GAME NIGHT 8/18: Kahuku/Waianae
Kahuku running back Elvis Vakapuna battled for yards against Waianae in the OIA semifinals last year. Photo by Jamm Aquino/Star-Advertiser.
FINALLY. For the first time since 1975, Kahuku heads out to the West side to face Waianae at Raymond Torii Stadium. Waianae hasn’t beaten Kahuku since 2001, a span of 17 straight losses. The Seariders haven’t even scored on the Red Raiders since 2014 as Kahuku has posted four shutouts in a row in the series. It doesn’t bode well that the Seariders have scored one touchdown in eight quarters so far this season.
Kahuku hasn’t won in Waianae since 1974 when the immortal Josiah Hubbell was the quarterback. Waianae hasn’t had a 100-yard rusher against Kahuku since Duane Miller in 1998 and have only had four since 1973. Waianae hasn’t started a season 0-3 since 2011, when they started 0-4.
Kahuku best passing against Waianae: Inoke Funaki, 268 yards in 2000
Kahuku best rushing vs. Waianae: Jason Keo, 279 yards in 1995
Kahuku best receiving vs. Waianae: Spencer Hafoka with 183 yard in 2003
Waianae best passing vs. Kahuku: Kekoa Kaluhiokalani with 240 yards in 2013
Waianae best rushing vs. Kahuku: Reed Aken 150 yards in 1985
Waianae best receiving vs. Kahuku: Ikaika Gilman 134 yards in 1995
The series was given the nickname ‘The Crunch Bowl’ some time ago.
NO. 2 KAHUKU RED RAIDERS (1-0) Head coach: Makoa Freitas 2017 Red Raiders roster
VS.
NO. 8 WAIANAE SEARIDERS (0-2) Head coach: Walter Young 2017 Seariders roster
No. 2 Kahuku 37, No. 8 Waianae 0
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*** NO. 2 KAHUKU 37, NO. 8 WAIANAE 0, FINAL ***
Kahuku’s defense smothers Waianae from start to finish, allowing just 15 yards of total offense. Kahuku’s offense generated a moderate 264 total yards, while as a whole the Red Raiders finished with 19 penalties for 160 yards.
At Raymond Torii Field Kahuku (2-0, 2-0) 0 17 13 7 — 37 Waianae (0-3, 0-2) 0 0 0 0 — 0 KAH—Enoch Nawahine 1 run (Duke Heffernan kick) KAH—Nawahine 34 run (Heffernan kick) KAH—FG Heffernan 28 KAH—Peter John Mataira 28 pass from Sol-Jay Maiava (kick failed) KAH—Miki Ah You 53 punt return (Heffernan kick) KAH—Joseph Purcell 8 pass from Maiava (Heffernan kick) JV—Kahuku 27, Waianae 0.
RUSHING—Kahuku: Heffernan 8-99, Maiava 7-21, J.L. Lavea 8-16, Alex Fonoimoana-Vaomu 1-7, Samisoni Fotofili 1-5, Ikaika Togiai 1-1. Waianae: Eteuati Lui 2-1, Rico Rosario 15-(-9), Elijah Lujan 2-1, Kenneth Joseph Jr. 4-(-1), Skyler Kaleiohi 2-7, Jeris Oliveros 1-(-4).
PASSING—Kahuku: Maiava 8-18-1-115. Waianae: Rosario 2-14-1-20.
RECEIVING—Kahuku: Sitaleki Tongi 2-14, Thornton Alapa 1-14, Mataira 2-43, Purcell 1-8, Fonoimoana-Vaomu 1-23, Lokana Enos 1-13. Waianae: Keoki Davis 2-20.
*** KAHUKU 37, WAIANAE 0, 6:06, Q4 ***
Kahuku drives 45 yards in eight plays. Maiava to Joseph Purcell on an 8-yard TD toss.
Waianae can’t protect Rosario against this Kahuku front seven. Another sack ends the series, punt.
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Waianae’s Kaimana Swann-Merritt intercepts a deep pass by Maiava for a touchback. The third quarter ends with Waianae second and 11 at its 19.
*** KAHUKU 30, WAIANAE 0, 1:40, Q3 ***
Waianae drive stalls despite some gritty running by Rosario. Punt snap hits the ground and Ebel is hit as he punts. Miki Ah You returns the bouncing punt 53 yards for a TD. Not sure if it’s legal to hit the punter after the ball hits the ground, but it seems that’s the deal. Fans are irate about the no-call.
*** KAHUKU 23, WAIANAE 0, 6:11, Q3 ***
The Red Raiders receive the kickoff to start the second half and go on a 15-play, 82-yard drive. It ends with a 23-yard strike from Maiava to Peter John Mataira on a go route down the hash. PAT kick caroms off the left upright, no good.
*** KAHUKU 17, WAIANAE 0, HALF ***
Kahuku has a modest 135 yards of total offense in the half, but has clearly controlled the line of scrimmage. The young Seariders are hanging in there, but if they don’t punch it across the goal line soon, Kahuku will just run out the clock with that excellent offensive line.
At Raymond Torii Field Kahuku 7 10 xx xx — 17 Waianae 0 0 xx xx — xx
KAH—Enoch Nawahine 1 run (Duke Heffernan kick) KAH—Nawahine 34 run (Heffernan kick) KAH—FG Heffernan 28
JV—Kahuku 27, Waianae 0.
RUSHING—Kahuku: Nawahine 8-99, Maiava 2-8, J.L. Lavea 1-0,
Waianae: Eteuati Lui 2-1, Rico Rosario 9-(-5), Elijah Lujan 2-1, Kenneth Joseph Jr. 3-0, Skyler Kaleiohi 1-0, Jeris Oliveros 1-(-2).
PASSING—Kahuku: Maiava 3-10-0-28. Waianae: Rosario 2-7-1-20.
RECEIVING—Kahuku: Sitaleki Tongi 2-14, Thornton Alapa 1-14,
Waianae: Keoki Davis 2-20.
*** KAHUKU 17, WAIANAE 0, :02, Q2
Maiava scrambles for 9 yards and tosses a 10-yard strike on third and 1. Holding fall pushes Kahuku back to the 22, but Waianae is called for pass interference in the end zone. Mauga had tight coverage there. Maiava incomplete pass and Waianae calls time out. Heffernan drills a 28-yard field goal with :02 to go in the half.
Waianae in a funk here, needs something to happen. Third and 12 the snap sails past Rosario, who wasn’t ready. He scoops the ball up by the goal line with a handful of Red Raiders on his tail and slings the ball downfield. Pass interference on Kahuku, first down. WOW. Third and 11, Rosario hurls a beautiful pass down the hash mark and just misses his target. Timing just a bit off but impressive for a lifetime RB. Punt snap goes over Ebel’s head, but he hustles for it and turns it into a 5-yard punt. Ball at the Waianae 41 for Kahuku with 1:24 left in the first half.
Kahuku with penalties intermittently in the first half. This time, delay of game sets them back. Third and one, Maiava sacked on the play-action. Sekope Latu punt is downed at the Waianae 24.
Waianae offense really struggling now. Kahuku major penetration against the run, and on third and 12, Rosario barely got the snap before being sacked. Punt plus Kahuku penalty on the return, it’s Big Red ball at its 37.
*** KAHUKU 14, WAIANAE 0, 9:05, Q2
Kahuku needs just four plays to reach paydirt. The O-line is smashing the right side and springing Nawahine. They keep running to the opposite side of Mauga and it’s simple and successful. Nawahine tears off gains of 14, 11 and then 34 yards for a TD. Kick is good. Kahuku starting to assert its dominance.
Waianae’s next possession ends with a third-down sack. Ebel’s punt is downed at the Kahuku 41.
*** KAHUKU 7, WAIANAE 0, 11:56, Q2 ***
Power-I goal-line set for Kahuku and Nawahine scoots through easily for a 1-yard TD. Duke Heffernan adds the PAT kick.
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Nawahine with a nice 26-yard run to the right on the read-option give by Maiava. He is tackled by Kana‘i Mauga at the 9, saving the TD. The Red Raiders move to the 1 on a third-down scramble by Maiava as the opening quarter ends.
Not even Rosario can do anything about Kahuku’s pass rush. He is under pressure on third and 10 and throws to an offensive lineman, which is illegal, but the pass caroms off him and is snagged by Kahuku for an interception. First down at the Waianae 36.
Kahuku’s opening series is a quick first down, very conservative with dives up the guy by Enoch Nawahine. But Sol-Jay Maiava’s third-down pass is short. Punt. Waianae ball at its 36. The punt returner muffed it but recovered.
Rico Rosario has opened the game at quarterback, which I believe is a first for him at any point in his illustrious varsity career. He sneaks for a first down on third and 1. He passes for 15 yards on second and 15. He scrambles for 7 yards on third and 6. What’s going on here?? Amazing. This is a genius move. Drive stalls, Tate Ebel’s punt is a touchback.
Conditions are virtually perfect. No rain clouds, trades 5-15 mph. Dry weather. Kahuku wins the kickoff and elects to defer until the second half. Waianae will receive.
GAME NIGHT 8/18: Kahuku/Waianae
#InokeFunaki #JasonKeo #SpencerHafoka #MakoaFreitas #EnochNawahine #DukeHeffernan #PeterJohnMataira #MikiAhYou #JosephPurcell #SolJayMaiava #SekopeLatu