By BILL O’REAR
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
KEAAU — Junior quarterback Micah Kanehailua fired two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including a dramatic 55-yard scoring strike to Logan Uyetake, to lift Kamehameha to a thrilling 26-23 win over Kalaheo on Saturday night.
It was the opening preseason football game for both the host Big Island Interscholastic Federation Warriors and the visiting Mustangs from the Oahu Interscholastic Association.
The game featured some outstanding plays on offense and defense, a combined nine turnovers, and a controversial unsportsmanlike conduct call on Kamehameha (1-0) late in the game that led to Kalaheo (0-1) marching into the endzone for the go-ahead score.
But with the game on the line and his team trailing 23-19 with 1:27 remaining, the gutsy Kanehailua rifled a long pass down the left sideline that the quick Uyetake grabbed, spun off the Mustang defender and raced into the endzone for what would prove to be the winning TD. Uyetake, a 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior, then kicked the extra point to stretch the Kamehameha lead to 26-23.
The Warriors then dug in defensively for a final time against the dangerous Mustangs. The hosts were able to deny promising Kalaheo quarterback Jack Bell on two straight pass attempts, to set up third down and 10 from the Warriors’ 13-yard line. But when the strong-armed Bell tried to find explosive Makena Johnston in the middle of the Kamehameha secondary, Kekolu Ramos intercepted the pass with less than a minute left to play.
The Warriors then ran out the time, with Kanehailua taking a knee on the last play before the hustling teams shook hands and walked off the field.
It was a hard-fought contest throughout and only hampered by a light drizzle and the lack of a working scoreboard.
In the opening half, Kamehameha struck first, taking a 6-0 lead on fullback Faaolaina Teofilo’s three-yard run with about 5:00 remaining in the first period. The two-point conversion pass failed.
The Mustangs, however, struck back on their first play from scrimmage after receiving the kickoff. Johnston, a terrific all-around two-way starter, took a handoff from Bell and busted loose on a 65-yard TD run to tie the score at 6-6. The extra-point kick failed.
But the 200-pound Teofilo answered again for the Warriors. He bulled in from the one-yard line early in the second quarter to give the hosts a 12-6 advantage. The Warriors’ attempt for a two-point conversion failed as Kalaheo swarmed the run and denied the offensive surge.
The Mustangs then drove down the field with 1:22 left in the half and James Geren kicked a 32-yard field goal to pull the visitors to within 12-9 at the intermission. And Kalaheo must have been thrilled to be so close since it fumbled the ball away three times during the half with Kamehameha’s Timothy Burke, Malcom Baptiste and Joyden Madriaga recovering the pigskin.
Teofilo rushed for 76 yards on 11 carries and scored twice in a productive first half. But he was bothered by a hamstring in the second half and only ran the ball three times for five yards.
That meant Kanehailua, a 5-10, 150-pound QB, needed to step up and get help from his teammates in the second half. In the first half, Kanehailua completed 5 of 10 passes for 31 yards. But after a scoreless third period and seeing Kalaheo take a 16-12 lead on Kawika Cavnh’s eight-yard TD run in that quarter, the gritty junior relaxed and started finding his targets.
In the fourth quarter, Kanehailua hit on 6 of 8 passes for 124 yards and two TDs.
Baptiste, a 6-2, 190-pound senior, recovered a Kalaheo fumble early in the period to give the Warriors the football on their own 32-yard line. Then Kanehailua went to work, completing four straight passes, including a pair to Caleb Baptiste and a 27-yarder to Alapaki Iaea.
But Kalaheo’s defense stiffened and after missing on two passes in a row and being sacked for an eight-yard loss at the Mustangs’ 24-yard line, Kanehailua sidestepped a Kalaheo rusher and then fired a 24-yard TD pass to the streaking Iaea. That clutch play gave the Warriors an 18-16 lead before Uyetake drilled the extra point to stretch the margin to 19-16.
The Mustangs then tried to rally with a little over 6:00 left in the game. They drove to the Kamehameha 42-yard line and had a fourth down and two yards to go for a first down. But Warrior Pono Davis powered through the line and sacked Bell for a big loss — or at least that is what Kamehameha coach Dan Lyons and the Warrior fans thought.
However, a yellow flag was dropped on the play and the Warriors were called for unsportsmanlike conduct for a Warrior defender celebrating. That penalty pushed the ball to the Kamehameha 27-yard line and gave the Mustangs a first down.
Then Johnston took charge again with his sterling running as Kalaheo scored the go-ahead TD. Johnson ran the ball three times during that drive, for 11, 2 and the final 11 yards to make it 22-19. Geven kicked the extra point for a 23-19 advantage with 2:06 remaining.
That set the stage for Kamehameha’s final offensive heroics. Iaea ran the Kalaheo kickoff back 35 yards to the Warriors’ 45-yard line. And on first down, Kanehailua and Uyetake connected on their 55-yard scoring play to lift the hosts on top a final time.
Kanehailua finished the evening with 12 completions in 20 attempts for 169 yards and two TDs. He also had two interceptions.
Bell hit on 6 of 14 passes for 118 yards. He had two interceptions while the Mustangs also turned the ball over five times on fumbles.
For the game, Kamehameha had 67 yards rushing and 169 passing for 236 total yards. Kalaheo finished with 83 yards rushing and 118 passing for 201 total yards. Johnston led in rushing with 91 yards in 10 carries to go along with his two TDs. He also had an impressive defensive performance, showcasing his all-around abilities as a football player.
Preseason action continues Friday night when Hilo hosts crosstown rival Waiakea at Wong Stadium. On Saturday, it’s Waimea at Hawaii Prep (2 p.m.), King Kekaulike at Kamehameha (JV-1 p.m.), Konawaena at Maui High (7 p.m.) and Honokaa at Keaau (4:30 p.m. varsity).
At Keaau
Kalaheo 6 3 7 7 — 23
Kamehameha 6 6 0 14 — 26
First quarter
KSH — Faaolaina Teofilo 3 run (pass failed), 5:00
KAL — Makena Johnston 65 run (kick failed), 2:00
Second quarter
KSH — Teofilo 1 run (run failed), 9:00
KAL — Geren 32 yard field goal, 1:22
Third quarter
KAL — Kawika Cavnh 8 run (Geren kick), 6:00
Fourth quarter
KSH — Micah Kanehailua 24 pass to Alapaki Iaea (Uyetake kick), 7:48
KAL — Johnston 11 run (Geren kick), 1:58
KSH — Kanehailua 55 pass to Uyetake (Uyetake kick), 1:27