KEAAU – The biggest difference at the quarterback position for Kamehameha from last year is that 2016 signal-caller Kaimi Like brings a football background.
Last year’s quarterback, DallasJ Duarte, shines brightest in baseball.
Still, Kamehameha’ offensive system remains the same, and it continue to boast multiple players who can do damage with the ball in their hands. Pitch-and-catch – particularly between Like and wide receiver Makana Manoa – was in vogue Friday night as Kamehameha used a stout defense and overcame a spurt of sloppy play to stifle Waiakea 37-0 in the BIIF regular-season opener at Paiea Stadium.
“I saw a lot of confidence in Kaimi,” Manoa said. “What he needed was time, and he got it from the offensive line.”
Like, a sophomore, gained seasoning at quarterback with Pop Warner’s Puna Panthers, and his poise showed on Kamehameha’s second drive when he avoided the rush, veered to his right to bye time and spotted Manoa, who made a juggling, acrobatic catch on the right sideline.
Like and Manoa connected for four receptions on the drive, the last of which was a 3-yard touchdown that gave Kamehameha the lead.
“I just want to make our team happy,” Manoa said, “because it’s our defense supposed to be out powerhouse.”
It was.
A pair of fumbles and a slew of misfired passes notwithstanding, Like and Kamehameha (1-0 BIIF, 3-0) were in complete control.
“I think (Kaimi ) was really patient, and made some great reads,” coach Dan Lyons said. “For the most part he made the right throws. We dropped some balls, but more often than not he made the right calls.”
Jashen Mathieu had a hand in the three sacks as Waiakea didn’t surpass 100 yards of offense until late in the fourth quarter. Kamehameha was playing without two defensive difference-makers in linebacker Wayne Dacalio and end Sedrick Mahi, but Mathieu, a junior, filled in at both spots, and Noah Wengler stepped into the lineup as well.
“In our system, we expect it from Jashen’s position,” Lyons said. “We expect great things from Jashen if he keeps working hard in practice and maturing.”
Bryce Furuli, Abishai Campbell, Paniau Lindsey and Elijah Campbell each got a turn at feature back and rushed for a touchdown.
“All those guys, they bring something different and we have to find ways to get them the ball,” Lyons said.
It was another rough night for Waiakea (0-1, 0-4), which won two games in each of Moku Pita’s first three seasons as coach. Waiakea was called for eight first-quarter penalties and 14 in all. In what could become a season-long theme, fleet-footed senior quarterback Gehrig Octavio was often left running for his life trying to make a play – or he had to unload the ball under duress before a play could develop.
Octavio found some success throwing to Kawaiola Anderson, completing three passes, and Waiakea’s best offensive highlight was Austin Deperalta’s 40-yard run in the second quarter. However, that was an outlier – more than two-thirds of Deperalta’s 17 carries went for 2 yards or less.
Like led sustained drives, finishing 12 of 25 for 156 yards. His numbers would have been better if not for a string of nine consecutive incompletions in the first half as Kamehameha led 14-0 at the break.
“The first quarter it was all about running the plays right,” Manoa said. “The second half we thought we needed to step it up and score a lot more, because we were supposed to be killing them.”
Like got into a rhythm again, quickly finding his favorite target, Manoa, who finished with seven catches.
Completions to Manoa and Ayston Motta set up Abishai’s Campbell’s 13-yard scoring run, and Like found Israel Bowden for a 27-yard completion, setting up Lindsey’s 1-yard score.
Waiakea 0 0 0 0 — 0
Kamehameha 14 0 14 9 —37
First quarter
KSH – Makana Manoa 3 pass from Kaimi Like (Justin Kenoi kick), 7:17
KSH – Bryce Furuli 4 run (Kenoi kick), 4:02
Third quarter
KSH – Abishai Campbell 18 run (Kenoi kick), 7:35
KSH – Paniau Lindsey 1 run (Kenoi kick), 2:16
Fourth quarter
KSH – Gehrig Octavio tackled in end zone, 9:26)
KSH – Elijah Campbell 18 run (Kenoi kick), 9:18
