KEAAU — Hawaii Preparatory Academy isn’t the power-running football team from a year ago, but Koa Ellis still finds a way to produce yards with his passing and running skills.
The senior Ka Makani quarterback accounted for four touchdowns in a 37-0 win over Keaau in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation game Saturday at Cougar Stadium.
Ellis went 15 of 26 for 305 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 34 yards on eight carries, and scored on a 2-yard run to spark the Division II Ka Makani (1-2 BIIF, 2-3).
Nicky Palleschi had six catches for 102 yards and a TD. Justin Perry caught three balls for 90 yards and a score. He also had two interceptions.
Alex Brost led HPA’s ground attack with 48 yards on six carries. He also had three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.
The backups entered the game in the third quarter when the 35-point mercy rule clock was running.
The Division I Cougars (0-3, 0-4) couldn’t generate any offense and finished with just 88 yards. They also had three turnovers; HPA had a pair of giveaways. Keaau’s offense didn’t reach the red zone.
Justin Quesada rushed for 64 yards on 11 carries. Richard Hatori-Kanakaole was 4 of 15 for 44 yards with two picks before he left with an injury late in the third quarter.
HPA scored on the game’s opening series, an eight-play drive that covered 74 yards, capped by Ellis’ 27-yard pass to Perry.
The next score, bridging the first and second quarters, was another methodical march of 81 yards on 12 plays. A key play was Ellis’ 22-yard pass to Chris De Salvo on fourth down near midfield. Ellis later scored on a 2-yard run.
Right before the clock malfunctioned in the second quarter, HPA increased its lead to 20-0 on a 98-yard, five-play scoring drive. Ellis fired a 54-yard strike to Palleschi, who juggled the ball, but secured it before his jaunt into the end zone.
In addition to a lackluster 53 yards of offense, the Cougars had difficulty snapping the ball in the first half. Three bad snaps cost them 39 yards.
HPA went to work on another scoring spree to start the third quarter. It took only three plays from near midfield to increase the lead to 27-0 after Brost caught a 41-yard touchdown pass.
On the ensuing series, the Cougars were pressured, fumbled in the end zone, and Caleb Kagawa recovered for another Ka Makani touchdown and a 35-0 cushion, after Palleschi hauled in a two-point pass.
A safety in the fourth quarter concluded HPA’s scoring.
In something of a highlight for the Cougars, they didn’t let HPA’s backups score late in the game on a lengthy drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters.
The visitors started from their 21-yard line, ran 19 plays and reached Keaau’s 4-yard line. But on fourth-and-goal, the Cougars stuffed Zach Chaikin for a 3-yard loss.
In an eight-man football game that was not on the schedule and announced only to BIIF officials Friday, Kohala beat Keaau’s junior varsity 49-6.
HPA 6 14 15 2 — 37
Keaau 0 0 0 0 — 0
First quarter
HPA —Justin Perry 27 pass from Koa Ellis (kick blocked), 8:59
Second quarter
HPA — Ellis 2 run (Alex Brost kick), 11:56
HPA — Nicky Palleschi 54 pass from Ellis (Brost kick), clock malfunction
Third quarter
HPA — Brost 41 pass from Ellis (Brost kick)
HPA — Caleb Kagawa fumble recovery end zone (Palleschi pass)
Fourth quarter
HPA — Safety