KEAAU – As if Kohala’s white football jerseys weren’t muddy enough after 48 minutes on a wet and soggy field, the Cowboys went and got their money’s worth before heading back to Kapaau.
Several players weren’t shy about rolling, sliding and mucking it up in one of the muddiest patches Thursday night at Keaau High’s saturated field.
Kids today.
“I told them (before) that I was going to collect their uniforms and wash them,” coach Chad Atkins said. “Now they’re going to run, they are going to hand dry them, and run with them on.”
Junior Zhane Ellazar-Ching didn’t sound too concerned.
“Coach,” he said with a laugh. “Just for fun.”
He probably figured he’d provided enough of a clean-up effort for one night with his two long touchdown runs. His instant offense was a game-changer for Kohala, which came back to deny winless Pahoa 24-14 in what was the Daggers’ most spirited effort since moving to BIIF Division II football.
After a sluggish start, it was if Kohala (2-4) flipped a switch in the second quarter. In reality, all the Cowboys did was finally insert Ellazar-Ching in offensively.
“We were down guys, and some weren’t practicing, so we had to use some different kids,” Atkins said, “and finally Zhane could come in and it was over.”
Makai Pang ran for the go-ahead touchdown midway though the third quarter. The score was set up when Quentin Hook recovered a fumble in Pahoa’s backfield and returned it 34 yards to the the Daggers’ 3.
Kohala’s defense stiffened after allowing two David Martinez touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, in the first half.
“We barely had communication,” Ellazar-Ching said, “so we had to talk on the field and all that.”
Hearkening back to their eight-man days, the Cowboys didn’t attempt a pass. Kohala was stagnant on its first three possession, turning the ball over on downs and fumbling twice.
On the third play of its fourth drive, Ellazar-Ching took a sweep around the left side for a 73-yard touchdown. He added a 56-yard score in the third quarter, and converted a pair of two-point conversions, finishing with 150 yards on 11 carries.
“I just really wanted to help the team,” he said. “After the blocks, I saw the field (open up).”
Tasi Sauta ran for 57 yards.
Martinez accounted for 110 (95 rushing, 10 passing) of Pahoa’s 189 yards of offense. His 15-yard gain on a fake punt on fourth down kept a drive alive in the second quarter, and the Daggers (0-6) took a 14-6 lead when Jaydan Broad-Melander passed to Martinez for a score.
“I love that kid,” Atkins said of Martinez. “I wish he had more help.
“He’s very patient. He’s not the fastest kid, but he’s patient and he’s a bulldog.”
The catch of the day belonged to Pahoa’s Duke Palma, who dove to haul in a fourth down conversion on a drive in that sputtered out. Broad-Melander was 9 of 25 for 115 yards. Palma had six receptions for 75 yards.
The Cowboys corralled Palma in the end zone for a safety at the end of the the third quarter to go ahead 24-14.
In the second half, Pahoa never advanced the ball past the Kohala 36.
“We knew if we could break the line we could get through,” Atkins said. “It was just hard when the conditions are like this.”
At the end of the night, the conditions were perfect for a mud bath.
Kohala 0 6 18 0 – 24
Pahoa 6 8 0 0–14
First quarter
Pahoa – David Martinez 3 run (rush failed)
Second quarter