KEAAU — When Kamehameha plays like it did Saturday night, there are bound to be a lot of happy parents in the stands at Paiea Stadium.
KEAAU — When Kamehameha plays like it did Saturday night, there are bound to be a lot of happy parents in the stands at Paiea Stadium.
With quarterback Kaimi Like operating the triple option and spreading the ball around the field, everybody contributed in a 40-6 victory against Keaau.
Five different players scored touchdowns, eight caught a pass, eight had at least one carry and the defense hardly took a backseat as the Warriors won their BIIF opener. Heck, even the backup field-goal kicker got into the act as Kamehameha once again claimed the Kipimana Cup.
“When we’re talking about getting everyone involved, that’s what it looks like,” coach Dan Lyons said.
The Kipimana Cup (sponsored by W.H. Shipman) celebrates goodwill in the Keaau community, but the Warriors’ defense had bad intentions. Kamehameha (3-1, BIIF Division II 1-0) has won all seven of the trophy games.
Cougars quarterback Caine Lunsford was under siege all night and was dropped for negative yardage on 11 plays.
“We’re happy with where were doing right now on offense, defense and special teams,” Lyons said.
Like was in command and crisp in the passing game for the Warriors, finishing 12 of 18 for 114 yards, including touchdown passes to Paniau Lindsey and Noah Carvalho, as the Warriors scored on five consecutive first-half possessions after their first drive ended with a missed field goal.
Carvalho was Like’s favorite target, hauling in four catches for 57 yards.
The Cougars (0-1 BIIF Division I) didn’t have the benefit of a preseason game and it showed in the form of myriad penalties.
“In terms of scheduling, we had a lot of time to prepare for the option in the preseason,” Keaau coach Leo Abellera said. “I was really disappointed how we handled it.
“Our defense is young, but everybody was going for the ball and just screwing up their assignments.”
Keaau was held to minus 13 yards of offense in the first half, but Junior Santiago provided a highlight for the Cougars with a 76-yard scoring burst in the fourth quarter, and the senior finished with 130 yards on the ground.
Lundsford had a handful of completions called back because of penalty, finishing 5 of 14 for 43 yards, and Abellera praised his senior’s compusure against a swarming defense.
“Normally in the past, he might have blamed the offensive line and said it was there fault, but I didn’t see that (Saturday),” Abellera said.
“(Junior), too. He broke down a lot last season but he has been a real positive.”
The theme of the night for Kamehameha’s offense was short fields.
Justin Kenoi’s interception, his third in the past two games, set up the Warriors at the Keaau 33, and the drive ended with Isaac Ysaguirre’s short touchdown run around the left side for a 21-0 lead.
Late in the first half, Kamehameha sacked Lunsford and recovered a fumble at Keaau’s 12. On the ensuing play, Kilohana Hassenritter ran in for a score.
Kamehameha’s longest scoring march was its first, a 66-yarder that started with a pass, and then went exclusively to the ground. Israel Bowden took an inside handoff and ran 8 yards to cap off a drive that set the lopsided affair in motion.
Keaau 0 0 0 6 — 6
KS-Hawaii 7 30 3 0 — 40
First quarter
KHS — Israel Bowden 8 run (Justin Kenoi kick), 1:31
Second quarter
KSH — Paniau Lindsey 8 pass from Kaimi Like (Justin Kenoi kick), 8:40
KSH — Isaac Ysaguirre 3 run (Justin Kenoi kick), 6:44
KSH — Noah Carvalho 19 pass from Like (Kenoi kick), 2:35
KSH — Kilohana Hassenritter 12 run (Kenoi kick), 1:48
KSH — Safety, quarterback tackled in end zone, 1:24
Third quarter
KSH — FG David Erskine 19, 5:32
Fourth quarter
Keaau — Junior Santiago 76 run (run failed), 10:42