KEAAU — Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Kamehameha has talked about taking steps all season, but Saturday night the Warriors took a giant leap into the history books, knocking off OIA champion and formerly undefeated Nanakuli 42-20 in the opening
KEAAU — Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Kamehameha has talked about taking steps all season, but Saturday night the Warriors took a giant leap into the history books, knocking off OIA champion and formerly undefeated Nanakuli 42-20 in the opening round of the HHSAA Division II tournament at Paiea Stadium.
The win is just the third for the BIIF at the state tournament, and a first ever for Kamehameha. The Big Island now has an overall record of 3-29 at states, with the other two wins belonging to HPA (2004, ’09).
“This win was is just another step, but a historic step,” said Kamehameha head coach Dan Lyons. “It validates all the preparation and hard work everyone put in leading up to this. We weren’t perfect today by any means, but it is a great win.”
Kamehameha-Hawaii will play top-seeded Lahainaluna in a 6 p.m. game Saturday at War Memorial Stadium on Maui.
Senior quarterback Micah Kanehailua finished his final home game for the Warriors 13 of 30 for 190 and three touchdowns — two to Bayley Manliguis.
Kanehailua also added 18 yards and a score on the ground. His only blemish was a harmless interception late in the first half that came on a tipped pass.
The three-year starter was ecstatic after the win.
“This feels amazing,” said Kanehailua. “It’s crazy how hard we have had to work to get to this point, and it feels that much better to know we are making history.”
The 42 points put up by Kamehameha is the most against Nanakuli this season, but Kanehailua was quick to credit his stingy defense for holding the high-powered Hawks’ offense to just 20 points.
“These past few weeks, the defense has stepped up big time for us,” said Kanehailua. “They made stops when they needed to, forced turnovers and just put out an incredible performance.”
Wayne Amps Nurial Dacalio led Kamehameha with six tackles, while two-way lineman Pono Davis disrupted the Golden Hawks backfield, recording four tackles and a sack. Preston Kalai and Grant Shiroma each had first quarter interceptions.
“Their offense does a lot of stuff we do, so our defense got a chance to see what that offense would look like a lot in practice,” said Lyons.
While the Hawks hung around until the fourth quarter, the Warriors only trailed early.
Nanakuli forced a punt and then swiftly drove the ball down the field on its first possession, concluding on a two-yard scamper from Makaila Haina-Horswill into the end zone.
Less than two minutes later, Kanehailua scored on a 5-yard read option keeper. An extra point from Grant Shiroma put the Warriors up 7-6.
“I didn’t think we took advantage of a lot of things we could had on our first series,” said Lyons. “But what I was really happy with was that we came right back after they scored. It just rolled from there.”
While Kanehailua’s possess great running ability, it has only been demonstrated on occasion, steadily increasing as the season progressed. Lyons said it’s by design.
“In the beginning, we did not want him to run. It was a give or pass option on those reads,” said Lyons, citing injury concerns. “But then as the season progressed we let him run a little, but told him not to do the Johnny Manziel thing. Just run, get down, or get out of bounds.”
Kanehailua ran eight times against the Golden Hawks, but the threat he showed on the Warriors’ first score kept the defense honest, opening holes for the backs. Kaeo Batacan had two touchdowns, and combined with Chase Peneku for 147 yards on the ground.
The Warriors added to their first-quarter lead with a 33-yard strike from Kanehailua to Bayley Manliguis, set up by a Preston Kalai interception. But Nanakuli remained in striking distance after Haina-Horswill turned the corner and ran 44 yards down the sideline.
Haina-Horswill only managed to get to the outside a few times against the Warriors, but took advantage when he did. He also rushed for an 83-yard score, and the speedy senior finished with 149 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
The teams combined for 48 first-half points, but heavy rain cooled the offensive fireworks.
“We got into a part of the game where we could not run the ball,” said Lyons. “We are a spread offense that has to run the ball. If we don’t have the ball we get stymied, especially in the weather we had today.”
Nanakuli 13 7 0 0 — 20
Kamehameha 21 7 0 14 — 42
First quarter
Nana — Makaila Haina-Horswil 2 run (kick failed)
KSH — Micah Kanehailua 5 run (Grant Shiroma kick)
KSH — Bayley Manliguis 33 pass from Kanehailua (Shiroma kick)
NANA — Haina-Horswil 44 run (Clifford Cunningham kick)
KSH — Kaeo Bacatan 15 run (Preston Kalai kick)
Second quarter
KSH — Bacatan 9 run (Kalai kick)
NANA — Haina-Horswil 83 run (Cunningham kick)
Fourth quarter
KSH — Shiroma 41 pass from Kanehailua (Kalai kick)
KSH — Manliguis 15 pass from Kanehailua (Kalai kick)
