KEA‘AU — Konawaena HS’ football team trampled Kea‘au HS on Friday night, winning 61-0 and moving to 8-1 overall and 7-0 in BIIF DI.
The Wildcats got on the board early with a big play. After forcing the Cougars to punt on their opening drive, Armenio Blanco blocked the punt, scooped up the ball and carried it more than 30 yards for a touchdown. Elias Malapit carried in the two-point conversion, giving Konawaena an 8-0 lead less than two minutes into the first quarter.
Shortly after Kea‘au took possession, the Wildcats caused another turnover and immediately capitalized on it. Aliimalu Tan recovered a fumble — then, one play later, Keoki Alani and Abaraham Ogata connected for a 60-yard touchdown pass. Carmine Fautanu-Taetuna made the PAT kick — his first of five successful ones on the outing — boosting Konawaena’s early lead to 15-0.
Kea‘au finally got on its feet later in the quarter, stopping the Wildcats on fourth and goal. The Cougars then made a far but fast drive up the field, running quick pass plays with no huddle to put Konawaena’s defense on its heels. After Kea‘au had progressed roughly 90 yards, the Wildcats’ defense made a stop on fourth and goal to keep the Cougars off of the board.
The second quarter began, and Konawaena’s momentum multiplied.
Alani and Austin Takaki connected for a 90-yard touchdown pass shortly after the turnover on downs — bringing their team’s lead to 21-0.
Despite the flashes of success earlier, Kea‘au’s offense was unable to get anything going — repeatedly going three and out or turning over on downs.
The Wildcats scored four more touchdowns before halftime.
First, at the end of a drive into the red zone, Akea Cariaga carried in a four-yard touchdown. Konawaena’s next drive was similar, and ended with Alani and Zed Anahu-Ambrosio connecting for a seven-yard touchdown pass. A few minutes later, Blanco did it again — blocking a punt, scooping and scoring to bring the Wildcats’ lead to 41-0.
Just before the end of the half, Konawaena made another rapid red zone entry — which ended with a three-yard touchdown carry by Keawe Navas Loa.
The second half began with a running clock. Konawaena let off of the gas a little bit, and Kea‘au began to move players around to different positions.
After taking the opening kickoff, the Wildcats scored yet again — on another touchdown pass from Alani to Takaki. Konawaena attempted a two-point conversion, but it was intercepted by Kaeldon Wassman.
On the first play of Kea‘au’s subsequent drive, Konawaena’s Kainalu Alves recovered a fumble. Shortly after that, Alani connected a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ogata for the final score of the game.
Takaki intercepted a pass a couple of minutes later, but the Cougars managed to make their second stop of the outing. As the fourth quarter dwindled away, Kea‘au’s offense was starting to move the ball again. But, Konawaena still had one more turnover on its agenda — as Elias Malapit recovered a fumble.
As the Wildcats have secured the No. 1 BIIF standing and Kea‘au has secured No. 2, the pair will meet again in the BIIF championship — which Konawaena will host on Oct. 28.
Friday’s matchup was the Cougars’ last regular season outing, and they end the season with a 5-3 BIIF DI record and 5-4 overall record.
The Wildcats have one regular season outing left on their slate — 6 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 19) at Kealakehe HS (2-5 BIIF DI, 2-7 ovr.)