Maui High Celebrates Homecoming With 34-19 Win

Maui High’s Soane Vaohea (1) takes the handoff from quarterback Austin Hoe. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

It took a homecoming celebration and a career-best rushing night from its go-to guy Soane Vaohea for Maui High School to snap a two-game losing streak.

Before a jam-packed Saber sideline that included the state’s top-ranked marching band, the Sabers’ football team overcame a mistake-filled first half behind the hard-nose running of Voahea, who finished with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs and a career-best single game performance of 228 yards on 25 carries.

Kamehameha Maui’s Kamuela Kaniaupio (2) intercepts this pass intended for Maui High Isaiah Grijalva (21) as Warrior teammate Kahai Bustillos looks on. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Maui High broke open a tied game Saturday, by outscoring Kamehameha Maui 28-12 in the second half en route to a 35-19 victory before an estimated crowd of 4,200 at War Memorial Stadium.

Minutes after the Sabers’ award-winning marching band closed out a spirited halftime performance, Vaohea found his groove and the Sabers did not miss a beat thereafter.

The back breaker for Kamehameha Maui’s defense came with 10 minutes, 13 seconds to play, when Vaohea broke a handful of tackles and put the Maui Interscholastic League Division I first-round champions ahead by two scores.

Maui High’s Israel Emelio (55) brings down Kamehameha Maui’s Damon Martin in the backfield. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Maui High finished with a season-high 436 yards on offense, while its defense held the Warriors to 241 yards and zero points in the final 10 1/2 minutes of the game.

Vaohea and the Sabers face Baldwin on Friday, Oct. 30, at  War Memorial Stadium to decide the MIL’s 2015 Division I overall champion. Vaohea needs exactly 100 yards against the Bears to become the MIL’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2006.

The Sabers improved to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the MIL second round. Saturday’s win was the Sabers first since a 9-0 victory over Kamehameha Maui on Sept. 19. Maui High had a forfeit win over King Kekaulike and a pair of losses to Lahainaluna and Baldwin since.

Meanwhile, Kamehameha Maui fell to 3-5 and 1-3. The Warriors will play MIL Division II second-round champion Lahainaluna on Saturday, Oct. 31, for the MIL Division II overall title.

Kamehameha Maui’s Maikaike English (13) hauls in this touchdown pass from quarterback Kainoa Sanchez as Maui High’s Alani Malafu tries to defend. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Maui High quarterback Austin Hoe also played well, completing 13 of his 18 passing attempts for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 1-yard scoring run.

Hoe’s first touchdown pass went to Justine Dancel for 11 yards. The three-play, 55-yard scoring drive was set up by Vaohea’s 41-yard jaunt up the middle. The touchdown by Dancel answered Kamehameha Maui’s first score of the game.

Warrior quarterback Kainoa Sanchez threw a 15-yard touchdown to Maikaike English with 3:39 left in the second quarter. The game’s first points came after the Warriors went 65 yards on eight plays. Back-to-back penalties on the Sabers gave the Warriors a field goal. But the second flag for roughing the snapper gave Kamehameha Maui an automatic first down, wiping out a 47-yard kick by Kealaula Keliikoa.

The Sabers went in front 14-7 when they took the initial possession of the second half 67 yards in seven plays. Wide receiver Edmund Foronda caught a 12-yard slant pass from Hoe.

Maui High’s Edmund Foronda (83) catches this touchdown pass in front of Kamehameha Maui’s Kahai Bustillos. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Kamehameha Maui answered on the ensuing possession, capping a four-play, 41-yard scoring drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Sanchez to English. The PAT kick was blocked.

Maui High went ahead 21-13 on Hoe’s keeper that ended an eight-play, 55-yard drive that was kept alive by on Vaohea runs of 21 and 14 yards.

Kamehameha Maui’s final score came early in the fourth quarter with Sanchez clicking on his third touchdown toss, this one to Keliikoa for seven yards. Again, Maui High contributed to the nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive with a pair of penalties.

Maui High’s award-winning marching band performed during halftime Saturday. Photo by Rodney S. yap.

Vaohea would eventually seal the Sabers’ win on a 1-yard touchdown dive with 1:19 left in the game.

Saturday’s MIL Scoring Summary

SABERS 35, WARRIORS 19

At War Memorial Stadium

KS Maui 0 7 6 6—19

Maui High 0 7 14 14—35

Second Quarter

KS—Maikaike English 15 pass from Kainoa Sanchez (Kealaula Keliikoa kick), 3:39.

MH—Justine Dancel 11 pass from Austin Hoe (Chevee Freitas kick), 2:32.

Third Quarter

MH—Matthew Foronda 12 pass from Hoe (Freitas kick), 8:32.

KS—English 15 pass from Sanchez (kick blocked), 4:02.

MH—Hoe 1 run (Freitas kick), 1:38.

Fourth Quarter

KS—Keliikoa 7 pass from Sanchez (pass field), 10:36.

MH—Soane Vaohea 64 run (Freitas kick), 10:13.

MH—Vaohea 1 run (Freitas kick), 1:19.

Junior varsity championship game: Maui High 27, Lahainaluna 14.

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

Friday’s MIL Scoring Summary

BEARS 47, NA ALII 0

At War Memorial Stadium

King Kekaulike 0 0 0 0—0

Baldwin 20 13 7 7—47

First Quarter

BH—Chayce Akaka 64 run (kick blocked), 11:30.

BH—Kaylon Santos-Kekona 8 pass from C. Akaka (Kelii Kaiama kick), 8:50.

BH—Aloalii Laga 29 fumble return (Kaiama kick), 6:13.

Second Quarter

BH—Taje Akaka 26 pass from C. Akaka (pass failed), 5:28.

BH—Kaiama 9 pass from C. Akaka (Kaiama kick), 1:34.

Third Quarter

BH—Kamaki Gouveia 45 run (Kaiama kick), 10:10.

Fourth Quarter

BH—Samiu Oto 1 run (Kaiama kick), 5:32.

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

Maui Interscholastic League Football

Friday’s Result

Baldwin 47, King Kekaulike 0

Saturday’s Result

Maui High 35, Kamehameha Maui 19

End of regular season

Post-season Schedule

Friday’s Game, Oct. 30

Division I Playoff: Maui High vs. Baldwin at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Game, Oct. 31

Division II Playoff: Lahainaluna vs. Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.