No. 9 ‘Iolani moved one step closer to clinching a state tournament berth.
Junior Jonah Chong threw two touchdown passes and senior Kaua Nishigaya rushed for three scores in a 39-0 shutout of host Nanakuli on Saturday night.
Carter Kamana added his eighth touchdown reception of the season for the Raiders (6-2, 5-1 ILH D-I), who beat the Golden Hawks (0-8, 0-5) in just the second meeting between the two schools.
“This is a beautiful place,” ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. “This is what we’re looking for in this experience. We get to play new teams. Most of my guys have never been here, and for them to experience this, this is why we’re doing this.”
The Raiders remained one game ahead of Damien for the lone state berth up for grabs between the two ILH Division I teams.
An ‘Iolani win over Castle next week and a Monarchs loss to Leilehua would clinch a state berth for the Raiders. If the two teams finish tied in the standings, regardless of ‘Iolani’s head-to-head win, a playoff game would be held for the state berth.
“Anytime you can win on the road, you’re happy,” Look said.
‘Iolani senior Jonah Miyazawa caught a 20-yard TD pass in the first quarter and Kamana hauled in an 11-yard TD to cap a four-play, 61-yard drive in the final two minutes of the first half for a 32-0 lead.
The Raiders scored on five of their seven possessions in the first half and recovered a fumble on their only punt.
Nanakuli’s Tuitasi Fenumiai intercepted a pass inside the Golden Hawks’ 10-yard line to thwart the other ‘Iolani drive.
Junior Trevor Kan had an interception for the Raiders to set up Miyazawa’s touchdown and Micah Shikada recovered the fumble on the punt to set up Nishigaya’s 18-yard touchdown on the next play.
Nishigaya, who rushed for 226 yards on 41 carries in the win over Damien two weeks ago, finished with 102 yards on 15 carries to reach the century mark for the third time this season.
His 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter gave ‘Iolani a 39-point lead to force a running clock.
Nanakuli drove to the ‘Iolani 20 on its final possession before time ran out. A 15-yard diving catch by Charles Hauhio and a 15-yard run by Lexsen Kunukau aided the Golden Hawks’ best offensive possession of the game.
A’alona Aleka had a team-high 59 rushing yards and Kunukau rushed for 45 yards and finished 7-for-16 passing for 55 yards.
‘Iolani defensive back Micah Camat had a game-high seven tackles.
GAME SUMMARY
No. 9 ‘Iolani 39, Nanakuli 0
At Nanakuli
>> ‘Iolani (6-2, 5-1) 19 13 7 0 — 39
>> Nanakuli (0-8, 0-5) 0 0 0 0 — 0
‘Iolani — Rexton Suzuki 1 run (kick failed)
‘Iolani — Jonah Miyazawa 20 pass from Jonah Chong (Mika Makekau kick)
‘Iolani — Kaua Nishigaya 12 run (pass failed)
‘Iolani — Nishigaya 18 run (kick blocked)
‘Iolani — Carter Kamana 11 pass from Chong (Makekau kick)
‘Iolani — Nishigaya 1 run (Makekau kick)
RUSHING — ‘Iolani: Nishigaya 15-102, Cole Ichikawa 5-17, Suzuki 7-12. Nanakuli: A’alona Aleka 15-59, Lexsen Kunukau 17-45.
PASSING — ‘Iolani: Chong 13-18-1-179, Sam Faumuina 1-3–0-13, Tate Shimao 3-3–0-(minus 4). Nanakuli: Kunukau 7-16-1-55, Aleka 1-3-0-6.
RECEIVING — ‘Iolani: Kamana 5-61, Rayden Kaneshiro 4-70, Miyazawa 3-42, Suzuki 2-(minus 10), Jake Yokogawa 1-13, Wailoa Manuel 1-6, Ichikawa 1-6. Nanakuli: Gavin Vea-Flint 3-23, Charles Hauhio 3-22, Aleka 2-16.
