StarBulletin.com

Hawaii Prep kicks out Moanalua


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POSTED: Saturday, November 21, 2009

The pressure was so intense that Kalei Konrad couldn't bear to watch.

Instead, he let the euphoric reaction from the tiny Hawaii Prep cheering section that braved the trip to Oahu let him know he had come through.

Konrad's 30-yard field goal with 2 minutes remaining gave Ka Makani a stunning 17-14 victory over host Moanalua in the opening round of the First Hawaiian Bank Division II State Football Championships last night.

Hawaii Prep (11-0) handed Na Menehune (10-2) their first loss in more than two months to advance to the semifinals against Kauai on Friday at Vidinha Stadium.

“;We have a great team chemistry,”; said HPA coach Jordan Mayslip, who guided HPA to its second victory in a state tournament game.

Keanu Yamamoto threw for 146 yards and a touchdown and Max Verbrugge recovered a fumble in the end zone for Ka Makani.

But the game wasn't decided until Konrad, who also plays soccer, connected on a 30-yard field goal with 2 minutes left just barely made it over the crossbar.

“;I saw it leave my foot and I was like 'Oh God,' and closed my eyes for a second,”; Konrad said. “;Then the referee who gave me the ball said it was below the post the entire time until it went right over. That had to be one of my worst kicks, but I'm just so glad it went over.”;

Moanalua running back Tahje Canyon rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Adam Francisco ran for an 80-yard touchdown, but Na Menehune were killed by six crucial penalties in the second half, including two personal fouls on HPA's game-winning drive in the final minutes.

“;We are the better team, you can quote me on that,”; Moanalua coach Arnold Martinez said. “;They were the more advantageous team tonight.

“;Every big play we had was a holding call, and they didn't hold one time? It is part of the game, but I would gather to say if you count the penalties it was pretty lopsided.”;

Moanalua was whistled for nine penalties for 83 yards, while the only flag thrown on Hawaii Prep was an illegal shift call in the second half.

However, Ka Makani took advantage of costly mistakes by Moanalua. Na Menehune had a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter and Hawaii Prep was struggling to move the ball.

But a fumble by Moanalua on its own 5-yard line was recovered in the end zone by Ka Makani defensive end Verbrugge and HPA had a one-point lead despite having one first down in the first quarter.

The score remained 7-6 in favor of HPA until Ka Makani got things rolling to start the second half. Keoni Colson's 55-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter gave HPA excellent field position, Yamamoto took advantage of the good field position, hitting Isaiah Adams for a 25-yard completion and then finding Nathaniel Adams for a 10-yard touchdown to put Ka Makani up 14-6.

“;That was a comeback and I just knew I had to catch this one because I didn't catch the one before that,”; Adams said.

 

HAWAII PREP 17, MOANALUA 14

At Moanalua

                                                                                                                                           
Hawaii Prep (11-0)707317
Moanalua (10-2)608014

Moan—Adam Francisco 80 run (kick failed)
HPA—Max Verbrugge fumble recovery in end zone (Kalei Konrad kick)
HPA—Nathaniel Adams 10 pass from Keanu Yamamoto (Konrad kick)
Moan—Tahje Canyon 80 run (Xavier Peterson run)
HPA—FG Konrad 30

RUSHINGHawaii Prep: Isaiah Adams 9-31, Yamamoto 8-5, Keoni Colson 9-4, TEAM 3-(-3), Roland Setu 3-(-6). Moanalua: Canyon 14-141, Francisco 6-87, Keenan Ragragola 3-5, Chasen Hamasaki 1-2, Peterson 2-2, Michael Egami 1-(-1).
PASSINGHawaii Prep: Yamamoto 12-20-1-146. Moanalua: Francisco 6-16-1-47, Egami 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVINGHawaii Prep: I. Adams 5-83, N. Adams 4-33, JJ Higginson 3-30. Moanalua: Canyon 2-25, Egami 1-10, Ragragola 1-9, Rich Villasenor 1-4, Peterson 1-(-1).