LAHAINA >> A special sort of evening propelled top-seeded Lahainaluna into a third straight First Hawaiian Bank/ HHSAA football Division II championship game.
The Lunas scored three special teams touchdowns to boost a sloppy offense, and the hosts’ defense turned up the heat at “The Imu” in cooking visiting Roosevelt as they have any number of comers in the Maui Interscholastic League.
Tre Rickard put the finishing touches on the 48-10 semifinal rout Saturday with 48- and 54-yard scoring returns on consecutive Roosevelt punts in the fourth quarter. In 20 years of state tournament play, the Lunas became the first team of any division to score more than one special teams touchdown.
“We hang our hat on our defense, and they once again delivered,” said Lunas co-coach Garret Tihada. “Along with our special teams, it just broke the game wide open for us.”
The Lunas, winners of 20 straight, face Kapaa, a opponent they beat 30-10 in nonleague play, for a third straight state title on Saturday at Aloha Stadium.
Lahainaluna (10-0) was off for three weeks after dominating the MIL, including a bye in the state tournament, whereas OIA champion Roosevelt (12-2) had to fend off Pac-Five then travel to the Valley Isle’s west flank.
First-half big plays kept Lahainaluna plowing ahead despite three lost fumbles before halftime in its multiple-set offense.
When the Rough Riders scored first on Mason Morishige’s 25-yard field goal, set up by one of the fumbles, the response was swift. And emphatic. Kamalei Watson weaved up the middle on the ensuing kickoff for the 87-yard score.
“It was something that we’ve been practicing for the past three weeks of our bye,” Watson said of the special-team scores. “So we had to perfect it.”
“A lot of missed assignments,” Roosevelt coach Kui Kahooilihala said. “Not being where we’re supposed to be. But then again, Lahainaluna, these guys, they’re tough, man. They’re quick, and just very athletic, man.”
Offensively, Kaihulali Casco led the Lunas with a modest three catches — worth 120 yards and two touchdowns. He outdueled defensive backs on two right-sideline lobbed balls for his scores, a 72-yard connection with Nainoa Irish in the second quarter and a 39-yarder from Esekielu Storer in the third that helped blow the game open at 34-10.
“We’ve had a few games where we’ve had to go to the pass because the running game was getting stuck in the middle,” Casco said. “Coach would just tell us to go outside, try the corners.”
Roosevelt junior quarterback Sky Ogata impressed the Maui crowd with his dual-threat elusiveness. He scored a 16-yard touchdown on fourth and 1 in the second quarter, temporarily getting his team back in it at 27-10. He took a helmet-removing hit in the third and wobbled to the sideline, but he returned before the finish.
The Lunas dominated time of possession, nearly 33 minutes to the Rough Riders’ 14.
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GAME SUMMARY
Lahainaluna 48, Roosevelt 10
At Lahainaluna
>> Roosevelt (12-2) 3 7 0 0 — 10
>> Lahainaluna (10-0)1413 7 14 — 48
Roosevelt — FG Mason Morishige 25
Lahainaluna — Kamalei Watson 87 kickoff return (Kaihulali Casco kick)
Lahainaluna — Derek Perez 3 run (Casco kick)
Lahainaluna — Casco 72 pass from Nainoa Irish (Casco kick)
Lahainaluna — Joshua Tihada 46 run (kick failed)
Roosevelt — Sky Ogata 16 run (Morishige kick)
Lahainaluna — Casco 39 pass from Esekielu Storer (Pablo Rico kick)
Lahainaluna — Tre Rickard 48 punt return (Rico kick)
Lahainaluna — Rickard 54 punt return (Rico kick)
RUSHING — Roosevelt: Ogata 19-56, Myka Kukahiwa 12-41, Kevin Davis 3-18, Aalona Monteilh 4-15, Keneke Gusman 4-6, Devin Naihe 1-1, Brandon Teixiera 1-(minus 3). Lahainaluna: Tihada 10-63, William Kai Bookland 1-12, Perez 3-11, Esekielu Storer 1-6, Irish 3-6, Jonah Damasco 3-4, Imee Koike 1-(minus 2), Watson 1-(minus 2), Etuati Storer 1-(minus 21).
PASSING — Roosevelt: Ogata 7-14-2-44, Teixiera 1-1-0-3. Lahainaluna: Esekielu Storer 4-5-0-68, Irish 3-4-0-92, Etuati Storer 1-1-0-14.
RECEIVING — Roosevelt: Isaac Kaleikau 3-10, Scott Chung 2-22, Caine Fitiausi-Fung 1-12, Nicholas Ogata 1-3, Kukahiwa 1-0. Lahainaluna: Casco 3-120, Miki Winter-Tufuga 1-15, Devon Sa Chisolm 1-14, Elijah Oliveira-Kalalau 1-14, Kawehi Gillcoat 1-6, Brian Sandoval 1-5.
