KAPA‘AU — Hundreds gathered Saturday afternoon at Kohala High School to watch the Cowboys football team open its season against O‘ahu Division II opponent Kalaheo. The Mustangs’ well-balanced offensive attack overwhelmed Kohala, leaving the Big Island with a 40-6 win in the non-conference matchup.
“The upside to today’s game was that we finished the whole way through, didn’t gas out and didn’t have any serious injuries,” Cowboys coach Earl Hoshida said postgame. “Even though we didn’t win, I was proud of our boys for hanging in there and giving it their all.”
The blue and orange did most of their damage in the opening half. It took a few drives for Kalaheo quarterback Jude Weber to get into rhythm due to Kohala’s aggressive defensive scheme early on, but once the senior and his receivers started connecting, it was off to the races for the Mustangs.
Senior Kalaheo running back Kamalu Jordan scored the first touchdown of the afternoon with a quick 3-yard run up the middle, but the Mustangs’ elite passing attack took the reins from there. After recovering a fumble off its own punt to open the second quarter, Weber fired a couple of beautiful passes on the run to Jordan and fellow senior receivers Chance Baqui and Nainoa Barbieto to place Kalaheo in the Cowboys’ own territory. Weber then found Jordan in the back corner of the end zone to go up two scores.
Kohala played impressive goal-line defense during the Mustangs’ next drive to force a punt, but Kalaheo sophomore defensive back Loch Moorman picked off Cowboys freshman quarterback Kaua Reyes at midfield during the ensuing possession to get the ball right back. Kohala junior linebacker Sheldon Anchetta-AhPuck sacked Weber in the red zone to move the chains back, but the Mustangs responded on the next play with a Weber laser to Baqui for another touchdown.
Kalaheo marched downfield again in its next drive, but the Cowboys forced a goal-line fumble in their own territory to earn the ball on offense near the end of the second quarter. However, on Kohala’s first play of the drive, the snap flew over Reyes’ head in the end zone — leading the Mustangs to recover the ball and add another six points on the board.
But Kalaheo wasn’t done putting up points. In the final minute of the first half, Weber found Baqui between the pylons for the third time to lead by five touchdowns at the midway mark.
The second half was a quieter one, as only three total touchdowns were scored from both sides. Baqui scored a rushing and receiving touchdown each in the third quarter, while Reyes scored the final touchdown of the day on an 11-yard rush to give the Cowboys their only points.
“On offense, we had a few good runs,” Hoshida said. “We’ll keep working as a team and learn from our mistakes.”
Weber finished the day with four touchdown throws, while Baqui posted five total.
While Kalaheo returns home to play O‘ahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) competition next week, Kohala will next set its sights to conference play as well. The Cowboys are slated to go up against Hawai‘i Prep — who finished No. 2 in Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division II in 2023 — at 2 p.m. Saturday in Waimea.
The last time the Cowboys and Ka Makani faced off was in Oct. 2023, when HPA won 24-0.
While Kohala would have preferred to kick off 2024 with a win, the group is holding their heads high. Hoshida noted that he is looking forward to getting back to work with the boys this week.
“I know we’re a better team than how we played today,” he said. “We’ll continue to improve by focusing on ourselves and nobody else. Our coaching staff saw some good things out there that we can build on.”
Kona 79, Waiakea 0
Over in BIIF Division I, Konwaena football looked like its typical self again with a 79-0 rout over Waiakea in Hilo. The victory comes after an Aug. 10 shutout loss to Punahou on O‘ahu.
“It was nice to see our team execute,” Wildcats coach Brad Uemoto told West Hawaii Today. “It was the first time that we had everyone healthy, and we got a glimpse of what our potential can be. I thought we played well in all three phases of the game.
“Our goal moving forward is to stay healthy and build momentum.”
Sophomore quarterback Keenan Alani had an impressive showing on the field, completing 17 of his 22 pass attempts for 248 yards and five touchdowns — a 61-yard bomb to Kaiea Thomas, two lasers to Austin Takaki and two more to Malu Tan. Backup Hayden Nishida additionally saw playing time, completing all four of his attempts for 32 yards and a touchdown to Tyren Alani in the second quarter.
Kona also added 254 yards on the ground and another five touchdowns — three from Hercules Nahale, one from Jiohvani Soto-Ramos and another from Nalu Villanueva.
Defensively, Elias Malapit led with six tackles and two sacks. Kicker Nakoa Ige made 11 extra-point attempts.
The Wildcats will travel back to O‘ahu this week for another non-conference game — this time against defending Open Division state champion Kahuku (1-1). The two schools last played in Aug. 2018, when the Red Raiders won 61-9.
Kona (1-1 ovr., 1-0 BIIF) will bout with the Kahuku at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Kahuku High School.
Waiakea (0-1) will next head across the island to play Kealakehe at 7 p.m. Friday at Waverider Stadium.
Moanalua 35, KS-Hawai‘i 0
Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i played its second straight week of non-conference games — this time against Moanalua on O‘ahu. Na Menhune beat the Warriors in a 35-0 shutout, netting 415 scrimmage yards to the opposition’s 168.
Moanalua senior quarterback Isaac Harney threw for 314 yards and two touchdown passes — one to junior wideout Kyson Kealoha in the third quarter and the other to junior utility player Duane Miller in the final two minutes of regulation.
On the ground, senior running back Kalino Judalena finished with 17 carries for 76 yards to go along with a rushing touchdown in the beginning of the second quarter. Defensively, Na Menehune forced two turnovers that translated to points in the first quarter — a Jayce Bareng 63-yard fumble return and a Tyson Alualu-Iu 36-yard pick six.
On KSH’s side, senior quarterback Adam Perry completed seven passes for 53 yards and an interception. Junior Kealohi Ramos was the only Warriors receiver to reach double-digit yards, hauling in three catches for 65 yards. In the backfield, Perry, freshman Dallas Enriquez and senior Xander Hoopai combined for 110 rushing yards.
On defense, junior lineman Teva Sanchez collected two sacks for KSH.
Moanalua (2-0) will continue its BIIF opposition tour late next week against Waiakea — slated to play at 11 a.m. Aug. 31 in Hilo.
The Warriors (1-1) will seek redemption against Pahoa in their first conference game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 in Pahoa town.
See the BIIF schedule for all upcoming football games this week.