Micah Kanehailua threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as Kamehameha-Hawaii pulled away in the second half for a 42-20 win over Nanakuli on Saturday in opening-round play of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II State Football Championships.
Kanehailua finished 13-for-30 for 190 yards along with one pick for KS-Hawaii (8-2), the BIIF D-II champions. Coach Dan Lyons’ squad will meet top-seeded Lahainaluna on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku.
Nanakuli, the OIA D-II champion, closed the season 10-1.
Makaila Haina-Horswill scored on a 2-yard run to give the visiting Golden Hawks an early 7-0 advantage, but the Warriors took the lead on Kanehailua’s 5-yard TD run.
Kanehailua’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Bayley Manliguis gave Nanakuli a 14-6 lead. Haina-Horswill scored on a 44-yard run to bring the Hawks within 14-13, but Kaeo Batacan scored from 15 yards out to give KS-Hawaii a 21-13 advantage after just one quarter.
Bacatan’s second TD, a 9-yard run, extended the lead to 28-13 in the second quarter.
Haina-Horswill’s third TD, an 83-yard run, pulled Nanakuli within 28-20 before the half.
Then torrential rain hit the East Hawaii campus and doused the offensive fireworks. In the fourth quarter, the home team added TD passes by Kanehailua to Grant Shiroma (41 yards) and Manliguis (15).
Makaila Haina-Horswill finished with for 149 rushing yards and three TDs for the Golden Hawks. The senior hung up his cleats with 1,378 rushing yards (8.8 per carry) and 16 TDs.
Michael Pomai led Nanakuli’s defense with nine tackles. Ramon Kahili-Frantella, Elijah Kaimi and Brayden Ramaila had five tackles each.
Wayne Amps Nurial Dacalio had six tackles to pace the Warriors’ defensive unit. Pono Davis added four tackles, including a sack.
Caleb Baptiste and Preston Kalai each picked off one pass. Baptiste also recovered a fumble.
Kanehailua has thrown for 25 touchdowns this season.
At Paiea Stadium
| NANAKULI (10-1) |
13 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
— |
20 |
| KS-HAWAII (8-2) |
21 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
— |
42 |
Nana – Makaila Haina-Horswil 2 run (kick failed)
KSH – Micah Kanehailua 5 run (Grant Shiroma kick)
KSH – Bayley Manliguis 33 pass from Kanehailua (Shiroma kick)
Nana – Haina-Horswil 44 run (Clifford Cunningham kick)
KSH – Kaeo Bacatan 15 run (Preston Kalai kick)
KSH – Bacatan 9 run (Kalai kick)
Nana – Haina-Horswil 83 run (Cunningham kick)
KSH – Shiroma 41 pass from Kanehailua (Kalai kick)
KSH – Manliguis 15 pass from Kanehailua (Kalai kick)
RUSHING – Nanakuli: Haina-Horswill 19-149, Kale Kanehailua 8-21, Haku Kamai 1-1, Brandon Sevelino 1-3, Sunshine Anuenue 1-5, TEAM 4-(minus-55). Kamehameha-Hawaii: Batacan 24-87, Chase Peneku 12-60, Kanehailua 8-18, TEAM 2-(minus-20).
PASSING – Nanakuli: K. Kanehailua 11-31-2-115. Kamehameha-Hawaii: M. Kanehailua 13-30-1-190.
RECEIVING – Nanakuli: Isain Wong 4-62, Cunningham 5-38, Keanu Momoa 2-15. Kamehameha-Hawaii: Manliguis 4-82, Shiroma 4-59, Kainalu Whitney 2-15, Batacan 1-15, Caleb Baptiste 1-10, Peneku 1-9.
