KEAAU — Leo Abellera walked alone on Keaau High’s field as he looked back to see his players mingle with their families on the school track.
He seemed torn between soaking it all in or going to get a head start on next season with his new-found knowledge.
“I think I learned more than the kids,” Abellera said. “Discipline. How important discipline is.”
The Cougars learned a little something, too. About winning.
“Just trying not to beat yourself and how to fix (things),” Abellera said.
A three-win season might not seem a cause for celebration, but it’s marked improvement for Keaau, which matched its victory total from the previous five seasons combined in a 40-20 triumph against Waiakea on Friday night.
Junior Iokepa Laa threw for two touchdown passes, Junior Santiago ran for two more scores and the Cougars pulled away for their third win in four games since Laa took the helm at quarterback.
“The quarterback change didn’t mean that much to me, because family is family, but (Laa) did give motivation to the team,” Santiago said.
While the Cougars (3-4 BIIF, 3-4) can look forward to next season with momentum in hand for once, Santiago finished his career in style, ripping off a 54-yard touchdown run on a direct snap early in the third quarter, his fifth TD run of 50 or more yards this season.
“It means a lot, coming from the bottom,” said Santiago, who rushed for 116 yards. “I was expecting, honestly, for us to do a little bit better, but as we progressed I feel like the team got better and became as one.”
Suffering their first winless BIIF campaign, the Warriors (0-7, 1-9) lost their ninth consecutive game and turned the ball over five times, all on interceptions, three by senior Jamell Thompson.
Laa rushed for 50 yards and completed 8 of his 11 passes for 66 yards, including TD tosses to John Walker (7 yards) and Paula Tauhelangi (33).
“We’re definitely going to bring (Laa) around and get him ready (for next season),” Abellera said.
Senior Caine Lunsford, the former quarterback before Laa took over, tacked on a feel-good touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Cougars, who played turnover free.
Lunsford was stripped of the QB duties midseason, but he remained as a captain.
“It felt good (to score), but I felt kind of felt bad,” he said. “Dylan (Waltjen) was running and he ran all those yard, and then I punched it in.”
Lunsford saw his first action as a freshman in 2014 as the Cougars went winless, a record they repeated in 2015. Abellera came back for a second stint last season and the Cougars managed to beat Hawaii Prep and Honokaa. This season, they beat Ka Makani and the Dragons again, adding the win against Waiakea.
(Abellera) is a wonderful coach,” Lunsford said. “Really blessed to have (him) in my life the past two years.”
Waiakea did enjoy one of its best drives of the season with an 85-yard touchdown march in the first half in which the Warriors converted two fourth downs. One came on a fake punt and the other was a 29-yard pass play from Noah Eblacas to Daryl Sampaga that paved the way for Cody Alvaro-Thomas’ 6-yard scoring run.
Eblacas threw for 105 yards on 10-of-33-passing — Sampaga was his favorite target with seven catches for 83 yards — and four interceptions. Matthew Tilfas returned a pick for a touchdown to cap the scoring, Christian Mamone collected an interception and Thompson also picked off Ka’io Kon.
Abellera said the keys defensively were,”just getting them lined up correctly and putting them in positions to be successful and not making it to too complicated.”
Eblacas ran for a score to cap a penalty-aided drive in the fourth quarter, and Waiakea’s Able Pacatang took a fumble return in for a TD.
If the Cougars appeared to play smarter this season, there was a good reason for that – Keaau was improved in the class room as well.
“Grades was great,” said Abellera, who credited a hands-on ulupono program. “Our athletic director (Iris McGuire) and the kids worked hard. Grades superseded our record.”
Waltjen’s 52-yard kickoff return, which he almost broke for a touchdown down the right sideline, set up Santiago’s 6-yard scamper, which gave Keaau the lead for good, 14-8, in the second quarter.
Ever determined to stop the run under Abellera, the Cougars were stingy defensively. Waiakea featured seven ball-carriers in the first half, but the Warriors’ 13 rushes netted just 38 yards. The Warriors finished with 86 yards on the ground.
“We have good lines coming back,” Abellera said. “We have to make sure we train the kids right. Coaches have to do their home work.”
Waiakea 0 8 6 6 —20
Keaau 7 13 7 7 —40
First quarter
Keaau — John Walker 7 pass from Iokepa Laa (Christian Mamone kick), 7:48
Second quarter
Waiakea — Cody Alvaro-Thomas 6 run (Alvaro Thomas run), 11:55
Keaau — Junior Santiago 6 run (Abraham Antonio kick), 9:42
Keaau — Paula Tauhelangi 33 pass from Laa (run failed), 1:43
Third quarter
Keaau — Junior Santiago 54 run (Abraham Antonio kick), 10:46
Waiakea — Able Pacatang 33 fumble return (pass failed), 0:48
Fourth quarter
Keaau — Caine Lunsford 4 run (Mamone kick), 9:28
Waiakea — Noah Eblacas 1 run (pass failed), 5:25
Keaau — Matthew Tilfas 36 interception return (kick failed), 2:05
