HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kahuku's St. John Lessary ran through Roosevelt defenders Tyler Hayashi and Kaulana Luke last night.
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Kahuku runners grind down Roosevelt
Discipline and patience took Kahuku a long way last night.
The sixth-ranked Red Raiders broke a scoreless duel late in the first half and used a punishing ground attack to pull away with a 28-0 win over Roosevelt last night before about 1,000 fans at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.
Viliami Pasi ran for touchdowns of 34 and 42 yards as Kahuku frustrated the home team. The Red Raiders (3-1, 2-0 Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East) ran for 245 yards on 42 attempts. St. John Lessary III gained 59 yards on 13 carries as Kahuku established its presence in the trenches early.
It took errors by Roosevelt (1-3, 0-2), however, for the visitors to break open the game.
"You can't do that in this division. If we limit our mistakes, we'll be OK," Roosevelt coach Les Parilla said. "But I really like the way our kids played. We have them playing with heart."
Roosevelt's fearless defense stood toe to toe with Kahuku, but the Red Raiders drove 61 yards in 11 plays just before intermission after a halfback pass play on fourth and 20 was botched.
A 7-yard keeper on the option by quarterback A.J. Kubota -- on fourth and 2 -- kept the march moving. Lessary capped it with a 7-yard run off the right side out of the Power I, behind a lead block by Derek Aiwohi. Kahuku led 7-0 with 49 seconds to go in the half.
The Red Raiders sacked Roosevelt quarterback Shon Fujii seven times in the first half, but he was resilient. On consecutive possessions, Roosevelt drove to the Kahuku 21- and 12-yard lines, but fell short. Kahuku linebacker Justin Afalava's pick on fourth and 4 from the 14-yard line was a key stop late in the first quarter.
After struggling to score for 16 minutes, Kahuku got a pair of touchdowns in the first 2:26 of the second half.
Kubota ran the option down the right side for 15 yards before pitching to Pasi, who completed the 34-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 Kahuku lead.
"I hoped he'd pitch to me. It was a big surprise he pitched it," Pasi said.
Moments later, defensive end Hau'oli Jamora hit Fujii as he released a pass, and the ball caromed directly to the other D-end, Kona Schwenke. The 6-foot-4 junior raced 25 yards to paydirt with the interception and Kahuku led 21-0 with 9:34 left in the third quarter.
Roosevelt drove to the Kahuku 14-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs when linebacker Coleson Pukahi stopped Tyler Kila's run on fourth and 3.
A 40-yard interception return by Matthew Gomez set up Kahuku's final touchdown, a 42-yard burst around right end by Pasi with 8:17 to play in the game.
"They blitzed inside, but the main thing is our O-line made the blocks," said Pasi, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound junior.
The Red Raiders seem to be back on track with both the old and new offensive formations. Even Kubota was on point, completing three of his five pass attempts. The two incompletions were drops, including a picture-perfect bomb down the right side. It's a far cry from the one-sided loss they took from Kamehameha four weeks ago.
"We're humble as a team," Pasi added. "We work harder and we're hungry."
Roosevelt's big-play weapon, Alex Fowler, finished with three receptions for 38 yards, all in the second half.
"They kind of spied on him. He's a dangerous kid," Parilla said. "We had plays for him, but we didn't always protect (Fujii)."
At Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium
| Kahuku (3-1, 2-0) |
0 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
-- |
28
|
| Roosevelt (1-3, 0-2) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
Kah--St. John Lessary III 7 run (Lessary kick).
Kah--Viliami Pasi 34 run (Lessary kick).
Kah--Kona Schwenke 25 interception return (Lessary kick).
Kah--Pasi 42 run (Lessary kick).
RUSHING--Kahuku: Pasi 6-83, Lessary 13-59, Pololu Silva 6-49, Alapeta Magalei 5-24, Allan Kubota 6-9, Joseph Deal 2-9, Dallin Muti 2-6, Sage Kaka 2-6. Roosevelt: Tyler Kila 5-2, Alex Fowler 1-2, Jordan Delos Santos 3-0, Shon Fujii 15-(minus-6).
PASSING--Kahuku: Kubota 3-5-0-41. Roosevelt: Fujii 12-31-3-153.
RECEIVING--Kahuku: Aulola Tonga 1-31, Jackson Kaka 1-5, Siatia Tapusoa 1-5. Roosevelt: Victor Kapihe 4-48, Fowler 3-38, Lowen Furuta-Harada 2-14, John Hopkins 1-31, Delos Santos 1-13, Matthew Kualii-Moe 1-9.
Also
Keaau 42, Waiakea 0
Junior varsity
Kalani 28, Waialua 15
FRIDAY'S LATE RESULT
No. 8 Waianae 42, Pearl City 28
Danny Kekoanui rushed for 103 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns as the Seariders defeated the host Chargers.
At Pearl City
| Waianae (2-2, 2-0) |
14 |
14 |
0 |
14 |
-- |
42
|
| Pearl City (0-4, 0-2) |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
-- |
28 |
Wain--Dillon Cadirao 46 punt return (Terrance Akao kick).
Wain--Danny Kekoanui 2 run (Akao kick).
PC--Derrick Abalos 2 pass Colby Young (kick failed).
Wain--Kekoanui 5 run (Akao kick).
PC--Jacob Plan 50 pass from Young (Tyler Yamanauchi kick).
Wain--Kekoanui 4 run (Akao kick).
PC--Plan 24 pass from Young (Yamanauchi kick).
Wain--Jonathan Ligsay 6 run (Akao kick).
Wain--Ligsay 6 run (Akao kick).
PC--Sky Kaapuni 76 pass from Young (Jared Cudiamat 2 pass from Young).
RUSHING--Pearl City: Branson Williams 7-36 Cudiamat 6-28, Abalos 1-0, Young 8-(minus-13). Waianae: Kekoanui 18-103, Maurice Simpson 6-6, Eleu Wilson 5-18, Ligsay 8-43, Bronson Balbosa 1-1, Damien Dela Cruz 1-(minus-1).
PASSING--Pearl City: Young 14-22-0-242. Waianae: Simpson 6-10-0-140.
RECEIVING--Pearl City: Kaapuni 5-144, Plan 3-83, Cudiamat 3-18, Abalos 1-2, Kanekoa Battung 1-0, Williams 1-(minus-5). Waianae: Tofue Manufekai 1-52, Henry Correa-Young 1-39, Kekoanue 2-21, Kalen Sandobal 1-14, Rodney Hendrickson 1-14.
Junior varsity--Waianae 12, Pearl City 7.
