Kamehameha rumbles by Farrington

The only thing to stop Kamehameha’s dynamic running back duo had nothing to do with No. 9 Farrington.

Seniors Kainoa Simao and Brandon Kahookele were both forced out of the game with cramps at various points but still managed to rip apart the Governors defense, combining for 319 total yards in a 38-3 win in an interleague game on Friday night at Kunuiakea Stadium.

Simao took a punt back 52 yards for a score and ran for a 26-yard touchdown on fourth down, while Kahookele became the eighth Kamehameha running back with a 200-yard rushing game since 1973, hitting the mark exactly for the sixth-ranked Warriors (2-0).

"It’s a big improvement from where we started," Simao said. "Last game we really struggled, but we moved the ball well and did what we needed to do tonight."

Kamehameha showed much improvement on offense from its 15-0 win over Castle a week ago in which it didn’t complete a pass for positive yards.

Quarterback Noah Sua-Godinet threw three touchdown passes and completed 55 percent (12-for-22) of his passes for 133 yards.

"We’re only in our ninth week trying to solve this offense, but we made a lot of progress this week and our execution was a lot better tonight," first-year Kamehameha coach Doug Cosbie said. "The nice thing is our offensive line is really good and we’re able to run the ball and take the pressure off of our quarterback."

Sua-Godinet, whose only completion went for negative yards against the Knights, completed three on his opening drive, including a 21-yard score to a wide-open William Young.

He was efficient all game without having to do much as Simao, Kahookele and the Kamehameha defense took over the rest of the game.

Simao scored on his punt return with 4:29 remaining in the first quarter, fielding the ball near the Farrington sideline. He took a step toward the middle of the field before reversing direction and going down the sideline to make it 14-0 Warriors.

After Farrington’s Kekoa Sasaoka drilled a 41-yard field goal to put the Governors on the board, Simao took the handoff on fourth and 1 from the Farrington 26 and immediately ran outside the collapsing Governors defense before plowing into the end zone.

The Governors were held to 29 total yards in the first half and dealt an even worse blow when running back Sanele Lavatai was knocked out of the game.

Lavatai, who rushed for 27 yards on eight carries, was hit by two Kamehameha defenders and was down on the field for two minutes.

He got to his feet and was helped off the field by teammates, but was in bad shape and was eventually carted off from the Farrington bench before going to a local hospital.

"He took a nice hit and he just kind of froze and went down," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "I was concerned, but he was responsive and talking, so he’ll be OK."

Without him, the Governors had little to match Kamehameha’s bruising defense, which has allowed only three points in two games.

Junior Mika Tafua, who has committed to BYU, had three of his four tackles go for a loss.

Senior linebacker Calen Scot Holt and defensive lineman Kaleipuakea Meyer each recorded a sack.

"We play great defense," Cosbie said. "Our defense is really, really good."

The Governors are 0-2 for the first time since losing to ‘Iolani, Castle and Saint Louis to open the 2005 season.

That was also the last time they finished the year with a losing record.

Quarterback Montana Liana finished 3-for-11 for 13 yards and an interception. He nearly had a 38-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, but open receiver Jacob McEnroe bobbled the pass and the ball popped up into the hands of defensive back Chad Farias for an interception.

"My first few years I think we were in the same boat, but finished strong," said Okimoto, who is 77-49-3 since taking over in 2002. "These guys have to believe because our new season starts. Now we start our league play, now we start playing for league seedings and playoffs. These games count."

The Governors have a bye next week before opening OIA Red East play at Castle on Aug. 31.