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Crafty and skilled, the ‘Iolani Raiders used a last-minute ploy to get the ball back for one last chance to upset Kamehameha.
But the Raiders did the one thing nobody at Kunuiakea Stadium expected — they outwitted themselves. Seventh-ranked Kamehameha escaped with a 42-34 win over the visiting Raiders.
Kamehameha (4-2 overall) improved to 2-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, but only after a wild final minute and 18 seconds. Tanner Nishioka’s 6-yard touchdown run around right end, with a nifty cutback, brought the Raiders within 35-34. ‘Iolani, which won an early-season game at Waipahu with a late two-point conversion, went for the win. Reece Foy’s pass over the middle was intercepted by Javen Sablay, seemingly preserving Kamehameha’s victory.
"They made plays when they needed to. (Sablay) made a great read and he made a great play," ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "It was a game-winning play."
Sablay was gassed by then.
"Coach said to play our hearts out. I felt good, but I was tired," he said.
After Cheyne Holt recovered the ensuing onside kick, all Kamehameha had to do was run out the clock. But ‘Iolani called a timeout — its last of the game — with 1:08 left and went to its last resort. The defense allowed Kamehameha running back Kalani Wengler to sprint untouched for a 42-yard touchdown. The Warriors led 42-34 with 59 seconds left, but ‘Iolani got its wish.
A personal foul against Kamehameha following the touchdown play pushed the kickoff back, and after Nishioka’s 32-yard return, the Raiders had the ball at the Warriors’ 38-yard line with 52 seconds to go. Two plays later, Foy scrambled for an apparent first down, but curved back against traffic and was stopped short.
With 20 seconds on the clock, the Raiders lined up on fourth and 1, but Foy thought he had picked up the first down, which would have stopped the clock. Time expired, and the senior was astonished, then disappointed.
It was a bizarre finish for a wild game that Kamehameha didn’t lead until the third quarter. Warriors coach David Stant was relieved.
"I hate playing ‘Iolani. They are so well-coached and they execute so well," he said.
Eighth-ranked ‘Iolani (4-2, 1-2), the five-time defending Division II state champion, got superb performances from Nishioka (15 receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns) and Foy (219 passing yards, three touchdowns), but would love to have that last sequence back.
Sophomore Kaulana Apelu led the Warriors on the ground with 85 yards in 17 carries. Makoa Camanse-Stevens passed for 192 yards and two touchdowns, hitting 10 completions in a row during the first half.
At Kunuiakea Stadium
| ‘IOLANI (4-2, 1-2) |
7 |
14 |
7 |
6 |
— |
34 |
| KAMEHAMEHA (4-2, 2-1) |
0 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
— |
42 |
‘Iolani—Tanner Nishioka 14 pass from Reece Foy (Jordan Genovia kick)
KS—Nephi Stevens 13 pass from Makoa Camanse-Stevens (Tyler Fitzsimmons kick)
‘Iolani—Foy 5 run (kick blocked)
KS—Kaulana Werner 12 pass from Camanse-Stevens (Fitzsimmons kick)
‘Iolani—Nishioka 9 pass from Foy (Nishioka run)
KS—Kaulana Apelu 5 run (Fitzsimmons kick)
KS—Apelu 4 run (Fitzsimmons kick)
KS—Camanse-Stevens 4 run (Fitzsimmons kick)
‘Iolani—Nishioka 34 pass from Foy (Genovia kick)
‘Iolani—Nishioka 6 run (pass failed)
KS—Kalani Wengler 42 run (Fitzsimmons kick)
RUSHING—‘Iolani: Yuuya Kato 16-66, Foy 8-46, Max Maneafaiga 3-2, Chad Hanaoka 1-1, Nishioka 1-6, team 1-(-17). Kamehameha: Apelu 17-85, Wengler 1-42, Camanse-Stevens 7-32, Kainoa Simao 4-8.
PASSING—‘Iolani: Foy 22-36-0—219. Kamehameha: Camanse-Stevens 15-23-0—192.
RECEIVING—‘Iolani: Nishioka 15-175, Kato 3-22, Chase Kanekuni 3-3, Hanaoka 1-19. Kamehameha: Austin Gerard 5-90, Avery Amasiu 3-23, Kody Chai 2-29, Stevens 2-19, Jordan Paulo 1-15, Werner 1-12, Jake Kealohi 1-4.
