Kamehameha wraps
up ILH title
Neither rain nor fog could keep the Kamehameha Warriors from washing away 24 seasons of frustration last night.
Amid a constant rain at Kunuiakea Stadium, Kamehameha running back Jayson Rego sloshed his way for 190 yards and two touchdowns to carry the Warriors to a 21-0 win over Pac-Five, sending Kamehameha to its first Interscholastic League of Honolulu varsity football title since 1979.
"You're talking about the program, you're talking about a long history of work, there's a lot of people involved and these kids were the ones to bring it home," Kamehameha coach Kanani Souza said.
"When you've been at it long enough and it finally comes to fruition, there's a feeling of relief. That's probably the best way I can put it right now. I'm really happy for our kids the school and the program. To see the joy in a lot of people is very gratifying."
The ILH Division I championship also means Kamehameha (8-2-1, 6-1) will represent the ILH in the state Division I tournament, which begins Nov. 19. The Warriors will have a first-round bye and play a semifinal game on Nov. 26.
Pac-Five, the last team other than Saint Louis to win the ILH crown, closed the season at 0-6-1 in the league and 3-7-1 overall. The Wolfpack won the championship in 1985 before Saint Louis began its run.
"We worked so hard to get to this point and we finally got there. All the hard work and all the struggle paid off," Rego said.
Souza said he wasn't worried about a possible letdown after last week's victory over Saint Louis. The Kamehameha defense limited Pac-Five to three first downs, two coming on penalties in the first quarter, and takes a streak of 10 shutout quarters into the state tournament.
"I wasn't concerned on whether they were going to be focused. They knew what was at stake and they got it done," Souza said.
With the field drenched and fog rolling in briefly midway through the first quarter, Kamehameha kept the ball in Rego's hands for much of the game. The senior was handed the ball on 17 of Kamehameha's 24 offensive plays in the first half, gaining 84 yards.
He carried the ball seven times in an eight-play, 62-yard drive late in the first quarter and ended it with a 6-yard touchdown run around the right side.
"We had to establish Jayson and we got him going in the second half and we got enough points to get out of here," Souza said.
The teams traded punts for most of the second quarter until Kamehameha took over at its 47 with 1:32 left in the half. After two Rego runs, quarterback Parker Bode lofted a pass down the right side and Waika Spencer made the catch for a 25-yard score. Kepa Gaison's kick gave Kamehameha a 14-0 halftime lead.
Rego then carried the ball on all 11 plays of Kamehameha's first possession of the second half and scored on a 2-yard run.
"The whole team wanted this game so bad," Rego said. "Everyone played their hearts out, everyone pushed real hard."
