Jared Rochas-Islas led a punishing rushing attack with three touchdowns and quarterback Makoa Filikitonga-Lukela also scored three times as top-seeded Lahainaluna overwhelmed Kamehameha-Hawaii 52-7 in a Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II semifinal at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui.
Jared Rochas-Islas led a punishing rushing attack with three touchdowns and quarterback Makoa Filikitonga-Lukela also scored three times as top-seeded Lahainaluna overwhelmed Kamehameha-Hawaii 52-7 in a Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II semifinal at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui.
The Maui Interscholastic League champion Lunas (10-0) intercepted Micah Kanehailua five times and will face Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Iolani (7-3) at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the state championship game at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
The Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Warriors (8-3) were hoping to become the league’s first team to reach the Division II title game, but those hopes were dashed early.
Filikitonga-Lukela threw for a touchdown, ran for one and scored on a pick-six.
The Lunas rumbled for 276 yards on the ground, getting 79 from Rochas-Isla and 74 more from Filikitonga-Lukela.
Kanehailua finished his high school career 11 of 27 for 81 yards.
The Warriors’ lone bright spot offensively was Kanehailua’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Kainalu Whitney, which cut their deficit to 24-7 in the second quarter.
The way Lahainaluna ran the ball, Filikitonga-Lukea didn’t throw often, going just 6 of 9 for 100 yards. But he hooked up with Josten Saribay on a 42-yard scoring strike, and then Filikitonga-Lukea took back an interception 66 yards as Lahainaluna led 45-7 at halftime.
Kamehameha finished with 46 rushing yards on 29 attempts
The final will a rematch of the 2012 title game, which the Red Raiders won for their sixth consecutive championship. Earlier at War Memorial on Saturday, second-seeded Iolani edged Kapaa 29-24 in the other semifinal.
Kamehameha 0 7 0 0 — 7
Lahainaluna 17 28 7 0 — 52