KEALAKEKUA — Homecoming games always bring an additional dose of excitement, but Friday’s Big Island Interscholastic Federation matchup between Division II contenders Konawaena and Hawaii Preparatory Academy had more highs and lows, and twist and turns than a theme park ride.
Ka Makani rallied in a tumultuous second half, but the Wildcats (3-1 BIIF, 4-1 overall) hung on for a 27-20 victory at Julian R. Yates field.
“Football games are supposed to be played how this one was played here tonight,” said Konawaena head coach Cliff Walters. “It was hard fought until the very end. Anyone who came to watch this game saw a heck of a performance by both teams.”
HPA (1-3, 2-4) battled back from a 27-7 deficit with 13 unanswered points to pull within a score midway through the third quarter. Ka Makani had a chance at the end zone late in the fourth, but the comeback attempt came up just short.
“I was happy with the way our guys battled back and never gave up,” said HPA head coach Jordan Hayslip. “We have had some great games with Konawaena the last three seasons. This is just another example of that.”
The Konawaena passing game continued its steady progression. Senior quarterback Shelton Grace went 17 of 26 for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Nearly a dozen of Grace’s completions came on quick screen passes, but it opened up big plays down field.
Kayson Mahiai caught a 41-yard pass to open up the scoring for the Wildcats and Bubba Ellis-Noa scored on a 51-yard strike in the second quarter.
Ellis-Noa — Konawaena’s do-it-all senior running back/linebacker/wide receiver — racked up 99 yards and the touchdown receiving, and added 27 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Algene Kelekolio led the Wildcats ground attack with 73 yards and a touchdown, and Cameron Howes contributed 268 total yards through kick returns and carries.
HPA quarterback Koa Ellis completed 15 of 33 passes for 160 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Ka Makani linebacker Caleb Kagawa returned a Grace fumble 76 yards for a score, and wide receiver Justin Perry had a 22-yard touchdown catch.
Konawaena cornerback Luca Vartic and HPA tight end Nicky Palleschi battled all night — mostly in single coverage — isolated on the outside. Palleschi caught 10 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, but Vartic had four pass deflections and an interception. It’s the first time this season Palleschi has been held under 100 yards receiving, but there were a handful of flags thrown on Vartic for defensive holding and pass interference — some warranted, some not.
“That was quite the show those two put on,” said Walters. “I don’t know about all those penalties though. I’m not an official, and a lot of the plays happened away from us on the other sideline, but there were a lot. It was a great battle though.”
As the momentum grew behind HPA’s comeback entering the fourth quarter, Konawaena was hit with a wave of adversity.
Within a five minute span, the Wildcats lost Ellis-Noa to a controversial ejection for helmet to helmet contact and starting quarterback Grace to an apparent shoulder injury. Just minutes later, Konawaena’s tenacious defensive end/running back Koa Basque went down with a scary leg injury that prompted the ambulance to come onto the field, silencing the once raucous Kealakekua crowd.
The injury caused a long pause in the action, but the emotion on the faces of both sidelines made it evident that the concern for Basque’s well-being outweighted the numbers on the scoreboard.
“It was hard to reengage the kids,” said Walters. “When they see a comrade go down, it is a touchy situation for these guys. Immediately, there was emotion after Koa’s injury. The love they have for each other as teammates is very evident.”
Before the varsity game, Konawaena’s JV team beat Pahoa 56-6.
Konawaena continues its season at Honokaa next Friday. HPA hosts Kamehameha Saturday.