WAIMEA – Jakob Honda can rest easy.
Kamuela Gaughen was adamant that Honda’s job at running back was safe, but the senior just might have earned himself extra carries next week in the BIIF Division II football championship game.
Gaughen filled in with 107 yards rushing and two scores on an overcast yet dry Saturday afternoon, and his defensive touchdown put an exclamation point on Hawaii Prep’s 50-0 victory against Ka’u High.
“I guarantee (Jakob) will see the field next week,” Gaughen said. “I guarantee it, but it was fun.”
Seeking their first BIIF title since 2010, Ka Makani (6-0) will host Kamehameha (5-1)next Saturday in the title game in a rematch of HPA’s 14-10 win against the Warriors on Nov. 27. Kamehameha edged Honokaa 7-6 on Saturday night.
Predictably, the earlier semifinal was lopsided.
The Trojans (1-5) mustered just a yard on 13 running plays and 92 yards overall. More than half of that total came on Adadiyah Ellis-Reyes’ long completion to Kalem Libunao-Martinez that electrified Ka’u’s sideline. But on the next play, Gaughen ripped the ball away from a runner in the backfield and went 75 yards for a touchdown.
“The defense was there,” Gaughen said.
So was HPA’s passing game.
Tre Walker threw touchdown strikes to Kainoa Ekolu and Tain Lawson, compiling 156 yards through the air on 13-of-19 passing with an interception to go along with 62 yards on the ground. Lawson, who also ran for a score, was Walker’s favorite target, hauling in seven catches. He, too, was taking advantage of an opportunity.
“I think it’s super important to get the passing game going so we can have that dual-threat offense,” said Lawson, a senior who also plays linebacker. “Teams can’t just commit to our run. Our run game is real strong, to have that second option is really good.”
The Trojans elected to receive the opening kickoff, but matters went sideways for them quickly. Ka’u lost a fumble on its first play, negating what could have been a first down, and on the next play Gaughen ran 45 yards up the middle for a touchdown.
HPA went with short kickoffs all game long, and it recovered its second one, and Braeden Samura’s 40-yard touchdown run gave HPA a 14-0 lead after just three plays from scrimmage.
Ka Makani’s best drive was 90-yarder spanning the first and second quarters. Ben Kubo’s 8-yard run on fourth-and-5 set up Gaughen’s second touchdown.
Just like in the win a week earlier against Kamehameha, HPA forced five turnovers, getting three interceptions.
“We only got here because of hard work,” Gaughen said. “The harder we work, the better our score is. The confidence is high.”
Jonah Beck picked off a pass and stood out defensively again for the Trojans, ranging all over the field to throw ball-carriers to the ground.
He was emotional after his last high school game.
“Right now, I’m just super grateful to play,” Beck said. “Super grateful for this sport and my teammates.
“This sport is just a way of life, and for a lot of us it’s probably going to be the last time we play.”
On punishing ball-carriers, Beck said, “It’s the best feeling ever.”
Ka Makani will get to feel that way at least one more time this season.
“I think we are going to be fully ready for next week,” Lawson said.
Ka’u 0 0 0 0 – 0
HPA 14 22 7 7 –50
First quarter
HPA – Kamuela Gaughen 45 run (Mason Hunt kick)
HPA – Braeden Samura 40 run (Hunt kick)
Second quarter
HPA – Gaughen 5 run (Hunt kick)
HPA – Tain Lawson 5 run (Gaughen pass from Tre Walker)
HPA – Kainoa Ekolu 7 pass from Tre Walker (Hunt kick)
Third quarter
HPA – Lawson 6 pass from Walker (Hunt kick)
Fourth quarter
HPA – Gaughen 75 run (Hunt kick)