Sabers Improve to 2-1 With Win Over KS-Maui

Maui High’s Daniel Kelly rushed for 83 yards on 13 carries. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Kamehameha Maui’s Joshua Hiwatashi catches this 34-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.By Rodney S. Yap

By Rodney S. Yap

The Maui High School football team raised its record to 2-1 Saturday, spoiling Kamehameha Maui’s homecoming in the process.

The Sabers mixed a short-passing game with their solid running attack to build a 21-7 halftime lead, and their defense, which added a score, held the Warriors’ spread offense to 117 yards en route to posting a 27-14 victory.

Onosai Emelio scored Maui High’s first and last touchdowns, both on 1-yard runs, and Chazzaniel Sau broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown as the Sabers finished with 220 yards rushing.

Maui High junior quarterback Justin Carvalho led the Sabers’ offense over Kamehameha Maui on Saturday. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Maui High cornerback Andre Pierman (2) steps in front of Kamehameha Maui’s Keoni Keanini (14) en route to a 48-yard interception return for touchdown. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Junior Justin Carvalho started at quarterback for the injured Tyson Takabaysahi and connected with tight end Tristan Nichols three times for 58 yards, including twice on third down to keep Saber scoring drives alive.

Carvalho finished 8-for-10 for 103 yards passing. Emelio had 75 yards rushing on 19 carries, mostly inside the red zone, while sophomore Daniel Kelley added 83 yards on 13 attempts.

Cornerback Andre Pierman put the Sabers up 14-0 with a 48-yard interception return for touchdown with 11 minutes, 17 seconds to play in the second quarter.

Maui High’s Tony Mafileo gets a hand on Kamehameha Maui quarterback Chase Newton (11). Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Kamehameha Maui quarterback Chase Newton threw two touchdown passes, the first to Keoni Keanini was a 30-yard completion with 6:30 to play in the second quarter and the other was a 34-yard reception to Joshua Hiwatashi with 2:07 to play in the third quarter. Newton scrambled to his right and threw on the run, finding Hiwatashi over the middle in Maui High’s zone coverage.

Maui High’s Jared Kapisi fakes the punt and runs for a first down as Kamehameha Maui’s Rusty Hue Sing gives chase. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Maui High’s Jared Kapisi made up for a fumble in the third quarter when he executed a fake punt and ran for a critical first down to extend the Sabers’ final scoring drive. Kapisi also had an interception late in the game that helped preserve the win.

Kamehameha Maui finished the first round 1-3.

Kamehameha Maui’s Keoni Keanini (14) hauls in this 30-yard pass for the Warriors first touchdown. Maui High’s Justin Carvalho (25) defends on the play. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Maui High plays Lahainaluna on Friday, Sept. 20, at War Memorial Stadium, beginning at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s MIL Game Summary

Maui High 7 14 0 6—27

Kamehameha Maui 0 7 7 0—14

First Quarter

MH—Onosai Emelio 1 run (Jared Kapisi kick), 4:45.

Second Quarter

MH—Andre Pierman 48 interception return (Kapisi kick), 11:17.

Maui High’s Onosai Emelio (4) scored two touchdowns in the Sabers’ 27-14 win over Kamehameha Maui on Saturday. The Warriors’ Bryant Kubo (7) and Jonathan Lum Lung (15) close in on Emelio. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

KS—Keoni Keanini 30 pass from Chase Newton (Kailoa Akoi kick), 6:30.

MH—Chazzaniel Sau 24 run (Kapisi kick), 2:16.

Third Quarter

KS—Joshua Hiwatashi 34 pass from Newton (Akoi kick), 2:07.

Fourth Quarter

MH—Emelio 1 run (run failed), 9:22.

Junior varsity-Maui High 35, Kamehameha Maui 6.