The score says one point away from the running clock, but ‘Iolani’s 34-0 victory over Pac-Five on Saturday is one the Raiders interpreted differently.
“A win’s a win, but personally, I feel like we could have played a lot better,” ‘Iolani quarterback Tai-John Mizutani said. “We made a lot of mistakes. A lot of things to clean up.”
Mizutani finished 17-for-25 with 209 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. But there were a handful of drops and missed opportunities that the team doesn’t want to experience again in next week’s playoff matchup against a stout St. Francis defense.
Mizutani’s day put him at 6,997 career yards, surpassing Punahou’s Larry Tuileta. Only five players have reached the 7,000-yard plateau.
“All these records, they don’t mean anything if we don’t win,” he said. “Most of all, we’re just focused on a state championship and ILH championship. All those numbers are nice, but it doesn’t really matter.”
Sophomore linebacker Brock Hedani got the scoring started for the Raiders on the defensive side of the ball with a 72-yard pick-6 in the first quarter.
Despite the interception, Pac-Five moved the ball at will in the first half but couldn’t capitalize. AJ Ulufale rushed for 77 yards on 11 carries in the first quarter, all while wearing a cast on his broken left hand. However, a goal-line fumble near the end of the first quarter was costly for the Wolfpack.
Ulufale finished with 158 yards on 29 carries, which were both game highs.
“I told these guys yesterday, you never want to pet a wounded dog because their bite is going to be fierce. Pac-Five came out a little wounded and fought and brought the game to us,” ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. “I’m glad we were able to be tough enough to cut it out and play through the lull and squeak out the win. The scoreboard does not show how close this game was. A couple of plays here and there.”
Mizutani tossed three touchdowns over the next two quarters, with a pair of them to Jonah Miyazawa, who finished with a game-high six receptions for 121 yards.
‘Iolani shifts its focus over to a rubber match with St. Francis in the ILH Division II semifinals.
The Saints took the first matchup 43-26 on Sept. 8, while ‘Iolani won 45-29 last Saturday.
“They’re gonna be up for us, that’s for sure,” Look said.
