MIL FOOTBALL: LAHAINALUNA V. BALDWIN W35-0 - OCTOBER 17, 2014

Homecoming Night! Oh what could have been.  Back in spring, it was hoped that this game would be played to open Lahainaluna’s new football stadium. However, construction delays pushed that back, forcing the game to be relocated to War Memorial Stadium.

 Then earlier this week, the threat of Hurricane Ana forming southeast of Hawaii and moving in a straight line for the Hawaii archipelago with a target date of Saturday forced MIL officials to move the game to Friday night instead of Saturday night. The decision was made on Wednesday. The school, students, supporters, and family members all had to scramble to rearrange their schedule to make it out to Wailuku on a Friday evening rather than Saturday.

Still, it ended up being a very decent crowd that showed up for the game between Lahainaluna and Baldwin. Normally, this game would draw thousands of fans, but with Baldwin having an uncharacteristically down year and perhaps because of the last-minute reschedule, the overflowing crowds of seasons past were not quite there. Still, Lahaina town came out to support their Lunas.

Hurricane Ana took a more southerly course which resulted in very good conditions on Friday night. Other than a steady wind blowing from the harbor, there was no rain at all at the stadium during the game.

  The Lunas went on to win 35-0. Perhaps some starters missed practice during the week, but the starting line up on defense for the Lunas was decidedly different. First of all, Connor Mowat did the opening kickoff. On defense, the usual starters Mowat, Palea, Cabanilla and Medeiros-Tangatailoa were joined by Christian Pascua, Lance Ito, David Kawabata, Justice Tihada, Chris Kaniho, Radon Sinenci and Pono Murray. Nevertheless, on the third play of the game, Brandon Kaina was able to punch out the ball from the runner and the fumble was recovered by Connor Mowat. Chris Kaniho started at quarterback and drove the Lunas downfield thanks to a great run from him and also from David Kawabata. Sione Filikitonga got into the game as the Lunas reached the goal line. He took it in himself from a yard out to make it 7-0.

 

 

Hurricane Ana took a more southerly course which resulted in very good conditions on Friday night. Other than a steady wind blowing from the harbor, there was no rain at all at the stadium during the game.

  The Lunas went on to win 35-0. Perhaps some starters missed practice during the week, but the starting line up on defense for the Lunas was decidedly different. First of all, Connor Mowat did the opening kickoff. On defense, the usual starters Mowat, Palea, Cabanilla and Medeiros-Tangatailoa were joined by Christian Pascua, Lance Ito, David Kawabata, Justice Tihada, Chris Kaniho, Radon Sinenci and Pono Murray. Nevertheless, on the third play of the game, Brandon Kaina was able to punch out the ball from the runner and the fumble was recovered by Connor Mowat. Chris Kaniho started at quarterback and drove the Lunas downfield thanks to a great run from him and also from David Kawabata. Sione Filikitonga got into the game as the Lunas reached the goal line. He took it in himself from a yard out to make it 7-0.

 Lunas took advantage of two Baldwin fumbles in the 2^nd quarter to put the Lunas up 21-0 going into halftime. Thomas Rosen St. John, who was rotating with Nau Filiai at defensive end, came in and laid a hat into the Bears’ Akina-Reinhardt, causing the ball to pop loose and be recovered by linebacker Brandon Kaina. Rocha-Islas eventually scored from 4 yards out.

 

 

 

On the ensuing possession, the Lunas’ Ryan Delatori also laid a hit on the Bears’ Keenan Luis. The ball popped out was scooped up by the Lunas’ Scott-Isaac Medeiros-Tangatailoa, who sprinted untouched 39 yards to the end zone. The Lunas had one more opportunity to put points on the scoreboard before the half, but a touchdown pass to Jared Rocha-Islas was called back due to a “block in the back. Then a 35 yard field goal attempt by Rocha-Islas apparently went wide right, though just barely.

 
In the third quarter, Jared Rocha-Islas finally broke free on his way to a 67 yard touchdown run right up the gut of the Bears defense to make it 28-0. The Lunas thwarted the Bears attempt to score when Ansen Cabanilla hauled in an interception just short of the end zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the second string offense in, Josten Saribay ripped off a 36 yard run en route to a touchdown to account for the scoring. The Lunas gained 336 yards in total offense (269 on the ground) and 13 first downs. The Lunas defense held Baldwin to 112 total yards. Rocha-Islas had 93 yards on 7 carries and David Kawabata had 84 yards on 9 carries. Filikitonga was 6-10 passing for 67 yards and no interceptions.

 OBSERVATIONS:  The offense continued to struggle a bit finding some rhythm.  The lack of regular game play (byes on the 20^th and October 12^th) quite possibly resulted in Filikitonga having his 3^rd straight subpar running game, but it could be by design. It appears to me he is sacrificing stats and striving to diversify the offense more rather than calling his number. Often times on runs, he goes out of bounds rather than fight for 1-2 extra yards, which can only help preserve his health and legs for the playoffs. Also, this gives an opportunity for other Lunas to see if they can step up and be a reliable #2 or #3 option out of the backfield. In this case, David Kawabata broke out several long runs to the tune of 84 yards on 9 carries. This performance should bolster his place on the depth chart. On defense, Mowat, Taufa and Filiai had several tackles for losses, but they were not quite getting the penetration into the Bears’ backfield as in games past.

Next up: Big game against Maui High on Saturday, October 25, 2014. It will be Maui High’s homecoming. In the MIL, Lunas have nothing to prove since they’ve already wrapped up the Division II championship and a ticket to the HHSAA playoff.  Maui High has also wrapped up their Division I championship. However, a win may be needed by the Lunas to secure a #1 seed and a bye into the Semifinals. Oh yeah, they also have a 16-game MIL winning streak to continue.

 

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