Thanks to the brick wall of a line in front of him, Moanalua’s Alaka‘i Yuen was all alone in the pocket most of Friday night and he made Kaiser pay in a 35-0 home victory.
Yuen finished with 284 passing yards and four touchdowns, and he was in complete sync with wide receiver Ryan Ramones, who caught 10 passes for 228 yards and all four of those TDs in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Blue football game.
With Moanalua’s stout defense pitching a shutout, it all added up to a not-so-fun return for Kaiser head coach Arnold Martinez, who used to be Na Menehune’s head coach.
Going into the game, both teams were right in the middle of the pack of the OIA Blue, but it appears that they’ll be going in different directions now. Moanalua (3-2) evened its league mark to 2-2. The Cougars (2-4) fell to 1-4 in the Blue.
“They were good, very good,” Na Menehune coach Savaii Eselu said about his quarterback and clutch receiver. “It’s always a good connection that they have. It was a good game. Kind of weird with Arnold being on the other side, but it was all good. We tried a few things and tried to clean up a few things. It worked out well.”
Eselu and Moanalua have their eyes on the best possible seeding in the Blue, and will close out the season with games at Campbell and at home against Kahuku and Aiea. Not an easy road.
“I don’t want to jump the gun too early,” Eselu said. We’ll see where the chips fall, but we always have that in the back of our heads that this is going to be a big deal going against the more prominent teams.”
Ramones, a senior, caught TD passes of 15, 74 and 44 yards in the first half. Na Menehune’s Isaiah Jackson returned one of his two interceptions 55 yards for another touchdown and a 26-0 halftime lead.
Early in the second half, Kaiser’s Andrew Kaufusi, who had many booming punts all night and also played quarterback and running back, was tackled in his own end zone for a safety by Moanalua’s Jeremy Rodriquez to boost the score to 28-0.
Yuen’s 13-yard slant pass to Ramones for a third-quarter TD closed out the scoring.
Two Kaiser QBs, Kaufusi and Kainoa Torres, were picked off two times each. The Cougars’ deepest offensive penetrations were to the Moanalua 35 and 28.
“Kaiser’s effort was good,” Moanalua’s Yuen said. “We came out the better team tonight. They have a lot of heart on that team. And my old coach (Martinez), it was pretty fun playing against him. We wanted to let him know (that we’re a good team).”
In the end, Na Menehune outgained the Cougars 341 to 42.
“Suiting up 25 guys is always tough,” Kaiser’s Martinez said. “They (Na Menehune) are doing a great job. They’ve got great athletes and they’re playing together. When you play smart and together, you can do some good things.”
Added Kaufusi about the loss: “It was really a rough game for us mentally, after coming off a loss to Waianae. Our heads were already down. We tried to act like we were not affected by last week’s game, but tonight I could tell we were affected. We could have played way better. This is not the full potential we have.”
Waianae 30, Aiea 7
The Seariders scored 23 unanswered points, including 16 in the second half, to defeat host Na Alii.
Seariders quarterback Jaren Ulu threw for a touchdown and ran for another and finished 14-for-23 with 223 yards.
Na Alii quarterback Kobe Kato was 10-for-21 for 123 yards in relief of starter Zelius Maae-Liupaano, who exited in the first quarter with an injury and did not return.
ILH DIVISION I
No. 2 Saint Louis 64, No. 3 Punahou 44
At Aloha Stadium |
St.L (3-0, 2-0) |
0 |
28 |
22 |
14 |
— |
64 |
Pun. (2-1, 1-1) |
13 |
17 |
6 |
8 |
— |
44 |
Pun–FG Jeffrey Chan 25
Pun–Ethan Takeyama 19 pass from Nick Kapule (Chan kick)
Pun–FG Chan 44
StL–Tosh Kekahuna-Kalawe 37 pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Jacob Tobias kick)
Pun–Takeyama 59 pass from Kapule (Chan kick)
StL–Tagovailoa 1 run (Tobias kick)
Pun–Takeyama 10 pass from Kapule (Chan kick)
StL–Tagovailoa 1 run (Tobias kick)
Pun–FG Chan 37
StL–Kekahuna-Kalawe 63 pass from Tagovailoa (Tobias kick)
Pun–Takeyama 19 pass from Kapule (kick failed)
StL–Tagovailoa 25 run (Leelan Oasay pass from Tagovailoa)
StL–Oasay 6 pass from Tagovailoa (Tobias kick)
StL–Noah Alejado 10 pass from Tagovailoa (Tobias kick)
StL–Alejado 20 pass from Tagovailoa (Tobias kick)
StL–Chris Sykes 14 pass from Tagovailoa (Tobias kick)
Pun–Andrei Iosivas 39 pass from Kapule (Takeyama pass from Kapule)
RUSHING–Saint Louis: Tagovailoa 15-104, Austin Tuisano 2-12, Chevan Cordeiro 1-7, Jimmy Gonsalves 2-3, Dylan Siva 2-2, Keoki Wela 2-2, team 2-(minus 2), Alejado 1-(minus 7). Punahou: Sitiveni Kaufusi 7-22, Enoch Nawahine 3-21, Tamatoa Falatea 1-7, Kapule 5-3.
PASSING–Saint Louis: Tagovailoa 31-42-0–447, Cordeiro 2-3-0–22. Punahou: Kapule 30-59-1–495.
RECEIVING–Saint Louis: Kekahuna-Kalawe 9-185, Alejado 8-112, Ronson Young 6-66, Jonah Panoke 3-46, Oasay 3-25, Sykes 1-14, Jaymason Nunuha 1-9, Chandler Washington-Villanueva 1-6, Makoa Close 1-6. Punahou: Takeyama 10-189, Judd Cockett 8-91, Keala Martinson 7-77, Iosivas 2-60, Eamon Brady 2-39, Kaufusi 1-9.
ILH DIVISION II
Damien 40, Pac-Five 27
At Aloha Stadium |
Damien (4-1, 2-0) |
21 |
7 |
0 |
12 |
— |
40 |
Pac-Five (2-1, 0-1) |
0 |
13 |
6 |
8 |
— |
27 |
DMS–Shaun Apiki 5 yard pass from Marcus Faufata-Pedrina (Kaimana Cameron kick)
DMS–Justice White 18 run (Cameron kick)
DMS–Akila Arecchi 10 pass from Faufata-Pedrina (Cameron kick)
P5–Ryan Johnson 1 run (Tyler Fukuroda kick)
DMS–Apiki 7 pass from Faufata-Pedrina (Cameron kick)
P5–Jett Uechi 13 pass from Johnson (kick failed)
P5–Grey Ihu 49 pass from Johnson (kick failed)
DMS–James Livingston-Lopez 36 pass from Faufata-Pedrina (kick failed)
DMS–Apiki 7 pass from Faufata-Pedrina (kick failed)
P5–Ihu 58 pass from Johnson (Travis Kaloa pass from Johnson)
RUSHING–Damien: White 15-147, Deacon Kapea 17-81, Faufata-Pedrina 13-51, Arecchi 7-45. Pac-Five: AJ Ulufale 3-(minus 9), Johnson 5-(minus 15).
PASSING–Damien: Faufata-Pedrina 11-19-1–121. Pac-Five: Johnson 23-41-0–352.
RECEIVING–Damien: Apiki 4-28, Livingston-Lopez 3-46, Arecchi 2-32, White 1-10, Shawn Borges 1-5. Pac-Five: Kaloa 7-111, Ulufale 6-45, Ihu 5-132, Uechi 3-45, Matthew Lee 2-19.
OIA RED
No. 8 Mililani 42, Nanakuli 0
At Nanakuli |
Mililani (4-1, 4-1) |
7 |
19 |
9 |
7 |
— |
42 |
Nanakuli (0-5, 0-4) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
Mil–Ryan Chang 24 pass from Dillon Gabriel (Damien Santiago kick)
Mil–Kilifi Malepeai 5 run (Santiago kick)
Mil–Safety, punter tackled in end zone
Mil–FG Santiago 32
Mil–Chang 45 pass from Gabriel (Santiago kick)
Mil–Dustin Gapusan 15 pass from Gabriel (run failed)
Mil–FG Santiago 29
Mil–Kaine Park 29 run (Santiago kick)
RUSHING–Mililani: Park 9-53, Kailiohu Kila 6-23, Malepeai 4-21, Gabriel 7-15, Tommy Factora 1-12, Kaysen Higa 2-10. Nanakuli: Charleston Mahoe 10-31, Chyson Morgan 12-28, Joey Vea-Quitog 2-14, Nainoa Banks 4-(minus 7), Team 1-(minus 30).
PASSING–Mililani: Gabriel 19-43–0-209. Nanakuli: Banks 3-11-1–8, Morgan 1-10-0–(minus 5).
RECEIVING–Mililani: Chang 4-85, Nayin Muhammad 4-40, Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi 3-25, Gapusan 2-20, Park 2-14, Roy Ibrao 1-10, Noah Domagsac 1-6, Higa 1-6, Keala Giles 1-3. Nanakuli: Ian Akaka-Folau 2-2, Morgan 1-3, Vea-Quitog 1-(minus 2).
Junior varsity–Mililani 36, Nanakuli 0
OIA BLUE
No. 1 Kahuku 83, Radford 0
At Radford |
Kahuku (5-0, 5-0) |
42 |
21 |
13 |
7 |
— |
83 |
Radford (0-5, 0-4) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
– |
0 |
Kah– Royce Pao 26 pass from Sol-Jai Maiava 26 (Sekope Latu kick)
Kah–Harmon Brown 1 run (Stokes Nihipali-Botelho kick)
Kah–Miki Ah You 50 interception return (Nihipali-Botelho kick)
Kah–Elvis Vakapuna 47 run (Nihipali-Botelho kick)
Kah–Kesi Ah-Hoy 45 interception return (Nihipali-Botelho kick)
Kah–Nihipali-Bothelo 62 yard punt return (Nihipali-Botelho kick)
Kah–Brown 19 yard run(Nihipali-Bothelo kick)
Kah–Vakapuna 30 run (Nihipali-Botelho kick)
Kah–Steven Lombard 1 rush (Nihipali-Botelho kick)
Kah–KJ Mataciag 8 rush (Nihipali-Botelho kick failed)
Kah–Cameron Renaud 1 run (Nihipali-Botellho kick)
Kah–Nihipali-Bothelho 31 interception return (Nihipali-Botellho kick)
RUSHING–Kakuku: Elvis Vakapuna 3-92, Harmon Brown 12-76, KJ Macatiag 4-31, Steven Lombard 5-25, Joseph-Tiueni Purcell 4-12, Micah Wong-Lau 1-5, Sol-Jay Maiava 1-0, Cameron Renaud 3-(minus 2).
Radford: Jaden Standfield 1-3, Jonah Soakai 1-2, Kyle Corpuz 1-0, Randy Robert Ishii 11-(minus 1), Sipa Leafa 1-(minus 1), Iovani Alatani Jr. 2-(minus 3), Wright 1-(minus 6), Austin Antoni 2-(minus 8).
PASSING-Kahuku: Maiava 2-3-0–31, Renaud 0-2-0–0.
Radford: Randy Wright 2-12-0–10, Antoni 1-2-0–6,
Soakai 0-2-0–0.
RECEIVING-Kahuku: Royce Pao 2-31.
Radford: Cameron Copeland 1-12, Ishii 1-6, Standfield 1-(minus 2).
Junior Varsity–Kahuku 54, Radford 6
No. 4 Waianae 30, Aiea 7
At Aiea |
Waianae (5-1, 4-1) |
7 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
— |
30 |
Aiea (1-4, 1-3) |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
7 |
Wain–Jeresalem Tootoo 21 pass from Jaren Ulu (Tate Ebel kick)
Aiea–Kame Kim Choy-Keb-Ah Lo 11 pass from Kobe Kato (Kato kick)
Wain– Kade Ambrocio 15 run (Ebel kick)
Wain–Team safety
Wain–Rico Rosario 12 run (Ebel kick)
Wain–Ulu 5 run (Ebel kick)
RUSHING–Waianae: Kade Ambrocio 5-60; Rico Rosario 10-38; Javen Towne 7-32; Jaren Ulu 4-27; Dylan Keliikoa 4-19; Skylar Kaleiohi 2-5; Jorell Pontes-Borje 1-4; Team 2-(minus 4).
Aiea: Isaiah Ripley 2-8; Zelius Maae-Liupaano 4-1; Austin Savea 1-(minus 3); Kobe Kato 6-(minus 9).
PASSING–Waianae: Jaren Ulu 14-23-0–223; Rico Rosario 0-1-0–0.
Aiea: Kobe Kato 10-21-0–123; Zelius Maae-Liupaano 5-6-0–49.
RECEIVING–Waianae: Isaiah Freeney 4-86; Jeresalem Tootoo 1-34; Jonah Pelenato 2-26; Rico Rosario 1-20; Jorell Pontes-Borje 1-19; Kanai Mauga 1-19; Kade Ambrocio 1-15; Donovan Tavares 1-4. Aiea: Fabian Bautista 4-43; Kame Kim Choy-Keb-Ah Lo 4-38; Jayden Chaviera 3-66; Arman Mogote 1-10; Babu Capanang 1-8; Sam Okamoto 1-4; Austin Savea 1-3.
Moanalua 35, Kaiser 0
At Moanalua |
Kaiser (2-4, 1-4) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
Moa. (3-2, 2-2) |
19 |
7 |
9 |
0 |
— |
35 |
Moan–Ryan Ramones 15 pass from Yuen (run failed)
Moan–Ramones 74 pass from Yuen (Yuen kick)
Moan–Isaiah Jackson 55 interception return (kick failed)
Moan–Ramones 44 pass from Yuen (Yuen kick)
Moan–Safety: Kaiser’s Andrew Kaufusi tackled in own end zone by Moanalua’s Jeremy Rodriguez.
Moan–Ramones 13 pass from Yuen (Yuen kick)
RUSHING–Kaiser: Kaufusi 11-28, Kainoa Craig 12-3, Tyson Creekmur 1-0, Kainoa Torres 5-(minus-14). Moanalua: Kea Rodrigues 5-36, Bronson Louis-Merry 7-19, Mikey Williams 1-1, Yuen 6-1.
PASSING–Kaiser: Torres 2-5-2–19, Kaufusi 1-6-2–6. Moanalua: Yuen 19-29-1–284, Ezra Grace 0-1-0–0.
RECEIVING–Kaiser: Micah Mashima 1-10, Kaufusi 1-9, Keoni Pangan 1-6. Moanalua: Ramones 10-228, Keala Feguis-Pang 2-35, Brandon Bender 2-4, Rodrigues 1-9, Chuck Reed 1-5, Chad Shiraishi 1-5, Rylan Miguel 1-2, Kylan Iwamasa 1-(minus 4).
Junior varsity–Moanalua 35, Kaiser 18
Also
Kamehameha-Hawaii 43, Honokaa 21
Konawaena 62, Hawaii Prep 6