Lahainaluna clinched the MIL Division II championship and an automatic berth in the HHSAA Tournament with a 35-0 win over Kamehameha Schools Maui. The Warriors, who started off the season promisingly under the new regime of former Baldwin coaches and players, began a tumble highlighted by Coach Cody Nakamura's unfortunate decision to stick his leg out and trip a Maui High player returning the ball as he was pushed out of bounds. In this age of technology and cameras rolling everywhere, that bush league move was caught on video and broadcast on the internet, reaching viral proportions on the statewide high school sports scene. It resulted in his being suspended for a game and the Warriors have not recovered since.
It was senior night for the Warriors and Lahainaluna made sure the post-game festivities started early.
It was scoreless for the first 6 minutes of the first quarter until Jared Rocha-Islas 36 yard run opened the scoring with 5:57 left in the first. Rocha-Islas scored again from 1 yard out after Sione Filkitonga picked off MIL passing leader Chase Newton's pass and almost returned it for a touchdown - on the run back, he was ruled out of bounds at the pylon. Christian Whitehead followed with a 7 yard touchdown run with about 2:20 left in the first.
The Warriors battled back and had a couple really good opportunities to score, thanks to some passing strikes from Newton. One significant threat was thwarted when Kiko Kohler-Fonohema skied high for an interception in the end zone. Another was thrwarted when Warrior kicker Kailoa Akoi, who had hit a 50 yarder earlier in the season, fell short on a 52 yard attempt.
At the end of the first half, the Lunas worked on their air attack. Filikitonga was able to connect with Fonohema on a 27 yard pass and then he found Scott-Isaac Medeiros Tangatailoa for a 9 yard touchdown pass to make it 28-0 at halftime.
When Filikitonga failed to cash in on that long interception return, I was getting worried that his streak of big play touchdowns would come to an end. Sure enough, Mr. Filikitonga put my fears at ease. Just 1 minute and 35 seconds into the second half, Filikitonga scored on a dazzling, ankle-breaking 24 yard run up the middle for a touchdown, the last few yards covered by a very determined Filikitonga trying to keep his balance and the ball as he extended for the goal line. What an athlete. The score was 35-0 and the running clock was started.
Notable Stats:
- The Lunas outgained the Warriors 414 to 162 in total offense. Lunas had 325 yards rushing and an encouraging 89 yards passing on 7-16 attempts by Filikitonga.
- Filikitonga did have 2 interceptions though and the team lost a fumble.
- Kamehameha Maui also had 3 turnovers: 2 interceptions and 1 lost fumble.
- Lunas have to work on the penalties: they were called for 11 penalties for 104 yards. Warriors had 4 penalties for 34 yards.
- Lunas were led by Filikitonga (12 carries, 116 yards, 1 TD), Jared Rocha-Islas (12 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD), and Christian Whitehead (12 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD).
- Starting DE Hercules Mataafa did not play in this game as he was on a recruiting trip to Washington State.
For more photos, click here.
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