KEAAU – Konawaena didn’t really need to run the ball, not when freshman quarterback Sheynen Nahale was completing 62 percent of his passes and carving up Keaau, which couldn’t generate any pass-rush pressure on him.
Nahale threw five touchdown strikes, and the Wildcats thumped Keaau 55-7 in a BIIF game on Saturday night at the Cougars Stadium, where a three-hour yellow-flag fest took place.
But first, there were tons of Nahale passing highlights: 24 of 39 passing for 335 yards. He threw touchdown passes to five different receivers. His offensive line could also take a bow: they didn’t allow any sacks, and Nahale had tons of time to go through his progressions.
The only negative came with an asterisk. He had three interceptions but all were in the second half when the Wildcats had the game locked up.
Nahale’s favorite target was Kealakai Kihe, who caught 10 passes for 54 yards. Marc Basa had four receptions for 109 yards.
With the Cougars retreating to defend the pass, Konawaena rushers galloped for 121 yards on 18 carries, a healthy 6.7 average. Orion Smith had three attempts for 48 yards, and Jaimison Medeiros added 45 yards on nine carries.
While Keaau struggled to stop the run and pass, Konawaena had no such issues.
The Wildcats clogged Keaau’s running lanes and got constant penetration in the back field. Junior quarterback Bryant Respicio-Mercado was sacked five times, and his ground attack produced just 17 yards on 38 carries. Respicio-Mercado went 16 of 34 for 95 yards and three interceptions, often throwing on third-and-long.
The Cougars completed a lot of short stuff and missed on longer routes, which allowed the linebacker to station themselves in the tackle box for run support. Keaau’s longest pass was a 26-yarder to Isaiah Akana, and the longest run was a 10-yarder by Nathaniel Castillo late in the game.
But next to Nahale’s breakout performance, penalties took center stage, and there were a lot of delays because of a combined 33 penalties, 19 flags on Keaau and 14 on Konawaena.
On Keaau’s opening drive, Boaz Ayers picked off Respicio-Mercado. On the next play, the Wildcats sealed the right perimeter, and Smith scored from 27 yards out.
Konawaena displayed its quick-strike scoring ability with an eight-play drive that covered 75 yards and burned less than three minutes.
The Wildcats were helped by three encroachment penalties on Keaau and Smith’s 20-yard rumble. Nahale capped the march with a one-yard scoring strike to Hunter Wershig.
The first quarter saw a combined 13 penalties called on the two teams, including four encroachment flags on Konawaena and three on Keaau.
The Cougars had, basically, two highlights in the second quarter when Shedan Abejon recovered a fumble and returned it 42 yards. Nine plays later, Respicio-Mercado scored on a two-yard run.
The yellow flags continued to plague Keaau, which had a personal foul and illegal procedure flags that pushed its kickoff back.
Konawaena had a short field and big-play designs in mind. Nahale threw an out route to Jesse Canda, who weaved his way down the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown reception and a 19-7 cushion.
On Keaau’s next drive, Ayers snagged his second interception, and two plays later Nahale floated a screen pass to Cyrus Jumalon, who got solid downfield blocking and scored from 40 yards out.
If it wasn’t turnovers, it was Keaau mental mistakes that assisted Konawaena scoring drives. The Cougars punted from their end zone after a personal foul flag.
The Wildcats again had a short field and three plays later Nahale connected with Basa for a five-yard scoring strike and a 34-7 cushion.
Right before halftime, Konawaena kicker Harry Hill attempted a 55-yard field goal. He didn’t make solid contact and the field goal attempt was short. Last year, Hill converted a 58-yard field goal against Waiakea, setting a state record.
However, the first half belonged to Nahale, who completed 12 of 14 for 214 yards, including four touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Wildcats received the kickoff to start the second half and immediately went to work, running off a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Nahale’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Basa, the fifth of the night for the freshman QB.
