All three ‘Iolani quarterbacks needed a turn to get comfortable at Aloha Stadium on Saturday night.
Once they did that, it was a runaway, as the Raiders used a 41-point second quarter to blow past Kamehameha-Maui 48-14 in the second game of the Father Bray Classic.
The Raiders, who started junior Jarin Yokogawa but alternated drives with sophomore Tai-John Mizutani and junior Jake Smotherman, scored on five straight offensive possessions after all three came up empty on their first opportunities.
The Warriors held ‘Iolani scoreless in the first quarter, but KJ Pascua scored on a 1-yard run on the first play of the second. Pascua added another rushing touchdown, Gafoaleata Fetui-Salavea ran for two scores and ‘Iolani added touchdowns on defense and special teams to make quick work of the Warriors.
"Defensively I think that’s our strength because we have returnees up there and solid players up front," ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "They’re the ones who are going to have to set the tone for us. Offensively we’re young, especially at the trigger position, and we’ve got to be sharper there."
‘Iolani’s defense held KS-Maui to minus-12 yards and no first downs in the first half. Kevin Matsuoka returned an interception 22 yards for a score and Christian Naeole blocked a punt that Jordan Iwasaki brought back 9 yards for another score.
"We came out firing," Naeole said. "The offense had kind of a rough start, but we picked them up, and we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do and handle business."
The 52nd Father Bray Classic was played after last year’s games were canceled because of weather. Pac-Five made it an ILH sweep in the opener, beating Kalani 16-14 on a touchdown pass in the final six seconds.
The Raiders won their 12th straight season opener and 11th consecutive Father Bray game since losing to McKinley in 2003.
"(This game) is a gathering and a kickoff to the school year and it’s a good thing for the school because it’s the first school function for the year," Look said. "We do it to show the school how hard we’ve worked and where we’ve come and I think to give back to the people who have played before this group, going way, way back. It’s an early homecoming for us if you think about it that way."
All three Raiders quarterbacks had opportunities to show what they could do in battling to replace recent graduate Austin Jim On, who led ‘Iolani to the Division II state title in 2014.
Yokogawa was the most efficient of the three quarterbacks, missing on only one of his six attempts. Smotherman was 5-for-10 for 50 yards and Mizutani, the only one of the three not to play on the varsity team last year, had the biggest gainers and threw for 78 yards on 5-for-11 passing.
"For me, I wanted to see them make good decisions because that’s what our quarterbacks have to do," Look said. "They have to make people around them make plays for them, but you have to get it to the right guy in our offense. You can’t be wrong."
Pascua, who rushed for 1,064 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore last season, finished with 41 yards in limited work.
Fetui-Salavea, a sophomore this season, carried eight times for 58 yards and Troy Hanaoka dominated the ball in the second half, rushing 18 times for 76 yards and a score.
Sophomore quarterback Kainoa Sanchez threw two second-half touchdowns and played the entire game for KS-Maui, finishing 14-for-33 for 201 yards.
Pac-Five 16, Kalani 14
Kainoa Ferreira hit Daven Pila with the game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass with six seconds remaining to give the Wolfpack a victory over the Falcons in the first meeting between the two schools.
Kalani took the lead with 42 seconds left on a 10-yard touchdown run by Jaemi Harris.
Clayce Akeo returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards, forcing kicker Reece Kakugawa to make a touchdown-saving tackle.
After a pass-interference penalty moved the ball to the Kalani 25 with 13 seconds remaining, Ferreira rolled to his right and found a wide-open Pila in the end zone for the winner.
Ferreira came in for the final two drives after playing the entire first half. He finished 14-for-36 for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Sean Silas led the Falcons with 159 rushing yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Seth Tina started at quarterback and was 7-for-14 for 55 yards.
Ryan Johnson, Ferreira’s backup quarterback for Pac-Five, was 7-for-22 for 115 yards. Matthew Hallstein led all Wolfpack receivers with four catches for 80 yards.