MIL Football: Sabers, Bears, Farmers Win With Defense

Maui High quarterback Austin Hoe Hoe finished with 180 passing yards and 92 rushing yards on 19 carries Saturday against Kamehameha Maui. File photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

The Maui High School football team notched its second straight shutout and its fourth consecutive win Saturday, closing out the Maui Interscholastic League’s first round with a perfect record.

The Sabers (4-0) are unbeaten and untied through the first round for the first time since 2000.

Maui High intercepted Kamehameha Maui five times en route to a 9-0 victory before an estimated crowd of about 1,500 at Kanaiaupuni Stadium, where the Warriors celebrated homecoming despite struggling to score points.

Turns out, Maui High linebacker Feleti Afemui accounted for the game’s only touchdown midway through the second quarter when he intercepted a Kamehameha Maui pass attempt and returned it 14 yards to pay dirt.

Afemui picked the pass in the flat for the touchdown and his second interception killed a Kamehameha drive inside Maui High territory with 5 minutes, 17 seconds to play.

The Sabers’ other points came off the foot of place-kicker Chevee Freitas, who split the uprights for an extra point and a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter. The Sabers’ field goal was set up by an 80-yard pass from quarterback Austin Hoe to Justine Dancel on third-and-12.

Kainoa Davis and Nathan Nunez also had interceptions for the Sabers, who allowed just eight first downs.

Kamehameha had already secured the first-round MIL Division II title. The Warriors host Lahainaluna on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on ESPN 900AM radio.

Hoe finished with 180 passing yards and 92 rushing yards on 19 carries. The league’s leading rusher Soane Vaohea was held to 46 yards on 12 carries.

Maui High had 310 yards of offense, but also committed 10 penalties for 102 yards.

Saturday’s MIL Scoring Summary

At Kanaiaupuni Stadium

SABERS 9, WARRIORS 0

Maui High 0 6 3 0—9

Kamehameha Maui 0 0 0 0—0

Second Quarter

MH—Feleti Afemui 14 interception return (run failed), 6:16.

Third Quarter

MH—FG Chevee Freitas 37, 8:50.

* Note: All individual and team statistics compiled by Rob Collias of The Maui News.

This Week’s MIL Games

Friday, Sept. 25

Lahainaluna at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Maui High at King Kekaulike, 7 p.m.

* * *

Baldwin’s La’akea Kahoohanohano-Davis prepares to pick this Kekaulike pass and return it 85 yards for a touchdown Saturday at King Kekaulike. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Baldwin’s La’akea Kahoohanohano-Davis scored four touchdowns as the Bears rolled over King Kekaulike 38-0 Friday before about 1,200 fans at the Upcountry school.

Kahoohanohano-Davis intercepted King Kekaulike quarterback Cameron Russell midway through the third quarter, weaving his way 85 yards for his second interception touchdown return this season.

Then early in the fourth quarter the Bears blocked a Kekaulike field-goal attempt and

Baldwin’s La’akea Kahoohanohano-Davis starts upfield after intercepting a King Kekaulike pass. The Bears’ safety returned the pick 85 yards for a touchdown Saturday. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

again Kahoohanohano-Davis worked his way into the end zone — this time from 87 yards away.

Baldwin quarterback Chayce Akaka threw three first-quarter touchdowns, one for 13 yards to brother Taje Akaka and two to Kahoohanohano-Davis of 14 and 23 yards, respectively.

Baldwin’s Kamaki Gouveia rush for 127 yards on eight carries, replacing starter Chazzaniel Sa’u, who suffered a season-ending injury last week against Maui High.

Friday’s MIL Scoring Summary

At King Kekaulike Stadium

BEARS 38, NA ALIII 0

Baldwin 21 3 7 7—38

King Kekaulike 0 0 0 0—0

First Quarter

BH—Taje Akaka 13 pass from Chayce Akaka (Kelii Kaiama kick), 9:15.

BH—Laakea Kahoohanohano-Davis 14 pass from C. Akaka (Kaiama kick), 4:15.

BH—Kahoohanohano-Davis 23 pass from C. Akaka (Kaiama kick), 0:15.

Second Quarter

BH—FG Kaiama 31, 7:17.

Third Quarter

BH—Kahoohanohano-Davis 85 interception return (Kaiama kick), 5:37.

Fourth Quarter

BH—Kahoohanohano-Davis 87 blocked field goal return (Kaiama kick), 9:29.

Junior varsity: Baldwin 19, King Kekaulike 0.

* Note: All individual and team statistics compiled by Rob Collias of The Maui News.

***

The Molokai High School football team got the monkey off its back Saturday, beating rival Seabury Hall 62-7 in an eight-man football game in Ho’olehua, handing the Spartans to their first Maui Interscholastic League loss.

Molokai quarterback John-Michael Mokiao-Duvachelle passed for four touchdowns and ran for another Saturday as the Famers destroyed Seabury Hall 62-7. File photo by Rodney S. Yap.

The Spartans (0-1) came to Molokai having won their first 18 games in league play, including six straight against the Farmers.

In beating Seabury for the first time, the Farmers improved to 2-0 in league play and 18-6 under head coach Mike Kahale.

“It’s only one win,” Kahale told the Molokai Dispatch. “They will be back. They are going to regroup. They have some good athletes. We just did our thing today and I am proud of our boys.”

It certainly was a convincing win after losing to Seabury Hall by scores of 43-30 and 44-34 last year.

Molokai jumped out to a 49-7 halftime lead, adding a pair of touchdowns in the second half as the game was played under the mercy rule. Junior quarterback John-Michael Mokiao-Duvachelle passed for four touchdowns and ran for another. Two of the scoring passes went to Moses Espaniola, while Kaimana Kahale and Jaymen Bagay-Cenal each caught one.

Alden Abafo, Bagay-Cenal, Ena Victorino and Jayse Lalim-Rillon each ran for a touchdown.

“He played well and made some nice passes and had some great footwork out there,” Kahale said of his quarterback. “He’s stepping up and has matured a lot. But we had a big game from all the backs. And the offensive line, those guys up front, in the trenches, made it happen for us.”

Seabury’s lone score came from Cole Christie’s 60-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.

Victorino had 10 tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage.

Molokai will be at Hana on Friday for a night game, starting at 6 p.m.

Hana stayed unbeaten at 2-0, trouncing Lanai at Lanai City, 40-6. Sheldon Frias scored three touchdowns on runs of 5 and 25 yards, and he also returned a 35-yard fumble.

Hana’s Kiai Park ran for two touchdowns, and Isaiah Lind also scored on a 65-yard run.

The Pine Lads’ (0-2) touchdown came on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Keahilele Biho to Kian Tubera in the fourth quarter.