WAIMEA — Kea‘au football handled business in record-setting fashion on Saturday afternoon in Waimea.
Facing the hosting Hawaii Preparatory Academy Ka Makani, the Cougars were led by senior quarterback Trustin Gomes — who passed for nine touchdowns in the 70-0 rout. Per MaxPreps and Hawaii Prep World, the nine passing scores are a single-game state record, surpassing Keoki Alani of Konawaena’s eight-touchdown performance in 2023. He also completed 20 of his 26 attempts for 452 yards on 17.4 yards per attempt — by far his season high.
Gomes currently sits at 1,057 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions through five games. He sprayed the ball out evenly against HPA, hitting Josiah Nihoa (86 yards), Harlan Mangus (77 yards) and Dycein Kahele-Velasco (69 yards) with two touchdowns each. Josef Robinson added 51 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Shayden Takamatsu logged 47 receiving yards and a score.
With Kea‘au’s passing game being so prolific, the backfield was quieter than usual. But star running back Charleston Salazar still produced, rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown. Salazar has been the Cougars’ top weapon in 2025, currently sitting at 610 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 6.0 yards per carry.
All in all, Kea‘au netted 513 yards of offense. Per ScoringLive, the win marked the first time the Cougars scored 70 points since the site began tracking in the late 2000s. The team is averaging nearly 28 points per game.
Defensively, Kea‘au earned its first shutout of the season. The Cougars allow 21 points per game, which is an improvement from a year ago.
Now with three straight wins under its belt after starting the season 0-2, Kea‘au (3-0 BIIF, 3-2 overall) is starting to find a rhythm at the midway point of 2025. But the Cougars’ will have their toughest challenge yet this week against the class of Big Island football — Konawaena. Kickoff is expected to follow the junior varsity game, which starts at 5 p.m. Friday at Kea‘au High School.
The Wildcats, like usual, have been humming against BIIF competition this season — averaging 31.2 points per game while allowing 16.6, staying unbeaten in island play. The Cougars have struggled against Kona in recent years, but look strong to start 2025 — making Friday an interesting matchup to follow.
Ka Makani fell to 0-4 after the matchup, but earned a win by forfeit after Pahoa called off this Thursday’s game. HPA has struggled offensively after losing All-Hawaii running back Alaka‘i Aipia to graduation last spring, scoring just 10 points through four games.
Due to Pahoa’s forfeit, Ka Makani will have an extra week to shore up its offense. HPA next plays Kealakehe in a rematch on Oct. 4 in Waimea. When the two teams squared off on Sept. 5, the Waveriders won 41-7.
Kohala wins third straight
Kohala football just keeps on winning.
Up against Division II rival Ka‘u on Saturday on the road, the Cowboys executed brilliantly offensively and defensively — routing the Trojans 48-8 to improve to 3-1 in the BIIF (3-3 overall).
In Kohala’s three consecutive victories against Waiakea, Pahoa and Ka‘u, the black and gold have outscored their opponents 137-15 — primarily led by quarterback Kaualeinahua Reyes and running backs Tirus Perez, Ayzen Yamamoto-Perez and Sheldon Anchetta-Ah Puck. On the season, the Cowboys average 33.2 points per game while allowing 18.7. They have held opponents to under 10 points thrice.
Kohala will enjoy the week off before returning to the gridiron against the Trojans again on Oct. 4 in Kapa‘au.
Ka‘u fell to 1-3 overall, averaging 21 points per game while allowing 29.8. The Trojans will next host Honoka‘a at 1 p.m. Saturday in Pahala. It will be the first and only matchup of the season between the two teams.
