WAIMEA — The Ka‘u High School football team’s win streak ended as Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy’s win streak increased to three, as Ka Makani defeated the visiting Trojans 38-0 on Saturday afternoon.
HPA scored 28 points during the first half, also forcing two punts and five turnovers on downs throughout the bout.
The Trojans, however, did not walk away with no highlights — as Isaiah Manila-Louis recovered a fumble and Adadiyah Ellis-Reyes and La‘a Kajiwara-Ke intercepted passes.
Ka Makani took the opening kickoff, which Alaka‘i Aipia returned to the 50-yard line. After HPA moved quickly upfield, Aipia carried in a ten-yard touchdown run.
Near the start of the second quarter, Ka Makani had stopped Ka‘u’s offense twice and was in again possession of the ball within the 10-yard line. HPA attempted to run the ball in, but it was fumbled. Luckily for Ka Makani, lineman Aaron Jung recovered the ball inside the endzone to score a touchdown.
HPA’s next touchdown came five minutes later when Aipia scored on an eight-yard carry.
After forcing another punt, Ka Makani put up another seven points. Quarterback Hayden Kalama connected a 25-yard touchdown pass to Aipia, who juked a defender near the 10-yard line before scoring.
Ka‘u nearly drove to the redzone after receiving the kickoff, but was stopped and suffered another turnover on downs. Ka Makani swiftly moved the ball back into Trojan territory, then Jaren Peltier ran in a 15-yard touchdown.
The clock began running, and the rest of the game went quickly. Ka‘u’s Kajiwara-Ke got his interception, but HPA’s Kena Craven intercepted a pass to regain possession one play later.
The final points of the game came from a field goal.
Now 6-2, Ka Makani will look to notch its fourth straight win at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 14) at Kohala HS (0-8). HPA will end its season next Saturday (Oct. 21) at home against undefeated Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i.
Now 3-5 — but still atop the ranks of the isle’s former eight-man teams — Ka‘u’s two remaining tests will be tough ones, but not unwinnable. The Trojans’ final home game will be 1 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 14) against KSH. The following Friday (Oct. 20), Ka‘u will end its season on the road at Honoka‘a HS (5-3).