Foy joins elite company with title

Good luck to the quarterback asked to fill Reece Foy’s shoes.

The ‘Iolani senior joined an elite group on Friday, becoming just the third player to win three successive state championships or Prep Bowls when ‘Iolani beat Lahainaluna 36-33 in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships. Foy added his name to a short list that also includes Saint Louis legends Timmy Chang and Darnell Arceneaux.

Chang had 500 yards in his three victories, and Arceneaux had 474. Although it was against lesser competition, Foy blew them both away with 754 yards in the last three state championships after taking over for Jarrett Arakawa. He threw for 299 yards against the Lunas, leaving him a single yard shy of tying Kiran Kepoo for ‘Iolani’s most 300-yard games in the state championship era, at four.

“It’s great company for sure,” Foy said. “Whether I belong in that company I am not too sure. I am just blessed and thankful to be in the position I am in and couldn’t do any of it without my teammates and coaches.”

Foy finishes his career with a 26-10 record and three straight state titles.

“With him it has become the norm,” ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. “He has such a will to succeed that is matched by no one. He has certainly been a pleasure to have in the program.”

Foy dropped back to pass 37 times in the game, and Lahainaluna rushed only three every time. The coverage had Foy tentative at first, but he figured it out quickly and hit Chad Hanaoka on a quick slant between defenders for a touchdown. He did the same on the Raiders’ next drive, hitting Tanner Nishioka from 26 yards out. The Lunas got plenty of pressure going three on five, hurrying Foy four times and nabbing him once for a sack. But the impact plays were too few and far between.

Lahainaluna didn’t send four rushers until the very end of the first half, when ‘Iolani got down to the 2-yard line. Foy solved that one, too, with a touchdown pass to Hanaoka.

The Lunas stayed with the scheme after halftime, and forced Foy into two interceptions. Lahainaluna had so much respect for Foy it only blitzed him once.

“We watch them on film and they do a hell of a job pass blocking,” Lahainaluna co-head coach Garret Tihada said. “You have got to pick your poison with ‘Iolani. If you blitz them you risk the big play by a great quarterback. I thought, for us, that was the best way to play them. We watched (Foy) on film, I don’t have any words on how good he is.”

Foy passed for five touchdowns, but his biggest play might have been an interception he threw with Hercules Mata‘afa in his face that was fumbled and recovered by ‘Iolani to set up the winning touchdown pass to Nishioka.

“What a crazy play,” Foy said. “Praise God, thank God. It was one of those plays I tried to make too much happen and made a mistake. Thank God it worked out. When I saw (a man defense) after that, I knew we had it.”