Kamehameha nears ILH title

The Warriors have become heartbreakers for the first time.

Kamehameha used a stifling defense to shut down one of the state’s top offenses, turning a stalemate into a 21-7 win over Saint Louis on Friday night at Aloha Stadium.

The win pushed Kamehameha to 6-1 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play and eliminated defending champion Saint Louis (3-3) from title contention. Saint Louis can still play spoiler next week when it plays Punahou

(5-1). A win by the Crusaders would knock Punahou into second place and give Kamehameha the league crown outright.

For now, the Warriors can celebrate a performance led by a powerful, fast defensive unit. Saint Louis, like Kamehameha, tried to establish control on the ground. The Crusaders rushed for 189 yards, with Adam Noga amassing 118 yards on 12 carries. But quarterback Kawai Mook-Garcia completed just four of 18 attempts for 47 yards.

Bronson Barretto led Kamehameha’s ground attack with 95 yards on nine carries. Kamehameha finished with 138 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Nephi Stevens passed for 158 yards and a touchdown with no picks.

Kamehameha was especially difficult to drive on in the second half. Saint Louis had 4 rushing yards and 35 passing yards after intermission. Three of the Warriors’ four sacks — by Kory Rasmussen, Thordan Latu and Ikea Ikehara — came in the second half.

Coach David Stant credited assistant coach James Nakamura.

“He did a good job trying to disguise our coverages a little more than last week. He knows our guys’ strengths and walks through every position for our guys,” Stant said. “Our guys, like Taylor (Taliulu) get real good position and he called blitzes at the right time. He did a good job with adjustments and alignments. (Saint Louis) came out totally confused. Our players can understand the adjustments and execute because of our assistant coaches.”

The first half was a tale of missed opportunities. Kamehameha’s Kanekoa Pawn-White missed right on a 24-yard field-goal try early in the second quarter.

Saint Louis, which self-destructed with key holding penalties early in the game, responded with a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.

Noga’s 38-yard jaunt, with a cutback to the right sideline, gave the Crusaders a 7-0 lead with 5:44 remaining in the second quarter.

Kamehameha needed less than 2 minutes to tie the game. Stevens connected with Alika McGuire for a 42-yard bomb, and Stevens snuck in from the 1 two plays later to make it 7-all with 3:48 to go in the half.

The second half was all Warriors. Their defense pushed Saint Louis backward most of the half, even after the Crusaders recovered a fumble at the Kamehameha 25-yard line.

Stevens was masterful in the second half, connecting with Tristan Peterson on a 6-yard corner route for a 14-7 lead with 6:10 to go in the third quarter.

He got hit hard on two sacks along the way, but bounced back to guide the Warriors’ 13-play, 64-yard scoring drive. Tyler Meditz’s 2-yard scamper to the pylon put the game out of reach with 6:37 left.

Saint Louis drove to the Kamehameha 21-yard line on the ensuing series, but stalled out with 2:14 to go. Kamehameha reserve running back Brandon Kahookele then broke off an 18-yard run to fizzle out Saint Louis’ comeback hopes.

For Stevens, it was a rare wire-to-wire performance. He normally alternates with Cid Camanse-Stevens, who sat out with a hand injury. The Warriors kept Saint Louis on its heels by throwing more than usual in running situations.

“Coach (John Hao) wants us to pass for 300 yards. That’s his goal for us,” Stevens said.

“Now I’m hoping Saint Louis beats Punahou.”

The Monarchs rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but the Wolfpack ran out the final 2:28 to escape with the win.

Alakai Kealoha led Pac-Five (5-5, 2-5) with 105 rushing yards, including touchdowns of 7, 13 and 10 yards as the ’Pack opened a 22-3 halftime lead.

Bryson Dalmacio hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Syles Choy with 4:16 left for Damien’s first touchdown.

After Damien blocked a Pac-Five punt, Choy snuck in from a yard out to make it 22-17 with 2:28 to play. With two timeouts left, Damien opted to kick off deep rather on try an on-side, and Pac-Five picked up two first downs to run out the clock.