Kekoa Sasaoka drilled three field goals and Kahuku’s defense stifled Kapolei’s potent passing attack in a 27-7 win on Friday night at the Hurricanes’ field.
No. 4 Kahuku improved to 2-0 overall and is now 1-0 in OIA Division I play. No. 7 Kapolei (1-1, 0-1) fell behind 17-0 and never threatened the visitors, in large part because of problems with the shotgun snap.
Kesi Ah-Hoy’s versatility was a bonus for the Red Raiders. The junior rushed for 43 yards and lined up at quarterback much of the way, completing five of his seven bullets for 55 yards. It was just enough to keep Kapolei’s stingy defense honest.
“He’s very dynamic and we take advantage of that,” coach Vavae Tata said. “I wish we had him at linebacker.”
As Tata promised, Kahuku kept things simple and physical, pounding away on the ground for 171 yards on 43 carries. Their 252 total yards wasn’t spectacular, but Big Red won the battle for field position most of the night thanks to Sasaoka’s booming kickoffs (for touchbacks) and precision punts.
Sefa Ameperosa rushed for 91 yards on 10 carries, including a 38-yard TD run in the second half.
Sixteen yellow flags for 162 yards by Kahuku were just about the only problem.
“You know that’s a Kahuku thing,” Tata said. “We’ll watch the tape and do our running tomorrow. We’re never satisfied. The win’s OK. It was ugly, but we’ll take it.”
Kapolei finished with 226 total yards. Ezra Savea and Taulia Tagovailoa combined for 192 passing yards.
The Red Raiders took advantage of a muffed punt to gain possession at the home team’s 14-yard line. Three plays later, Ah-Hoy burst through from the 2-yard line for a 7-0 lead with 9:02 left in the opening quarter.
The Hurricanes struggled mightily on offense from the first series. A shotgun snap sailed over the head of Savea, a sign of things to come. Savea was sacked twice during that opening possession, and the problems with the snap, along with the booming kickoffs and punts of Sasaoka, turned the first half into a chess match for field position.
Kahuku ruled that battle.
Kahuku had its struggles early, too. A drive that started at the Kapolei 31-yard line stalled, and when Sasaoka lined up for a 49-yard FG try, Kahuku was whistled for illegal procedure and punted.
Kapolei’s defense was stellar against the run, just one week after permitting more than 400 rushing yards by Kaiser. But another bad snap, on third-and-9 from the ‘Canes 11, wound up in the back of the end zone. Savea wisely kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety rather than risk giving up a touchdown, and Kahuku led 9-0 with 11:55 left in the first half.
With the ensuing possession after Kapolei’s free kick, the visitors drove and stalled — penalties were their bane throughout the first half with 10 for 92 yards — and settled for a field goal. Sasaoka boomed a 39-yard kick from the right hash mark for a 12-0 lead with 7:20 to go in the half.
Sasaoka lined up for a 50-yard try with 2 seconds left in the half when Kapolei’s special teams self-destructed. First, the ‘Canes jumped offside. Then Kahuku holder Stokely Botelho scooped up a bad snap and rambled right to the 18-yard line, but Kapolei was called for a horse-collar infraction. That advanced the ball to the 9-yard line for an untimed down and Sasaoka blasted a 26-yard field goal for a 15-0 halftime lead.
Kahuku had just 93 total yards at intermission. Kapolei had 2 total yards of offense.
