[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
Hirokawa leads
Iolani to victory
over Keaau
Raynold Stowers might get all the publicity as Iolani's top tailback, but it was his backup that stole the show.
Sophomore Mike Hirokawa rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries as Iolani jumped out to a big early lead and never looked back in routing Keaau 41-0 at Eddie Hamada Field.
"It was great to get Mike some playing time," Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "We already knew coming into this game what Raynold can do, and now we know what Mike can do."
After the Cougars fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, Stowers scored from 16 yards out on Iolani's first play, which was also Stowers' only official carry.
Peter Heimerdinger hit Kekai Kealoha with a 51-yard touchdown pass to extend the Raiders' lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter. Keaau fumbled the ensuing kickoff, setting up the first of Hirokawa's three touchdown runs.
"We just didn't come out and execute early," Cougars coach Keliko Lopa said. "They're a very good team with some key veteran guys."
After another three-and-out by the Cougars, Heimerdinger hit Paul Bennett with a 9-yard TD pass to extend Iolani's first-quarter lead to 27-0.
The second quarter featured much of the same, as Hirokawa scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 9 yards to put Iolani up 41-0 at halftime.
"That was the most amount of carries I've had, so I was a little tired by the end," Hirokawa said.
Though they faced a large halftime deficit, the Cougars came out playing tough in the second half, which pleased their coach.
"At halftime, I told the kids how important it was to keep fighting and not give up," Lopa said. "They came out and played very hard, especially on defense, where we didn't give up any second-half points, and I think that will give us a big confidence boost heading into conference play."
At Eddie Hamada Field
Iol -- Raynold Stowers 16 run (Nick Wong kick)
Keaau (1-1, 0-0) 0 0 0 0 -- 0 Iolani (2-1, 0-0) 27 14 0 0 -- 41
Iol -- Kekai Kealoha 51 pass from Peter Heimerdinger (kick failed)
Iol -- Mike Hirokawa 1 run (Wong kick)
Iol -- Paul Bennett 9 pass from Heimerdinger (Wong kick)
Iol -- Hirokawa 1 run (Wong kick)
Iol -- Hirokawa 9 run (Wong kick)
RUSHING -- Keaau: Austin Meyers 13-56, Nainoa Wuscher 2-35, John Darby 4-24, Rico Mahaulu 1-19, Bubba McCane 3-15, Scottie Mattos 1-8. Iolani: Hirokawa 24-115, Kealoha 4-79, Kyle Muraoka 1-17, Stowers 1-16, Travis Nishioka 1-16, Heimerdinger 2-9.
PASSING -- Keaau: Meyers 1-4-0-23, Dustin Mahulu 1-2-1-6. Iolani: Heimerdinger 7-8-0-91, Kiran Kepo'o 7-11-0-66.
RECEIVING -- Keaau: Wuscher 1-23, McCane 1-6. Iolani: Kealoha 2-55, Nishioka 2-24, Blayne Yama 2-13, Karl Motoyama 2-13, Mark May 2-9, Hirokawa 1-17, Bennett 1-9, Kai Iwasaki 1-9, Joe Robbie 1-8.
