‘Iolani, Ross run away from Kamehameha-Hawaii

Kamehameha-Hawaii probably thought that Jordan Ross was just another piece of ‘Iolani’s dynamic offense, but the Warriors soon learned that the sophomore can more than carry the load.

Ross had 206 yards and four touchdowns in the first half and ‘Iolani blew out Kamehameha-Hawaii 36-0 at Kozuki Stadium on Saturday. Ross came into the game with 176 yards in the team’s first two contests.

"That is all because of the blocking," Ross said. "Our offensive line works hard, and they should get all of the credit. They don’t get enough credit."

Ross gained 1 yard on his first carry and lost a yard on his next. After a pedestrian 4-yard gain, Ross would be brought to the turf only once more. When he took the ball on his next carry, he covered 22 yards in a blink of an eye for ‘Iolani’s first score with six minutes left in the first quarter.

There were plenty more to come.

Ross ran untouched from 32 yards out for another touchdown on his next carry, then expanded his range to 46 yards with a sick move that left a Kamehameha-Hawaii safety befuddled. His final score went for 84 yards when he weaved in and out of traffic untouched. He was not threatened the last 50 yards.

His last two touchdowns came a play after his team got the ball from Kamehameha-Hawaii, providing the kind of instant offense that had some people thinking of ‘Iolani legend Joe Igber.

"He has all of the same qualities as Joe Igber, who everyone is comparing him to," ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "He’s the same kind of person. I think it’s a little early, but it is great to be compared to a guy like Joe Igber."

Ross didn’t get a shot at Igber’s single-game school record of 352 yards because the Raiders put him on the shelf after halftime of the blowout. The 206 put up by Ross got more and more impressive the longer he stood on the sideline.

Tyler McKenna and Brent Tonaki, the only other Raiders to tote the ball, combined for 5 yards on 16 carries. McKenna is a converted offensive lineman and new to the backfield, so Ross eagerly moved over to get him some carries.

"It was good (to sit) because we have a lot of people who don’t get a lot of playing time and it got them experience," Ross said. "The yards don’t matter, the team matters."

The team couldn’t have played better. The offense scored on five of its first six drives, and the defense came up with five interceptions and a fumble.

The Warriors did compile 153 rushing yards, 93 of them by Faaolina Ina Teofilo, but that was because they gave the big running back the ball on nearly every snap of the second half.

"I don’t have a lot of words. That’s why they are defending state champions and we’re not," Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Dan Lyons said. "We knew (Ross) was quick, we knew we had to contain him, but our offense gave their offense the ball too many times."