High School Football: Big play defense, strong running leads Kealakehe over Maui

KAILUA-KONA — If defense does indeed win championships, Kealakehe looks to be on the right track.

Long fourth quarter interception returns by Pulama Louis and Bryton Lewi, along with a pair of bruising touchdown runs from senior back Kobe Antolin propelled Kealakehe over Maui High 28-7 at Waverider Stadium on Saturday night.

Isaac “Sake” Kioa led the way up front for the aggresive Waverider defense. He had two sacks and multiple QB hurries.

Under first year head coach Keith Shirota, Maui came out with a different philosophy than it did a year ago. Sabers quarterback Austin Hoe dropped back four times in the first drive alone — double the amount Maui had in the entire preseason matchup last season. As a team, the Sabers had just eight first half rushing yards.

Hoe found an opening on Maui’s second drive of the game. An uncovered Justine Dancel had time to wait for a pass to come down and then scampered 68 yards untouched into the end zone.

Kealakehe didn’t take long to respond. After a few penalties helped move the ball in the right direction, Antolin ripped off a 15-yard gain to put the Waveriders in the red zone. He finished the 10 play drive with a 2-yard run into the corner of the end zone.

Maui held the edge in total yards over Kealakehe 125 to 63 at the half.

Sophomore quarterback Anthony Trevino entered the game for the Waveriders after the break. First half starter Markus Degrate finished 5-10 with 17 yards passing.

Early in the third quarter, a combination of short completions from Trevino and pickups on the ground from Riggs Kurashige and Antolin put the Waveriders in scoring position. Antolin dragged a host of Sabers into the end zone on a 2-yard plunge for his second score of the game.

After the touchdown run, Kealakehe lined up for an extra point attempt, but a bad snap turned it into an improv moment for the holder, Degrate. He rolled out and lobbed a pass that was tipped, but it fell gracefully into the hands of a Kealakehe player for two points.

Maui looked to be mustering up a sustained drive to make a run in the fourth quarter. However, Lewi made an acrobatic play along the sideline for his first interception of the game.

Trevino threw a pick on the subsequent possession, but the Waverider defense responded with interception returns of 63 yards by Louis and 83 yards by Lewi to seal the victory.

Trevino finished 4-9 for 34 yards and an interception.

Kealakehe outscored Maui 28-0 after the initial touchdown.

Maui – 7 0 0 0 — 7

Kealakehe – 0 7 8 13 — 28

Waialua 32, Honokaa 14

Mila Lele rushed for three touchdowns and 163 yards on 20 carries to power the OIA Bulldogs in a preseason opener against Honokaa. The senior running back scored on runs of 10, 9 and 3 yards.

Waialua quarterback Royce Tashiro added a 6-yard TD run in the third quarter, and Julian Fely-Menior rushed for a 2-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Honokaa quarterback Nainoa Falk threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Kainalu Rivera in the third quarter. Falk scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Waialua 6 0 6 20–32

Honokaa 0 0 6 8–14

Moanalua 62, Waiakea 7

Things got ugly in a hurry for Waiakea against Moanalua on Oahu. Na Menehune reeled off 48 first quarter points and coasted to a 62-7 victory.

It was the most points in program history for Moanalua. The onslaught was led by the rushing of Michael Feliciano, who racked up 230 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries — a whopping 28.8 yards per carry average. He had touchdown runs of 25, 82 and 95 yards.

Waiakea quarterback Gehrig Octavio was 7-18 for 80 yards and two interceptions. He did find the end zone on a 1-yard TD run for Waiakea’s lone score.

Waiakea 0 0 0 7 — 7

Moanalua 48 14 0 0 — 62

Kamehameha-Hawaii 21, Kalaheo 6

Kaeo Batacan rushed for two touchdowns and the Warriors won on Oahu in their preseason opener.

Also

Lahainaluna 65, Keaau 6