Through two games, the Kalani Falcons have already outscored their entire season total from a year ago.
Nathaniel Balangitao’s two touchdown runs came in a 22-point second quarter that put an early end to Saturday night’s 29-8 victory over Kalaheo in the OIA Division II opener for both teams at Kaiser Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback Logan Lim threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns in his second career start to help the Falcons start 2-0 for the first time since 2000.
“In previous years we have been doing better, and then last year was a struggling year, but right now the kids are ready,” Kalani coach Scott Melemai said. “They’ve learned the system and the points they’ve put up are well worth the time they’ve put in.”
After losing 20 of their first 22 games in the series against Kalaheo (0-2, 0-1), the Falcons continued their recent dominance in the series with their seventh win in nine tries.
Kalani built a 29-0 lead at halftime, holding Kalaheo to just one first down on a roughing-the-passer penalty.
A 24-yard punt return by Race Manriki set up Kalani’s first score. Kalaheo had Kalani backed up in a third-and-23 situation but let Dillon Cortez get wide open behind the secondary for a 30-yard touchdown.
Balangitao, who rushed for a game-high 62 yards, scored twice on 2-yard runs.
His second came after receiver Pearl Lee caught her first pass of the season to put the ball on the 2 on fourth down.
Balangitao followed the right side of his offensive line to find the end zone for a 20-0 lead.
“As long as Nathaniel is running hard and he’s healthy and our O-line is pushing with that, we’ll see what the defense gives us,” Melemai said. “If they put a lot in the box, we’ll throw it, if they put (guys) outside then we’re going to run it. Nathaniel had a good game today.”
Kalaheo had negative yards in the first half but put together a much better second two quarters after the break.
The Mustangs drove inside the Kalani 15-yard line twice and came away empty before breaking through on Bryson Johnson’s 2-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs totaled 131 yards of offense in the second half and held Kalani scoreless.
“The energy was a heckuva lot different in the second half,” Kalaheo coach Darrell Poole said. “I think they were just a little bit shell-shocked when we started making mistakes on special teams, and on offense I think everything spiraled out. Once they settled down and realized we can play with them that was the outcome of the second half.”
Kalani can start 3-0 for the first time ever with a win at Nanakuli on Friday. Kalaheo will play Kaimuki on Friday at Skippa Diaz Stadium.
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Kalani 29, Kalaheo 8
At Kaiser
>> Kalaheo (0-2, 0-1) 0 0 0 8 — 8
>> Kalani (2-0, 1-0) 7 22 0 0 — 29
Kalani — Dillon Cortez 30 pass from Logan Lim (Kevin Tabuchi kick)
Kalani — Nathaniel Balangitao 2 run (kick blocked)
Kalani — Balangitao 2 run (Tabuchi kick)
Kalani — Safety, ball snapped out of end zone
Kalani — Noah Ah Sam 38 pass from Lim (Tabuchi kick)
Kalani — Bryson Johnson 2 run (Jonah Lene run)
RUSHING — Kalaheo: Payton Barber 12-65, Johnson 9-27, Jack Lemonds 1-8, Sheldon Mejia 1-(minus 3), Isaiah Akiu 2-(minus 6), TEAM 2-(minus 49). Kalani: Balangitao 17-62, Connor Mararagan 1-2, Jake Lee 1-2, TEAM 1-(minus 1), Lim 6-(minus 2).
PASSING — Kalaheo: Akiu 12-25–2-70. Kalani: Lim 11-20–0-154.
RECEIVING — Kalaheo: Mejia 4-27, Lene 3-19, Jordan Neufeldt 3-18, Riis Webber 2-6. Kalani: Jake Lee 4-26, Cortez 2-63, Ah Sam 2-45, Pearl Lee 2-11, Balangitao 1-9.
Also
>> Waialua 31, Nanakuli 7
NONLEAGUE
>> Kamehameha-Hawaii 56, Waiakea 6
>> Kamehameha-Maui 39, Molokai 0
