HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kalaheo's Bruce Andrews returned a kick 93 yards for a touchdown during the first half yesterday.
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Govs quiet Mustangs
There's an old saying in the heart of Kalihi: Bleed Maroon.
The Farrington Governors gave their maroon-clad fans plenty to cheer about on homecoming night, shutting down No. 9-ranked Kalaheo 38-19 at Roosevelt's field.
A raucous crowd of about 2,000 saw the Governors take command in the second quarter with a defensive effort that the visiting Mustangs had not seen all season. Farrington improved to 3-1 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East play (3-1-1 overall).
Kalaheo slipped to 2-2 in the Red East (4-2 overall). In a battle of quarterbacks wearing No. 7, it was Farrington's Alefesio Iu who outplayed Kalaheo's Cody vonAppen. Iu was 10-for-11 with 204 yards and three touchdowns without a pick.
Kalaheo's veer option had just 86 rushing yards, including just 19 by vonAppen.
"They had really good containment on me," vonAppen said of Farrington's spies. "They're bigger and stronger than us, so we tried to air it out."
He finished 12-for-32 for 153 yards with four interceptions.
"To me, it was a battle of our skill guys," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said.
Defensive back Kalei Stevens had two picks for the Govs. In addition to Stevens, cornerback Jimmy Robinson was stellar. The senior had one interception and limited Kalaheo speedster Bruce Andrews to just three receptions and no touchdown catches.
Kalaheo's opening drive came to a halt after two potential touchdown passes were dropped. Stevens then had his first pick, a goal-line play that was an omen of things to come.
A 37-yard pass from Iu to Matt Stowers set up a 4-yard scoring run by Joshua Fernandez. Farrington led 6-0 with 6:01 to play in the first half.
Andrews answered for Kalaheo on the ensuing kickoff. The senior weaved through small creases between hashmarks and sprinted 93 yards to paydirt. Small ponds in the middle of the field forced the Mustangs to kick the PAT from the left hashmark, but Nathan Johnson drilled the kick to give his team a 7-6 lead with 5:44 left in the half.
Farrington needed just four plays to drive 51 yards for their next touchdown. A 45-yard strike from Iu to Stowers gave the Govs a first down at the Kalaheo 1-yard line, and Fernandez scored easily to give the Govs a 12-7 lead with 3:29 to go before halftime.
Two plays later, vonAppen's pass over the middle was intercepted by Farrington linebacker Paulo Pula, who gave the Govs the ball at the Kalaheo 43-yard line. Six plays later, Iu connected with Ani Isumu on a play-action rollout to the left, and Farrington led 18-7 with 42 seconds left in the second quarter.
Kahuku 27, McKinley 17
The Red Raiders and Tigers were tied 7-7 at the half before the Red Raiders' rushing attack, led by Junior Mataafa's 167 yards rushing and St. John Lessary's 115, scored 20 in the second half to win.