Jonan Aina-Chaves rushed for 199 yards, leading the Saints to a 20-14 win in a game marred by weather, injuries and a mini skirmish between coaches in the postgame handshake.
The start of the game was delayed by half an hour due to lightning in the area. After referees gave the all-clear to play, a sloppy first half ensued.
The teams combined for 13 penalties for 154 yards in the first half. In addition, St. Francis offensive lineman Siotame Haunga was ejected for a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, both for shoves after the whistle. At the end of the first quarter, Roosevelt tailback Mitchell Camacho was helped off the field with a lower body injury.
In Camacho’s place, Keneke Gusman broke off a 35-yard touchdown in the second quarter, giving Roosevelt the lead. But on the next drive, St. Francis responded with an eight play, 67-yard drive, capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Aina-Chaves.
The third quarter started well, as the teams exchanged touchdowns. But things went south quickly for the Saints when quarterback Bubba Akana went down with an ankle injury. After getting up and trying to hobble off, Akana again collapsed to the turf and had to be helped off the field. On the very next play, backup Jonah Aina-Chaves fumbled handing the ball off and Roosevelt recovered.
The second half was no better in terms of penalties. St. Francis alone racked up 10 penalties for 109 yards, two of which negated long touchdown runs. A holding call erased a 76-yard run by Jonan Aina-Chaves, and another took away an 80-yard run by Shepherd Kekahuna. Altogether, St. Francis had 17 penalties for 172 yards, while Roosevelt had 11 for 141.
Kekahuna struck again in the fourth, however, breaking free for a 55-yard sprint in what proved to be the game-winning score with 5:37 left.
Meanwhile, the injury bug continued to strike. Camacho, back in after his early injury, re-aggravated his injury and limped back off the field. Also, Roosevelt wide receiver Kirk Calinao went down with what appeared to be a knee injury, and had to be carried off by teammates.
Then, to cap the game off, the coaching staffs from both teams got into what looked like a pushing match during the postgame handshake and had to be separated. St. Francis quickly departed afterward.
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GAME SUMMARY
St. Francis 20, Roosevelt 14
At Roosevelt
>> St. Francis (9-0, 8-0) 0 6 8 6 — 20
>> Roosevelt (8-1, 6-1) 0 7 7 0 — 14
Roosevelt — Keneke Gusman 35 run (Mason Morishige kick)
St. Francis — Jonan Aina-Chaves 5 run (pass failed)
St. Francis — Jonan Aina-Chaves 19 run (Jonan Aina-Chaves run)
Roosevelt — Sky Ogata 20 run (Morishige kick)
St. Francis — Shepherd Kekahuna 55 run (pass failed)
RUSHING — St. Francis: Jonan Aina-Chaves 25-199, Kekahuna 3-54, Dayton Leon 3-48, Bubba Akana 4-2, Jonah Aina-Chaves 1-0. Roosevelt: Keneke Gusman 11-61, Sky Ogata 9-41, Mitchell Camacho 7-21, Kevin Davis 2-2, Scott Chung 1-(minus 1).
PASSING — St. Francis: Akana 5-17-0-45, Jonah Aina-Chaves 0-3-0-0. Roosevelt: Ogata 8-25-0-77.
RECEIVING — St. Francis: Jett Tanuvasa 2-38, Jonan Aina-Chaves 2-3, Chase Akana 1-4. Roosevelt: Chung 3-36, Nicholas Ogata 2-21, Aalona Monteilh 1-10, Caine Fitiasui-Fung 1-6, Miya Kukahiwa 1-4.
