WAIMEA — Not even the torrential downpour could stop Hawaii Prep Academy football from keeping its season alive.
In front of Ka Makani faithful on a rainy, chilly Saturday afternoon in Waimea, HPA did the unthinkable — spoiling Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i’s undefeated season by winning 19-13 in overtime.
The thrilling win punched Ka Makani’s ticket to the Central Pacific Bank/Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division II Football Championship against the Warriors again on Friday. The winner will advance to the HHSAA state tournament.
“(It was) stress free,” HPA coach Lincoln Kalama joked postgame. “These guys just find ways to get themselves back in the game.”
Ka Makani’s offense was led by star running back Alaka‘i Aipia, who rushed for 201 yards scored all of its touchdowns with three rushing — adding to his 1,000-plus yard season.
But HPA’s defense was the big story of the game, collecting multiple clutch stops and forcing seven total turnovers — five interceptions and two forced fumbles. Kekai Haines had two interceptions, while Aipia, Anaken Ramirez and Iki Lincoln all had one pick apiece.
The Warriors’ offense was led by its run game, as Xander Hoopai and Shiloh Santos each had a rushing touchdown. The team additionally snatched two fumbles on the defensive side.
The afternoon started with some sloppiness from both teams, as two high snaps gave KSH negative yardage, forcing the Warriors to punt. However, KSH’s defensive line wouldn’t give anything to HPA in the ensuing possession — halting Ka Makani’s stout run game to a quick 3-and-out.
While trying to punt, a low snap forced HPA to fall on the ball, giving the Warriors prime field position inside the 10. Santos then punched the ball between the pylons for the first score of the outing.
Both teams remained aggressive on defense until halftime, getting multiple red zone stops — including Ka Makani making a goal-line stand to force a turnover on downs in the second quarter. Haines additionally picked off KSH quarterback Adam Perry.
But the momentum began to shift toward the end of the second quarter, when Ramirez grabbed a deflected Perry pass and returned it inside the Warriors’ 5-yard line. Aipia then found an open gap to even the score at 7-7.
On KSH’s next drive, Lincoln picked off Perry to give Ka Makani’s offense another opportunity, but HPA gave the Warriors the ball right back — fumbling near midfield with less than 30 seconds remaining in the half.
However, Ka Makani’s defense held up once again, as Haines secured another interception in the end zone, ending the half.
“Our defense came out strong, especially our line,” Kalama said. “Some of them were hurt, but they played through it. Played their hearts out.”
Despite adjustments from both squads, defensive play still triumphed the field in the beginning of the second half, and the score remained the same going into the fourth quarter.
The teams traded fumbles near the end of the third — with Amanai recovering for Ka Makani and linebacker Diesel DeMello giving the ball back to the Warriors’ offense in the ensuing possession to begin the fourth quarter. Hoopai scored a rushing touchdown to start the final interval after the turnover, giving KSH the 13-7 edge.
But HPA wasn’t going out without a fight.
Aipia helped move the chains downfield through a series of big runs in the final two minutes of regulation. The junior then punched the ball in the end zone to tie the game.
While Ka Makani had the chance to take the lead with just seconds remaining, the Warriors blocked its extra-point attempt, forcing overtime.
HPA started overtime with the ball at the 25-yard line, but it had to earn every yard it got to claim the victory. The unit was forced to attempt a field goal at the conclusion of its first drive, in which KSH blocked the kick. The Warriors were then just inches away from the end zone in the next possession, but Ka Makani’s goal-line defensive stand forced the turnover on downs.
After HPA failed to score again, KSH was in position to end the game when it received the ball back. However, Aipia made another game-altering play — this time on defense — by picking off Perry to give Ka Makani another chance to win.
And win, it did.
Just a few short plays later after getting the ball back on the 25, Aipia ended the hard-fought contest by pinballing his way into the end zone for the rushing score — keeping HPA’s season alive.
“This team is all heart,” Kalama said. “We have a bunch of fighters, and they don’t know how to give up.”
What’s next?
HPA (8-2 overall) and KSH (10-1 overall) will duel one final time this season in the BIIF Championship this weekend. While it will be the third time the teams have faced off in 2023, Kalama noted that preparation will be no different than any other opponent, even with the season on the line once again.
“We just have to prepare like we’re preparing for them for the first time,” he said. “They showed us a lot of different wrinkles offensively. Defensively, they’ve tried to challenge us in certain areas, but we just have to keep preparing.”
