KEALAKEKUA — For most of Saturday night, Konawaena kept dynamic Kamehameha playmaker Kilohana Haasenritter in check. His running lanes were shut down, the coverage was tight, and all he had to show for his efforts was a very dirty uniform.
But the Wildcats couldn’t do anything thing about Haasenritter on the defensive side of the ball when he stepped into the spotlight.
Midway through the third quarter, the Warriors’ two-way standout jumped a route, returning the ball 55 yards for a touchdown and sparking a Kamehameha pick party at Julian Yates Field.
Within a six-minute span, the Warriors returned three interceptions for scores — including a pair from Noah Carvalho — securing a 28-20 victory over their Division II rival.
The victory busted a five-game skid for Kamehameha (4-1) against Konawaena (4-1), which dated back to 2015. Additionally, it ended the Wildcats’ 19-game winning streak against BIIF opponents.
It also keeps the hope for home field alive for the Warriors, which are already destined to meet the Wildcats in the D-II title game on either Oct. 26 or 27.
If Part II of the rivalry is even a fraction as dramatic as the first meeting, fans should buckle their seatbelts.
The next two weeks will prove telling for the squads.
Both have to see five-time Division I champion Hilo, and Konawaena has a make-up game against westside rival Kealakehe scheduled for Oct. 20. The Waveriders beat Kamehameha earlier this season.
The game wasn’t pretty for either team playing on a waterlogged field.
Kamehameha had eight turnovers, which included five lost fumbles and three interceptions. Konawaena had a pair of fumbles to go with the costly interceptions.
Kamehameha finished with just 141 yards of total offense, most of that coming on a 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter from quarterback Kaimi Like to Kalama Anahu.
Like finished his night 4 of 15 for 102 yards and a score. No Kamehameha back managed over 20 yards.
Konawaena freshman quarterback Sheynen Nahale was 12 of 37 for 157 yards with two TDs and four interceptions.
Wildcat back Orion Smith carried the load, registering 18 carries for 78 hard-earned yards.
The Wildcats had only allowed 27 points to BIIF opponents this year, which Kamehameha surpassed in one night.
However, that number is a bit deceiving, considering the defense as a unit has only allowed three offensive touchdowns this season.
Kamehameha took control in the third quarter, with Haasenritter’s pick ending the shutout. Like and Anahu connected on the Warriors’ longest offensive play of the night to keep the momentum rolling. Carvalho got into the mix with his pair of interception returns, including a 91-yard sprint down the sideline that made it 28-7.
Konawaena did not go away without a fight, however.
Nahale connected on some big throws to Marc Basa, including a 17-yard touchdown strike with just over eight minutes left.
But the Kamehameha defense stepped up down the stretch, and the Warriors jumbo formation, that featured exclusively QB sneaks, ran out the clock.