KEAAU — Kamehameha’s uptempo offense was so busy scoring touchdowns there was little time to fumble the football, an annoying problem a week ago.
KEAAU — Kamehameha’s uptempo offense was so busy scoring touchdowns there was little time to fumble the football, an annoying problem a week ago.
The Warriors had only a harmless giveaway, and routed Honokaa 55-7 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II game Friday at Paiea Stadium, where a steady rain tested ball-handling all night long.
Last week in a 39-28 loss at Hawaii Prep, the Warriors had a major issue with ball security with nine fumbles, with four lost, including three near red-zone territory.
Kamehameha (4-2 BIIF D-II, 4-2) rolled up 398 yards of offense against Honokaa (2-4 D-II, 2-4), which finished with 127 yards, most in mop-up time when the 35-point mercy clock was running.
Micah Kanehailua was 10 of 14 for 214 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, doing most of his damage early to stake the Warriors to a 35-7 halftime cushion. In the second half, the senior quarterback was 1 of 1 for 20 yards.
“I liked that we stuck to what we do well, as opposed to going for the big plays,” Kamehameha coach Dan Lyons said. “Our defensive guys played hard, filled gaps and tackled well. We didn’t give up a lot of yards.
“We made that a point of emphasis — no turnovers. In the last two games, we were up on people and controlled the game, but beat ourselves with turnovers.”
Chase Peneku led Kamehameha’s ground attack with 85 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries, highlighting his night with a nifty 41-yard scoring run. Kaeo Batacan added 60 yards and a score on nine attempts, all in the first half.
The Dragons were hit with a few injuries, including to linebackers Sione Epenesa and Keaka Swift. That was one significant reason the tackling at the second-level suffered. Once a Warrior busted through a hole, there was often little resistance to the end zone.
Kanehailua’s pass catchers enjoyed themselves. Grant Shiroma caught three balls for 66 yards. Bayley Manliguis hauled in three receptions for 57 yards, and Alapaki Iaea caught one pass for a 22-yard score.
Even when Kanehailua was on the bench, the Warriors still rolled. Shiroma is the backup QB and went 1 of 2 for 25 yards, and had two carries for 12 yards, including an 11-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
Kamehameha’s only turnover was in the third quarter when Kanehailua was hit from behind and fumbled. Honokaa had two giveaways, a fumble and an interception; David Kalili had a pick in the third quarter.
Honokaa quarterback Nainoa Falk was pretty much the main source of offense. He was 4 of 22 for 89 yards with a touchdown and pick. Falk had nine carries for seven yards; he had a 31-yard run but loss yardage diminished his total.
The Dragons often ran into a blue Warrior wall and went nowhere with their rushing attack. They finished with 38 yards on the ground.
The Warriors scored on the game’s opening drive, and three out of their first four possessions in the first quarter to grab a 21-0 cushion.
On the first play from scrimmage, Kanehailua threw a screen pass to Shiroma, who received good blocking and turned something short into a 17-yard gain. Iaea finished the seven-play drive with a 22-yard scoring strike.
Kanehailua’s throw was a little behind the line of scrimmage, and Iaea appeared trapped for a loss. But the senior receiver ran across the field, looked for a hole, and zipped through a seam after Honokaa’s second-level tacklers failed to take him down.
The theme of the game for the Warriors was throw a screen to the wideouts, get great blocking and watch them make something happen.
Shiroma started things off, but Iaea’s trapped touchdown reception was something else. Lyons liked that all night long Kanehailua fed his playmakers, like Iaea.
“The guy is such an athlete, and that’s what we’re preaching, to get the ball to our guys so they can make plays,” Lyons said. “We don’t need to throw the deep ball.”
The Warriors didn’t need throw the deep ball, not when they had 12 possessions, and scored six touchdowns, often turning something short into another score.
In the junior varsity game, it was Kamehameha 35, Honokaa 14.
Honokaa 0 7 0 0 — 7
Kamehameha 21 14 13 7 — 55
First quarter
KSH — Alapaki Iaea 22 pass from Micah Kanehailua (Preston Kalai kick), 10:19
KSH — Chase Peneku 2 run (Kalai run), 7:31
KSH — Peneku 5 run (kick failed), 0:00
Second quarter
KSH — Kamalu Whitney 62 pass from Kanehailua (Kalai kick), 9:40
KSH — Kaeo Batacan 4 run (Kalai kick), 6:29
Hon — Kelsey Kaniho 8 pass from Nainoa Falk (Keawe Lindsey kick), 1:59
Third quarter
KSH —Peneku 41 run (Kalai kick), 7:52
KSH — Noah Ah Chong 5 run (kick failed), 4:05
Fourth quarter
KSH — Grant Shiroma 11 run (Kala Muller kick), 9:23