The only undefeated team in Division II on Oahu needs its running back healthy.
Playing without junior Jonan Aina-Chaves, who injured his ankle two weeks ago in a win over Pearl City, St. Francis failed to score in the first half before two defensive touchdowns helped put away Pac-Five 26-6 on Saturday afternoon at Aloha Stadium.
Junior Shepherd Kekahuna scored on a 92-yard pick-6 and a 98-yard touchdown run and JP Tilly added a 42-yard interception return for a score off a pass deflected by St. Francis defensive back Kordell Ng.
The Saints (5-0 overall) improved to 4-0 in ILH D-II, but it was a struggle on offense without their leading rusher.
“Without (Aina-Chaves), the run game was weird because our running backs couldn’t hold the ball even though we made big holes for them,” starting left guard Siotame Haunga said. “It’s a learning experience, but we’re 5-0.”
St. Francis had just 93 total yards in a first half that ended in a scoreless tie.
Kekahuna’s 98-yard touchdown run accounted for roughly a third of the Saints’ total offense for the game.
St. Francis was averaging 46.3 points in its first three wins but has failed to score more than 28 points in its last two victories.
The Saints play Kaimuki on Saturday at Farrington. The Bulldogs lost 28-26 in Nevada to Sierra Vista last week but are 4-0 at home against Division II opponents.
“It’s probably going to be the same as the time we scrimmaged them (in 2017). Not too many new players came to (both teams),” Haunga said. “We’re expecting a win.”
The defense stepped up against the Wolfpack, with defensive lineman Sione Lolohea leading the way. Lolohea had a sack and three tackles for loss and helped hold Pac-Five (2-2, 2-2) to 188 total yards.
The Wolfpack started sophomore Rocket Uechi at quarterback, who finished 9-for-25 for 124 yards.
Chase Hedani replaced Uechi, who was shaken up after taking a hit, and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass in the final minute to Angelo Coluccio, who batted the ball in the air and then caught it while on the ground with the back of his legs, pinning the ball against his lower body.
GAME SUMMARY
St. Francis 26, Pac-Five 6
At Aloha Stadium
>> St. Francis (5-0, 4-0) 0 0 20 6 — 26
>> P5 (2-2, 2-2) 0 0 0 6 — 6
St. Francis — Shepherd Kekahuna 92 interception return (Jonah Aina-Chaves run)
St. Francis — Kekahuna 98 run (run failed)
St. Francis — JP Tilly 42 interception return (run failed)
St. Francis — Chase Akana 10 pass from Bubba Akana (run failed)
P5 — Angelo Coluccio 9 pass from Chase Hedani (kick failed)
RUSHING — St. Francis: Kekahuna 5-110, Dayton Leong 2-23, Aina-Chaves 6-20, B. Akana 6-13, Tilly 1-2, team 1-(minus 2). Pac-Five: Micah Kong 11-49, Laitin Bradley 10-24, Makana Bertelmann 1-3, Bruce Shewalter 3-2, Breyndon Nakamura 2-(minus 10), Rocket Uechi 8-(minus 15).
PASSING — St. Francis: B. Akana 11-21–1-131, Aina-Chaves 0-1-0-0. Pac-Five: Uechi 9-25–3-124, Hedani 1-1-0-9, Bertelmann 1-2-0-2.
RECEIVING — St. Francis: Kekahuna 3-59, Alden Rosa 2-18, C. Akana 2-16, Zion Paro Amina 1-30, Makana Poole 1-6, Dayton Leong 1-5, Aina-Chaves 1-(minus 3). Pac-Five: Coluccio 4-57, Nakamura 3-41, Kong 2-28, Robert Walker Jr. 1-7, Bradley 1-2.
