Konawaena drops wild game to Iolani with late TD

Seven-time Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state champion Iolani stopped Konawaena from pulling off arguably the biggest upset in Big Island Interscholastic Federation football history.

The Raiders scored on a 21-yard touchdown pass with 2 minutes, 19 seconds remaining to beat the Wildcats 43-40 Saturday at Aloha Stadium in the season opener for both teams.

Game information on Iolani was unavailable at press time.

Konawaena trailed 36-21 at halftime before senior wideout Domonic Morris reeled in two touchdown passes from junior quarterback Lii Karratti, pulling the Wildcats within 36-34 with 6:54 remaining. Karratti then connected with Koa Basque on a play-action pass on the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt, but a personal foul on Konawaena negated the play.

However, shortly after an interception by Konawaena’s Mikey Rabara, Bubba Ellis scored a 3-yard touchdown run to give Konawaena a 40-36 lead with 4:40 left.

Ellis finished with 30 rushing yards and two touchdown runs, and Koa Basque ran 10 times for 57 yards. Morris pulled in five receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns, and senior wideout Kenan Gaspar had four catches for 92 yards.

Karratti threw two touchdown passes and one interception.

John Kamoku, a transfer from Kealakehe, scored on a 69-yard touchdown run on Konawaena’s first play from scrimmage but later left the game with an elbow injury, and the Wildcats’ Austin Denis returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Softball

c Hilo squad eliminated from World Series: Mariah Campbell hit a grand slam Saturday as Atlanta eliminated Hilo with a 13-2 quarterfinal victory at the RBI Softball World Series in Minneapolis.

Ciana Matsuoka drove in two runs for Hilo (2-5), and Shaniya Kamakea-Wong doubled. Jordyn Waracka took the loss.