Iolani opens playbook
in win over McKinley
The right call at the right moment paid dividends for host Iolani yesterday afternoon and lifted the Raiders to a workmanlike 41-18 victory over McKinley in an interleague game.
After watching the Tigers trim what had been a 20-0 first-quarter advantage to 20-12, and with the visitors due to receive the ball to begin the second half, Iolani kicker Milo Kalama neatly placed a short kick into an open area which teammate Jon Takamura recovered at the McKinley 26. Revitalized by the turn of events, the Raiders of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu responded with 14 straight points to open a 34-12 advantage over the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Tigers and were in command the rest of the way.
"They caught us by surprise with the 'pooch kick' and that turned the game big-time," McKinley coach William Moeava said. "We're still supposed to field it; we just had a breakdown. We had the momentum, we were only down one score, and they punched it in, and now we're down two (scores)."
Added Iolani coach Wendell Look: "It's something Milo has developed in his repertoire, so whenever we have a chance to use it, we will. We were fortunate to get the ball back and go down and score. It was a big play for us. They'd put together two or three drives against us, so that score was big. We always talk about starting a game and starting the second half strong, and I thought we did real well today."
Kalama also added five point-after kicks, and the Raiders' special teams came through with a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown by Landon Patoc in the first quarter.
Offensively, Iolani used a balanced attack, amassing 302 total yards and 17 first downs, while its defense allowed McKinley just 96 yards after intermission, 41 of which came on a Tiger scoring drive when the game was out of reach.
"We always talk about finishing things, and I was happy that the kids didn't give up after McKinley had come back," Look said. "I liked the way we responded."
None more so than junior running back Mike Hirokawa, who took a helmet to the knee in the first half and missed a couple of series. He returned to action and finished with 114 yards on 13 carries, while scoring on touchdown runs of 4, 5, 6 and 46 yards.
"Give credit to that kid; he runs hard," Moeava said.
Hirokawa's second touchdown -- which made it 27-12 -- came five plays after Takamura ran down Kalama's kickoff. A 31-yard pass from Kiran Kepo'o to Kekai Kealoha on a seam route had put the Raiders in the red zone.
Following a three-and-out by McKinley on its next possession, the Raiders went 44 yards in five plays to increase their advantage to 34-12, with Hirokawa covering the last 5 yards for the score. With 11:15 remaining, he scored from 46 yards out on an off-tackle play.
"He's not the biggest guy around, but he showed some toughness today," Look said of Hirokawa, a converted slotback. "He came back strong."
