kawika Ulufale 4-(minus-28). Kamehameha: Makoa Freitas 14-82, Bayudan 11-79, Sua-Godinet 8-72, Nakatsu 10-54, Werner 2-19, Kekona Neumann 4-15, Alika Kahaulelio 2-7, Trever Kahunahana 1-0, Team 3-(minus 5).

PASSING–St. Francis: Ulufale 8-20-1-48, Umiamaka 2-9-1-22. Kamehameha: Neumann 2-10-0-14, Sua-Godinet 5-6-0-82.

RECEIVING–St. Francis: Kupau 4-31, Micah Kalei 3-17, Sean Fernandez 1-13, Jonah Luis-Mateo 1-6, Teal 1-3. 

Kamehameha: Kahaulelio 4-61, Jaykob Cabunoc 1-22, Bronson Padilla 1-9, Kahunahana 1-4.