Last Saturday, Hawaii Prep football coach Jordan Hayslip was at a loss for words after Kamehameha dominated the game’s basics, blocking and tackling, and a few other things.
The Warriors won 45-0 in a BIIF game that could have been far more lopsided. Kamehameha had a red-zone turnover, and missed on another passing attempt with a receiver running free in the end zone.
On the missed touchdown attempt, sophomore quarterback DallasJ Duarte overthrew his receiver on a fourth-and-22 from the HPA 32 in the second quarter. All QBs misfire, even those in the NFL.
What was surprising was how open the receiver was, more than five yards away from his defender. It was obvious before the second quarter that the Warriors held a significant advantage in team speed.
Duarte passed for 307 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair to Makana Manoa, who snagged six catches for 87 yards.
HPA had a tough time covering Manoa, a 6-foot-1 junior. He’s not even the fastest Warrior. Tre Evans-Dumaran is. He’s the BIIF champion in the 100 and 200 meters. The 5-9 senior caught two long passes for 88 yards.
The defending champion Warriors (5-2 BIIF, 8-2 overall) host HPA (2-5, 2-6) in the BIIF Division II semifinals at 3 p.m. Saturday at Paiea Stadium.
HPA last won the BIIF title in 2009 when the roster was blessed with college-caliber talent, including offensive lineman Shane Brostek (Washington), quarterback Keanu Yamamoto (Linfield) and running back Keoni Colson (Laverne).
After the loss, Hayslip was less concerned about the speed disadvantage than the struggles his Ka Makani had in the trenches.
Kaeo Batacan rushed for 142 yards on 17 carries, inflicting most of the damage in the first half. The defense had a monster effort, and held HPA to negative 45 rushing yards on 19 attempts.
“Kamehameha ran the ball well, and No. 3 (Batacan) is a very good running back,” Hayslip said. “Their offensive line blocked really well. They played a very physical game. We have to get our guys to get off blocks.”
His last sentence carried the most weight.
To somewhat neutralize Kamehameha’s receiver speed, the HPA corners could take deeper drops, and employ a bend-but-don’t-break strategy.
Batacan would have more space to run, and Duarte would target intermediate crossing routes for second-and-short all day long. Hopefully, Evans-Dumaran wouldn’t be torching the secondary.
Battles at the line of scrimmage are much different. It’s not so much about strategy or technique (linemen playing head-up, or inside or outside shade) as it is about determination.
Too often on both sides of the ball, Kamehameha enforced its will and pushed HPA off its gap. The battle for precious real estate at the line of scrimmage belonged to the Warriors, whose depth wore down the smaller Ka Makani.
The Warrior O-line also did a large share of second-level blocking to disengage senior Anthony Palleschi, HPA’s top playmaker, a fast-and-physical 6-2, 210-pound presence at linebacker.
On one play, Batacan slipped out of the backfield and caught a pass. Palleschi rushed on the play-fake, back-tracked out of traffic, and chased down Batacan for the tackle. That highlighted Palleschi’s ability to find the ball, and make a play.
Sometimes, the best medicine isn’t a play scheme drawn on a chalkboard, but the hard work at the following practice. It also helps to have a coach who can motivate his players to practice and play hard.
Hayslip made sure to get that message across to his Ka Makani before they left Paiea Stadium on Kamehameha’s Senior night, in what was basically a tuneup game.
“We have to get back to work and stay positive,” he said in the stadium’s darkness, a week ago. “We have to get our guys’ confidence back.”
Keaau (0-7 BIIF Division I, 0-8) at Kealakehe (6-1, 7-3), 7 p.m. Saturday
In contrast to the other three semifinals, this isn’t a rematch of a blowout in the regular season.
In a game marked by turnovers Sept. 26, the Cougars were hanging tough and trailed only 7-0 late in the third quarter until the Waveriders used the first of their two pick-six interception returns to pull away.
“That’s something that we’re clinging on to,” Keaau coach Kalei Young said. “Kealakehe is probably the best game that we’ve played. We probably had the most execution we’ve had all year against Kealakehe.”
The Cougars, however, will have to clean things up offensively. Though Keaau forced six turnovers, it turned the ball over eight times, with Sequoia Iona collecting four interceptions.
After riding Kobe Antolin’s two touchdown runs in the regular-season win, the Waveriders also will have Riggs Kurashige this time around.
