Lotulelei Sparks Maui High’s Offense; Bears Blank Warriors

Maui High School’s Hanisi Lotulelei (34) rushed for four touchdowns in the Sabers’ 48-0 win at King Kekaulike on Saturday. Here Lotulelei is shown taking a handoff from quarterback John-Michael Mokiao-Duvachelle (3) during a game played last week. File photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Mauinow.com

Looking for a spark on offense, Maui High School football team found fireworks in senior Hanisi Lotulelei Saturday at King Kekaulike Stadium.

Lotulelei, a converted outside linebacker who did not play offense since his sophomore season, rushed for four touchdowns and 102 yards in helping Maui High defeat King Kekaulike 48-0.

The Sabers improved to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the second round thanks to Lotulelei’s power running, which was highlighted by scoring runs of 5, 5, 10 and 20 yards, respectively. The Sabers rolled up 344 yards of offense against winless Na Alii, who are made up mostly of underclassmen since the school did not have the numbers to field a junior varsity team this year.

Maui High’s fast, swarming defense kept King Kekaulike without a first down until 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the game when freshman quarterback Trey Hunter connected with sophomore Cameron Russell for a 16-yard gain. Hunter later crossed midfield for the first time on the last play of the game.

The Maui High Sabers football team improved to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the second round with its 48-0 victory Saturday at King Kekaulike. The Saber team is shown here before halftime last week at War Memorial Stadium. File photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Also scoring for the Sabers were Justin Pulido, Isaiah Grigalva and Arron Borja. Pulido scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John-Michael Mokiao-Duvachelle. Grigalva and Borja scored on runs of 29 and 1, respectively.

Since switching to running back full-time three weeks ago, Lotulelei has gained 246 yards. He had just 62 yards on nine carries in the team’s first four games running the ball part-time.

Maui High has a bye this week, while King Kekaulike hosts baldwin on Friday, Oct. 7. Game starts at 7 p.m. and can be heard live on ESPN Maui AM900.

Saturday’s Scoring Summary

SABERS 48, NA ALII 0

At King Kekaulike Stadium

Maui High 27 14 7 0—48

King Kekaulike 0 0 0 0—0

First Quarter

MH—Hanisi Lotulelei 5 run (kick blocked), 8:36

MH—Justin Pulido 20 pass from John-Michael Mokiao-Duvachelle (Kalia Kapisi kick), 5:15

MH—Lotulelei 5 run (Kapisi kick), 2:46

MH—Lotulelei 10 run (Kapisi kick), 0:13

Second Quarter

MH—Lotulelei 20 run (Kapisi kick), 8:10

MH—Isaiah Grijalva 29 run (Kapisi kick), 5:30

Third Quarter

MH—Arron Borja 1 run (Kapisi kick), 3:05

NOTE: All individual and tea statistics were complied by Robert Collias of The Maui News.

BEARS 13, WARRIORS 0

Baldwin High School executed back-to-back 80-yard drives to start the game and then watched its defense pitch the team’s first shutout of the season.

The defending MIL Division I champion Bears improved to 5-0 to start the second round, while Kamehameha Maui dropped to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the second round.

Baldwin’s homecoming victory on Friday at War Memorial Stadium was spoiled with 12 penalties for 147 yards. Twice in the second quarter penalties took the Bears out of scoring position.

Bears’ quarterback Chayce Akaka ran from 14-yards out for his team’s first touchdown off the opening possession. Akaka capped the Bears’ next touchdown drive with a 22-yard scoring strike to Dalton Mata.

Baldwin’s Kamaki Gouveia rushed for 43 yards on the Bears’ first scoring drive and 53 yards on their second scoring drive. The senior running back finished with 167 yards on 15 carries.

Baldwin’s defense held Kamehameha Maui to just 48 yards in the first half. The offense finished with 369 yards. Akaka had 132 yards in total offense, passing for 100 yards.

The Bears will be at King Kekaulike on Friday, Oct. 7. Meanwhile, the Warriors travel to Lahainaluna on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Friday’s Scoring Summary

At War Memorial Stadium

KS-Maui 0 0 0 0—0

Baldwin 13 0 0 0—13

First Quarter

BH—Chayce Akaka 14 run (Bisop Wickes kick), 7:30

BH—Dalton Mata 22 pass from Akaka (kick failed), 2:09

NOTE: All individual and tea statistics were complied by Robert Collias of The Maui News.

JV Result: Baldwin 6, Kamehameha Maui 0