Kahookele, Simao keep KS offense running

Running back Kaulana Apelu‘s strong sophomore season had Kamehameha fans anticipating great things this fall.

But Apelu’s knee injury early in the season has revealed something else: The Warriors (4-0, 1-0 ILH) have more than enough in the backfield to make a championship run. Apelu rushed for 635 yards (6.5 per attempt) and seven touchdowns last year, including a 145-yard performance against Saint Louis late in the season.

In his place, seniors Brandon Kahookele and Kainoa Simao have shined. Kahookele’s physical, north-south style has resulted in 455 yards and four touchdowns behind the Warriors’ mobile offensive line. Simao has gone for 234 yards (6.5 per carry) and one trip to the end zone, and his breakaway skills on kick returns is a big bonus.

Apelu had surgery to repair a torn ACL on Friday, when the Warriors toppled then-No. 1 Saint Louis.

"He’ll be back next year," Warriors coach Doug Cosbie said.

‘Iolani’s motion play passes on convention

It was one of those moments that had to happen eventually for the ‘Iolani Raiders.

Using their "jet" man in motion as part of a misdirection scheme involving running back Jordan Ross, the Raiders have tweaked the play just a bit this season. Instead of quarterback Easton Tsubata or Austin Jim On using a forward handoff to the jet man, they’ve been passing the ball forward underhand with two hands just a foot or 2 to the man in motion as he crosses in front of the signal-caller.

By rule, it’s a pass attempt. For officials, it’s something quite unusual. On Friday afternoon, a forward pass from Jim On to slotback Bailey Sylvester went off his right hand and fell to the ground. St. Francis defenders pounced on the loose ball and officials declared the ball in the Saints’ favor.

Raiders coach Wendell Look was about to argue that the play was a pass attempt — an incompletion.

"He said it was a completed pass and a fumbled ball, so I cannot argue with that," Look said.

HONOR ROLL

FOOTBALL

Passing

>> Noah Brum, Kalani: Went 26-for-47 for 324 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-17 win over Kalaheo.

>> Kahoalii Karratti, Kaiser: Completed 80 percent (12-for-15) of his passes for a season-high 271 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Radford.

>> Brandon Howes, Konawaena: Threw for 235 yards and ran for 101 in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii.

>> George Lucas-Tadeo, Kealakehe: Threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Keeau.

>> Aizon Kahana, Kapolei: Went 14-for-25 for 221 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-18 win over McKinley.

>> Isaac Hurd, Campbell: Threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 93 yards and two more scores in a 28-7 win over Aiea.

>> Syles Choy, Damien: Threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns and added 78 yards rushing with another TD to help the Monarchs end a 27-game ILH losing streak with a 31-14 win over Pac-Five.

>> Ryley Widell, King Kekaulike: Had 116 passing yards and 114 rushing yards in a loss to Maui.

Rushing

>> Tristin Spikes, Hilo: Rushed for 157 yards in a win over Hawaii Prep.

>> Christian Whitehead, Lahainaluna: Rushed for 152 yards in a win over Kamehameha-Maui.

>> Devin Preston, Waiakea: Rushed for 143 yards in a win over Honokaa.

>> Makena Johnston, Kalaheo: Rushed for 132 yards on seven carries — including an 88-yard TD run — against Kalani.

>> Jordan Ross, ‘Iolani: Rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in a 35-0 win over St. Francis.

>> Vavae Malepeai, Mililani: Rushed for 117 yards and two TDs on 22 carries and returned a kickoff 95 yards for another score in a 44-24 win over Waianae.

Receiving

>> Drew Kobayashi, Saint Louis: Caught three passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in a 38-17 loss to Kamehameha.

>> Dre Crim, Roosevelt: Had nine receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-21 loss to Nanakuli.

>> Trevor Yamashita, Kalani: Had 11 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown against the Mustangs.

>> Shayde Spencer, Kalaheo: Had five catches for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons.

>> Ikaika Piceno, Leilehua: Caught a 79-yard TD pass and ran 80 yards for another TD in a 65-6 win over Vincent Massey.

>> Byron Cachola, Kealakehe: Caught eight passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in a win over Keeau.

Defense

>> Gavin Panui, Kamehameha: Had a

37-yard go-ahead interception return for a touchdown in a 38-17 win over previous No. 1 Saint Louis.

>> Josiah Lucas, Kamehameha: Ran back an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the win over Saint Louis.

>> Makoa Chapa, Konawaena: Thumped Kamehameha-Hawaii for 18 tackles in a win.

>> Jacob Lacaden, Saint Louis: Finished with eight tackles, including two for loss, against Kamehameha.

>> Titus Lave, Farrington: Had an 18-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to force overtime in a 20-14 win over Castle.

Bowling

>> Lindie Esteban, Kapolei: Rolled a 213 game and a 602 series in the OIA West event at K-Bay lanes.

>> Nicholas Azumi, Pearl City: Bowled a 691 series with a high game of 258 in the OIA East meet at Schofield Lanes.

>> Spencer Nakaoka, Aiea: Knocked down 262 pins in one game at the OIA East event at Schofield Bowling Center.

Girls volleyball

>> Gabbie Ewing, Hawaii Prep: Had 19 kills in a sweep of Ka‘u.

>> Sara Watanabe, ‘Iolani: Buried 12 kills in a two-set win over Mid-Pacific.

>> Kara Aiwohi, Pearl City: Turned in six of her match-high 11 kills in the third set of the Chargers’ win over Radford.

Air Riflery

>> Bennet Cariaga, Leilehua: Began the OIA season with a 516 score in a loss to Pearl City.

>> Ashley Somera, Pearl City: Rolled a 518 in a win over Leilehua, the only girl to go over 500.

TOP 10 POLLS

Voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.