KEAAU – Kohala and Kamehameha had to wait through a more than 90-minute delay Saturday after the officials headed to the wrong game site.
And once the BIIF Division II game did kick off, both team’s offenses seemed to be out of place as well.
It was the Warriors’ defense that was present and accounted for all along.
Kamehameha was picked off on its first three possessions and threw four interceptions in the first half, but the Warriors never were threatened thanks to a defense that allowed only four yards of offense in a 44-0 victory at Paiea Stadium.
“We have to keep doing our jobs, it doesn’t really matter what the offense does,” said senior defensive lineman Luke Kaniho, who had a hand in three sacks and recovered a fumble. “Honestly, we shouldn’t have any points scored on us, I’m not going to lie. That’s the goal.”
Quarterback Koby Tabuyo-Kahele hurt his shoulder in practice late last week, so the Warriors (4-0) rolled with two freshman, Jadin Chaves, who played junior varsity earlier this season, and Michael Perry, who started the opening two games. Each was intercepted twice, but Perry shrugged them off, tossing four touchdown passes, two to Izayah Chartrand-Penera, who was wide-open in both instances.
“It was good to show that we could handle adversity and come back after turnovers,” coach Shaun Perry. “We can’t deviate from our game plan, we have to keep trying to execute.”
The Cowboys’ defense showed it could catch. Zhane Ellazar-Ching, Zak Javillonar, Damien Padilla and MJ Macaspac each collected interceptions, but too often Kohala (1-3) got lost in coverage. In addition to Chartrand-Penera’s touchdowns of 31 and 28 yards in the second quarter, Isaiah Villanueva got behind the defense for a 54-yard score on the final play of the third quarter.
“We had a freshman against (Chartrand-Penera),” coach Chad Atkins said. “We wanted to see what we (had). He had been doing the best at practice, so we’re going to put him up against the best.”
Apu Alfiche ran for 56 yards and a score and Micah Mahai led the ground attack with 86 yards as Kamehameha put up nearly 400 yards of total offense.
Thanks to nine negative plays, Kohala finished with minus-40 yards rushing. Freshman quarterback Easton Hoshida was 9 of 25 for 45 yards. One pass attempt was deflected, and Hoshida caught it and was swarmed in the end zone for a safety.
“The pressure that Kamehameha brings, we prep for that,” Atkins said, “but we just didn’t make the right choices.
“They already knew this was going to be as tough as it gets. They already know they’re coming in and playing someone who should have moved up (to Division I).”
The Warriors handled their business during the first half of the season against the three former eight-man teams, outscoring them 152-6.
The game was originally scheduled for Kapaau, but the BIIF announced to the media Sept. 14 that it was moved to Keaau. The officials didn’t get the memo, however, and the West Hawaii crew was well on their way to Kapaau before being told to head east. The scheduled 11 a.m. game kick off of at 12:42 p.m.
After a sluggish start, this one hit a running clock when freshman Kamehameha linebacker Tobey Lau plucked an option pitch out of the air and returned it 22 yards for a score on the opening play of the second half. Lau also caused a fumble.
“They have a young line,” said Kaniho, who posted four tackles for loss. “They have some guys who will be good, but it’s not really competition just because they are young guys.”
Kohala 0 0 0 0 – 0
KS-Hawaii 9 21 14 0 –44
KS-Hawaii – Apu Alfiche 26 run (Elijah Dinkel kick)
KS-Hawaii – Safety, Easton Hoshida tackled in end zone
KS-Hawaii – Makai Snyder 18 pass from Michael Perry (Dinkel kick)
KS-Hawaii – Izayah Chartrand-Penera 31 pass from Perry (Dinkel kick)
KS-Hawaii – Chartrand-Penera 28 pass from Perry (Dinkel pick)
Third quarter
KS-Hawaii – Tobey Lau 27 fumble return (Dinkel kick)
KS-Hawaii – Isaiah Villanueva 54 pass from Perry (Dinkel kick)