Editor’s note: This story has beeb updated.
KEAAU – After most of his had players filed out into the night, Keaau coach Leo Abellera emerged from a victorious locker room with a broom in hand.
It made sense. The Cougars still have plenty of inconsistent play to clean up.
“How many penalties?” Abellera asked.
Too many for his liking, but one fewer than he originally thought.
There was a here-we-go-again moment on Keaau’s sideline Friday night when a flag flew as Isaiah Akana broke away for a touchdown on a punt return. Akana turned around and raised his arms as if to say “not again,” but the call was on Hawaii Prep.
Touchdown stood.
Storm Quilinderino, and Emelio Acia also scored as the Cougars – hampered early on by snapping issues – overcame a sluggish start to beat Ka Makani 22-10 for their first BIIF football victory of the season.
“The leaders didn’t panic, the coaches didn’t panic,” Abellera said. “We just had to stop beating ourselves.”
The Cougars (1-2 BIIF Division I) finally got going in the second quarter on a 80-yard drive in the second quarter in which they overcame two penalties as Bryant Respicio-Mercado hit Quilinderino for a touchdown.
Along with his 38-yard grab, Quilinderino added 86 yards on the ground. Acia rushed for 73 yards and a score and a pair of two-point runs as Keaau put up 22 unanswered points in the second quarter.
Ka Makani (1-3, 0-3 BIIF Division II) surged to a 10-o first-quarter lead – Conor Hunt nailed a 48-yard field goal for their first points in a league game this season – by taking advantage of good field position.
Keaau mishandled three early snaps, including a bobbled punt attempt that cost the Cougars 25 yards and set HPA up at their 15. Ka Makani capitalized when Umi Kealoha found Jaysen Bragado from 23 yards out for a touchdown.
“They fought,” first-year HPA coach Albert Cummings said of his team. “They knew they were in a war and they fought.”
Even with the win, the double-digit penalty calls were of Abellera’s utmost concern. Keaau committed a combined 33 in losses to Kamehameha and Konawaena the past two weeks.
“Our goal for this one was eight or less,”he said, “and I think we almost doubled that.
“We’re not so worried about the mental stuff and the alignments, but it’s the personal fouls, the kind we can prevent, that’s been killing us.”
Akana’s return through the middle of the field and then down the right sideline covered 65 yards and put Keaau ahead for good.
The Cougars allowed only 142 yards of offense in beating HPA (1-3, 0-3 BIIF Division II) for the third year in a row.
“Defense, we played who came to practice,” Abellera said, “and we were pretty strict.”
“It’s real simple.” he said of his focus. “Penalties and being consistent at practice, You miss one practice, you sit a quarter; just being consistent at practice.”
With the way its defense was getting a good push up the middle, Keaau was in the clear after it scored twice in a 90-second span late in the second quarter.
After Akana’s touchdown, Keaau recovered a fumble, and two plays later Acia scampered into the end zone on a 25-yard run.
“They played resilient,” Abellera said. “When the light comes on, they seem a little lost at first.”
Kealoha and Seth Beach combined to go 8 of 24 for 76 yards at quarterback for HPA, which plays at Konawaena on Thursday. Sheldon Aribal ran 13 times for 48 yards.
The scoreless second half was largely uneventful save for three turnovers, two by Keaau. Each team lost two fumbles.
Cummings came away encouraged HPA stopped the bleeding in the second half and didn’t let the game get out of control.
“We’re trying to change the culture,” he said. “It’s been too long and once things start going bad, they tend to fade.
“We started to fight back. We have to keep it up.”
After showing off his leg, Hunt was short on a 52-yard field goal attempt.
Abellera credited Ka Makani with coming out with a surprise defensive look that confused the Cougars in the first quarter.
Respicio-Mercado finished 7 of 14 for 114 yards, connecting with Akana four times.
“He wanted top pull the trigger (more), but the run was there,” Abellera said. “They were giving us the run.”
Before Abellera had a chance to look at the film of this one in preparation for a game at Waiakea on Sept. 22, he had more cleaning to do, broom still in hand.
“I’m the custodian, too,” he said. “I got to put up water, everything.”
Hawaii Prep 10 0 0 0 – 10
Keaau 0 22 0 0 – 22
First quarter
HPA – FG Conor Hunt 48
HPA — Jaysen Bragado 23 pass from Umi Kealoha (Hunt kick)
Second quarter
Keaau – Storm Quilinderino 38 pass Bryant Respicio-Mercado (Emelio Acia run)
Keaau – Isaiah Akana 65 punt return (Acia run)
Keaau – Acia 25 run (run failed)