KAILUA-KONA — Despite showing grit and intensity in all four quarters, Kealakehe football fell to Kea‘au in its Week 2 matchup by a score of 49-21 on Saturday night at Waverider Stadium. The Waveriders move to 0-2 while the Cougars won their first game of the year in impressive fashion with their passing offense firing on all cylinders.
“We had some bright spots, but we had some breakdowns as well,” Kealakehe Head Coach Wyatt Nahale said postgame. “What I liked most from them was that we never gave up.”
Sophomore quarterback Brennen Nishihara made his season debut, getting the nod as the starter. Freshman Lawai‘a Nahakuelua saw some action at the end of the second half. Nishihara was aggressive with his throws, finding receivers Kainalu Willis and Alika Rigaud on a multitude of big gains throughout the night.
“He had some bright spots,” Nahale said of the young quarterback. “With him being so young, I need to work with him on that mental block in his head — like getting rid of the ball on time and not holding it for so long.
“But those things will come as he matures.”
Kea‘au struck first in the second quarter, sparked by quarterback Diego Pettypool finding Sean Randall on an over-the-shoulder connection down the seam to put the Cougars in the red zone. Josiah Nihoa ran it in on the next snap for the touchdown.
It didn’t take long for Kealakehe to answer back. Returning the kick on the next sequence, Willis brought it back for over 80 yards for the score — earning the Waveriders’ only lead of the game at 7-6.
Kea‘au wasn’t close to being done. Pettypool then threw a laser to Katin Kaluhiwa-Yamaguchi on the next drive, giving the Cougars touchdown number two. Sean Randall caught three more touchdown passes from Pettypool in the ensuing possessions, lengthening Kea‘au’s early lead.
“Our defensive ends were getting double-teamed and washed out on the outside while we wanted to contain things inside,” Nahale said of how Kea‘au attacked Kealakehe’s defense. “There were also some things we could’ve done better with our secondary when guarding the deep ball.”
The Waveriders’ offense finally found life again late in the third quarter when Nishihara completed a couple of big throws to Willis to move the chains. Nishihara then elected to attack the open gap in a run-pass option two snaps later, rushing in for the touchdown.
But the Cougars’ prolific offense continued to wear down Kealakehe. Kea‘au began to utilize the run game more consistently to keep the Waveriders on their toes — with Pettypool taking it for himself for a 2-yard rushing touchdown to keep the extended lead intact.
However, the Waveriders showed fight until the end. In danger of a sack late in the fourth quarter, Nishihara found Willis in the flat, taking it over 70 yards for the final Kealakehe score of the night.
“This is a group that just doesn’t quit,” Nahale said. “Our strength is that we persevere.”
Kea‘au scored one more time in the final minute with another Pettypool touchdown pass to Kaluhiwa-Yamaguchi. Pettypool finished with six total touchdowns.
The Waveriders will have a quick turnaround for Week 3, setting their sights on Sequoia (Calif.) at 6 p.m. Friday at Waverider Stadium to continue its early-season homestand.