KEAAU — Kamehameha senior Pono Davis doesn’t need to put up big numbers to have a major impact, and that was the case against Konawaena on a water-logged Friday night at Paiea stadium, where defense made a title-turning difference.
KEAAU — Kamehameha senior Pono Davis doesn’t need to put up big numbers to have a major impact, and that was the case against Konawaena on a water-logged Friday night at Paiea stadium, where defense made a title-turning difference.
The 6-foot-1, 265-pound Davis had a sack, a tackle for loss, and a few other tackles. But sometimes stats don’t tell the whole story. When Wildcat quarterback Shelton Grace heard footsteps, it was usually Davis making all the noise, collapsing the pocket, and giving hard rubs.
Davis was a formidable presence, putting Kona in a headlock and letting his Warrior teammates inflict all sorts on damage in a 35-13 landslide for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II championship, Kamehameha’s first title since 2010.
Alapaki Iaea had an interception and fumble recovery while Kamakana Pagan and Isaiah Tauati each had a pick-six for Kamehameha (7-2), which will play Nanakuli in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament at 3 p.m. Saturday at Paiea stadium.
Kamehameha quarterback Micah Kanehailua was crossing his fingers that Nanakuli would defeat Pearl City in the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship. The Golden Hawks did, 37-36 in overtime at Aloha Stadium.
Guess who Nanakuli’s quarterback is? His cousin Kale Kanehailua, who was 12 of 17 for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Kona (6-3) saw its three-year BIIF title reign end, in part, because the offense had too many self-induced mistakes. The ground game had 99 yards on 28 attempts, a 3.5-yard average. Grace was 10 of 27 for 74 yards with three costly picks.
“Our defense was huge,” Kamehameha coach Dan Lyons said. “Our defensive backs are great athletes and they came out and made plays. We had great energy from everybody. There was no backing down that Kona was the three-time champs.
“Our defense was big-time for us, and you could ask Kona coach Cliff Walters because they were double or triple teaming Pono, and it’s hard not to notice him. He’s the real deal and it’s because of the way he plays with character and is a leader for us, and he plays every down (also on offensive line).”
Kamehameha threw a blanket on Bubba Noa-Ellis, who scored four touchdowns against HPA in a 49-14 win in the BIIF semifinals last week. He rushed for six yards on two carries and had no receptions.
Kona junior running back Algene Kelekolio, all of 5 feet 6 and 145 pounds, was the most effective asset. When the defense didn’t shut down a running lane in time, he often found a hole and slashed for 59 yards on 12 carries.
He’s almost like a ball-carrier twin to Kamehameha junior Kaeo Batacan, who’s 5-5 and 140 pounds, but will not only slash-and-go like Kelekolio, but also pull off a few cutback moves once he gets to the second level. Batacan shredded his way for 82 yards on 18 carries.
The Wildcats man-pressed the four Warrior receivers and had free safety Cameron Howes provide run support or blitz with an overload of eight defenders in the box. The wet weather also helped throw a monkey wrench into both passing attacks.
Kanehailua had an uneven performance. He was 4 of 21 for 59 yards with a 36-yard scoring strike to Bayley Manliguis. However, far more important, Kanehailua had zero turnovers, and in weather fit for ducks ball security was priority No. 1.
Kamehameha won the most important battle, turnovers, 5-1; Batacan had a harmless fumble. Of Kona’s five giveaways, three interceptions led to Warrior touchdowns. That was one reason the score was 21-0 after the first quarter.
The first half featured bring an umbrella or get drenched type of weather, and the slippery running of Batacan, who torched the Wildcats for 81 yards on 16 carries to shoulder the offense for a 21-6 lead at the break.
Early on, Kona couldn’t get into a groove, and was its own worst enemy with two turnovers that were converted into Kamehameha touchdowns, both in the first quarter.
After Batacan’s 2-yard TD run, Pagan read Grace all the way and took his pick-six from 35 yards out for a 14-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game.
Then on the following series, Iaea picked off Grace and six plays later at the Wildcat 36-yard line on third-and-6 Kanehailua threw a perfect deep ball to Manliguis, who couldn’t hang on for a completion.
On the next play, Kanehailua went right back to Manliguis, who caught the ball with no problem for a 36-yard scoring strike and a 21-0 cushion.
In the second half, the Warriors played field position and managed the clock. Kanehailua was 1 of 3 for 0 yards, and Grant Shiroma had 10 carries for 44 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter when the O-line flattened Wildcats.
Tauati’s pick-six in the third quarter was highly entertaining for the diehard Kamehameha faithful because he grabbed a ball that bounced off a Wildcat for a 28-6 lead.
Kanehailua is a huge fan of his defensive friend.
“He’s non-stop and plays all out, 150 percent,” Kanehailua said. “I don’t know if people know this but he’s got the highest GPA (grade-point average) on the team, above 4.0.”
Kona’s one really bright spot was the quarterback debut of freshman Austin Ewing, the younger brother of Hawaii Prep senior Gabbie Ewing, a volleyball and soccer standout. He was 4 of 14 for 44 yards with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Medeiros in the fourth quarter, and looked poised after his first three passes — all incompletions.
Next season, the Wildcats will bring back a lot of dangerous offensive weapons. Ewing will be the QB with Kelekolio, Howes (26 yards on three carries and 31 yards on five catches), and Mahiai Kayson (49 yards on three balls) all back for their senior seasons.
Meanwhile, Kanehailua discovered that old saying is true: defense wins championships.
“This was a long time coming. It was four years in the making,” he said. “We’ve been working every day since the end of last season.
“The key was our defense. They were really fired up.”
What Lyons liked best was that Kamehameha won twice on Friday night. His team, along with Pahoa’s 8-man football squad, also took home the sportsmanship award, as voted by the league’s officials.
“That’s amazing and it shows that you can do both,” he said.
Konawaena 0 6 0 7 — 13
Kamehameha 21 0 7 7 — 35
First quarter
KSH — Kaeo Batacan 2 run (Preston Kalai kick), 8:07
KSH — Kamakana Pagan 35 interception (Kalai kick), 5:12
KSH — Bayley Manliguis 36 pass from Micah Kanehailua (Kalai kick), 2:13
Second quarter
Kona — Bubba Noa-Ellis 2 run (kick failed), 7:37
Third quarter
KSH — Isaiah Tauati 40 interception (Kalai kick), 1:35
Fourth quarter
Kona — Kevin Medeiros 13 pass from Austin Ewing (Ewing kick), 8:57
KSH — Grant Shiroma 35 run (Kalai kick), 7:20