Iwasaki guides Iolani
to blowout of Pac-Five

A life of luxury is more than the Iolani Raiders expect, but for one night, Kai Iwasaki provided the means.

Iwasaki, filling in for injured Kiran Kepo'o, directed the Raiders to a 30-point halftime lead en route to a 44-20 Interscholastic League of Honolulu win last night at Aloha Stadium.

No. 6 Iolani improved to 4-1 in league play (6-1 overall). Pac-Five slipped to 0-4-1 in league action (3-5-1 overall).

Kepo'o, the leading passer in the ILH, was out with an ankle injury. He suffered it when Saint Louis defensive lineman Tyson Alualu fell on his ankle in last week's game. Kepo'o didn't suit up last night, but would have played if it were a championship game, Iolani coach Wendell Look said.

"Any win is a good win. We had a lot of faith in Kai," Look said. "He did a helluva job."

In a battle of backup quarterbacks, Iwasaki got the edge on Pac-Five's Nathan Alvarado. Iwasaki had plenty of help from shifty running back Michael Hirokawa. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound junior rushed for 203 yards on just 21 carries.

Hirokawa, who raced for 130 yards by intermission, scored on runs of 3, 53 and 34 yards. "He has the potential to break it on every play," Look said of Hirokawa, a converted wide receiver who fumbled in the first quarter.

"He's still learning to play running back," Look said.

Iolani amassed 392 total yards. Pac-Five finished with 257, but committed three turnovers.

"Our offense is all young players, young linemen and young backs," Pac-Five coach Kip Botelho said. "The turnovers are the problem."

The Wolfpack came into the game ailing with key injuries, including one to starting quarterback Bryson Beirne. He did not start because he missed practice time during the week, but entered midway through the game after a hip-pointer injury to Alvarado. Beirne passed for 161 yards.

Brashton Satele, one of Pac-Five's iron men, rambled for 149 yards on eight carries, including a 71-yard touchdown run.