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Kamehameha
blanks Waianae
Yesterday's results
It was a home game for Waianae, but somehow the Aloha Stadium turf just didn't have the same psychic effect on the opposition as the friendly confines of Raymond Torii Field.
The Seariders also happened to be playing one of the best teams in the state, and as a result, suffered a 35-0 defeat to Kamehameha in an interleague football game on the Halawa Valley turf.
Jayson Rego was a slashing workhorse for the Warriors. Running behind a beefy line, he gained 125 yards on 19 carries and he scored twice.
"It was an exciting game for us," Rego said. "We all did well, and thanks to the line and the receivers who were blocking so well, I was able to see some open field. The chemistry is really there for us. We haven't played our best, but we're still growing."
Kamehameha (2-0-1), which is a perennial bridesmaid to Saint Louis in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, is gunning for their first state tournament berth this year.
The Warriors' defense never let Waianae's offense get into a rhythm. They forced three turnovers and sacked two Seariders quarterbacks five times. Defensive lineman Andrew Taeoalii led the defensive attack with two sacks, while Chaz Barit added a sack and was a rushing menace all night.
"They're (the Warriors) a great team," Waianae coach Daniel Matsumoto said. "They're quick and they're strong and they beat us in all levels of the game."
Kamehameha led 14-0 at the half and broke it open on Ikaika Hardie's 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half.
The Warriors scored 21 more unanswered points -- including two extra-point kicks by Annie Yamamoto, a girl --in the second half before mercy-rule running time kicked in.
"That kickoff return really killed any momentum we were trying to get in the second half," Matsumoto said. "But our kids didn't give up. They're fighters and they love the game and they'll be back. And, again, we were playing a great team."
Waika Spencer made good on the only official pass he caught all night, scoring on a 7-yard slant from Pono Kam. Earlier in the drive, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound receiver who is also a standout basketball and track athlete, jumped over a defender and caught what appeared to be a long TD pass in the corner of the end zone. Even though the officials ruled the pass incomplete, the stadium Jumbotron showed Spencer bobbled it and hung on.
The Seariders (1-2) were playing without starting quarterback Kala Honda, who was injured in last week's 21-20 loss to Leilehua. Matsumoto said replacement Henry Keomalu and backup Jordan Manuel filled in admirably.
"It's the preseason for us and we wanted to try to open it up in this game and see what our passing game could do," Matsumoto said. "It wasn't too bad."
Waianae had a chance to cut the gap to 14-7 late in the first half when Antonio Frantela intercepted a Kam pass and returned it 36 yards deep into Kamehameha territory. But he was hit hard in the open field by Aaron Nichols with 17 seconds to go and the Seariders couldn't capitalize.
