St. Francis’ defense was solid from start to finish, and the Saints’ offense came alive just long enough in the first half against Kaimuki on Saturday at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium.
Saint Francis allowed just 47 yards of total offense and Bubba Akana threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns in a 13-0 victory over Kaimuki in a battle of two of the top Division II teams.
“That’s the heart and soul of our team,” said St. Francis coach Kip Akana of his defense.
Shepherd Kekahuna had two interceptions and Sione Lolohea had three sacks for the Saints (6-0, 5-0) in a penalty-fest.
“I’m happy we’re undefeated, but our big bug-a-boo was the penalties. It almost cost us today,” Kip Akana said. “I like where the team is at — the defense was lights out.”
The Bulldogs (4-2, 4-0) went three-and-out on their first three possessions, while the Saints did the same on their first two.
St. Francis scored the first points of the game the hard way. The Saints had a first-and-goal at the 5 after a 25-yard run by Akana. Three consecutive offensive holding penalties moved the ball back to the 41. On the next play, Akana scrambled and hit his brother Chase Akana for a score with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.
“That was big, because if we didn’t hit that it would be 0-0,” said Bubba Akana, a senior. “We just found a little hole in the defense and my brother caught it.”
It was the only catch for Chase Akana, a junior.
“It’s good to have him on the field because he helps me out on the field,” Bubba Akana said.
Kip Akana is the father of both players.
The Saints went up 13-0 with 6:16 left before halftime on a 24-yard scoring pass from Bubba Akana to Alden Rosa. On the previous play, Bubba Akana completed a 28-yard pass to Jett Tanuvasa on third-and-14. Makana Poole made the conversion kick.
Bubba Akana completed six of 13 passes for 149 yards and had 38 rushing yards in the first half.
He finished only 7-for-22, but did a nice job extending plays and making a few key completions.
“It’s all because of the O-line. They gave me a little bit of time and the receivers caught the important balls,” Bubba Akana said.
The crossover game doesn’t count for the Bulldogs in the OIA standings, so Kaimuki remained a half-game back of Pearl City (5-0 OIA).
The contest counted for the Saints in the ILH standings, so St. Francis is three games ahead of Pac-Five, which lost to McKinley on Saturday.
GAME SUMMARY
St. Francis 13, Kaimuki 0
At Skippa Diaz Stadium
>> Kaimuki (4-2, 4-0) 0 0 0 0 — 0
>> St. Francis (6-0, 5-0) 6 7 0 0 — 13
St. Francis — Chase Akana 41 pass from Bubba Akana (run failed)
St. Francis — Alden Rosa 24 pass from Bubba Akana (Makana Poole kick)
RUSHING — Kaimuki: Naomas Asuega-Fualaau 10-18, Jonah Stephens 8-11, KJ Narvaez 1-6, Kaulana Kaluna Jr. 1-5, Jonah Fa‘asoa 7-(minus 29). St. Francis: Bubba Akana 15-42, Jonan Aina-Chaves 11-34, Shepherd Kekahuna 2-6, Chase Akana 1-4, Jonah Aina-Chaves 1-0, Poole 2-(minus 1), Team 3-(minus 8).
PASSING — Kaimuki: Fa’asoa 7-25-2-36. St. Francis: Bubba Akana 7-22-2-185.
RECEIVING — Kaimuki: Elijah Lemalu 4-16, Koby Moananu 2-20, Stephens 1-0. St. Francis: Rosa 2-60, Jett Tanuvasa 2-53, Chase Akana 1-41, Kordell Ng 1-27, Kekahuna 1-4.
* JV —Kaimuki 21, Radford 20
