Lahainaluna Blanks Kamehameha Maui, 36-0

Lahainaluna quarterback Kiko Kolher-Fonohema throws a completion in the first half Friday against Kamehameha Maui. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

Lahainaluna High School’s defense pitched its second straight shutout Friday night, blanking Kamehameha Schools Maui, 36-0, before a crowd of about 3,200 fans at War Memorial Stadium.

The Lunas improved to 2-0 in Maui Interscholastic League play and 3-0 overall. KS-Maui fell to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in league play.

“All week going into the game we knew this was basically our first-round championship game, so we tried to prep the kids the best we could all week,” said Lahainaluna co-head coach Bobby Watson. “The score doesn’t indicate the kind of game it was.”

Watson was alluding to the 10-0 lead Lahainaluna built in the first half, which didn’t come into the final 4 minutes and 11 seconds, that’s when Lunas’ quarterback Kiko Kolher-Fonohoma found tight end Asi Fatongia alone in the corner of the end zone from 10 yards out. Reece Sinenci’s point-after kick made it 7-0. Sinenci added a 26-yard field goal as time expired to close out the second quarter.

“In the second half I felt like our kids came out with some passion,” Watson said. “I thought that was the difference in the game.”

Kamehameha Maui did not help its cause committing six turnovers, including five interceptions. Unfortunately for KS-Maui quarterback Connor Yap, three of the interceptions came off tipped balls from his own receivers.

“Balls got tipped in the air and we took advantage of some good field position in the second half,” said Watson. “As a result, we were able to punch it in for some quick scores.”

Lahainaluna tight end Asi Fatongia hauls in a 10-yard TD pass from Kiko Kohler-Fonohema with 4 minutes, 11 seconds to play in the first half. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Lahainaluna’s Jeffery Ancog intercepted a Yap pass and alertly lateraled the ball to Kiko Kohler-Fonohema, who returned it 20 yards to the Kamehameha 35-yard line. Four plays later, Tytus Lucas scored on a 17-yard run with five ticks remaining in the quarter. Sinenci’s kick failed, leaving the score, 16-0.

Next time, it was Lahainaluna’s Jared Purdy who intercepted Yap’s pass and returned it 33 yards to the 12. Two plays later, Kohler-Fonohema scored from 7-yards out and again Sinenci’s missed the extra point, making it 23-0 with 10 minutes, 58 seconds left in the fourth period.

“I thought that our quick scores took some fire out of their kids and things just snowballed from there,” Watson added.

Fonohema added a 1-yard touchdown run with 6:34 to play and Ancog capped the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run with 1:12 remaining in the game. Sinenci’s made good on both point-after kicks.

Lahainaluna’s Semisi Filikitonga (43) wrestles down Kamehameha Maui’s Quinn Kihune during first-quarter action Friday. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Friday’s Scoring Summary

KS Maui 0 0 0 0—0

Lahainaluna 0 10 6 20—36

Second Quarter

LHS—Asi Fatongia 10 pass from Kiko Kohler-Fonohema (Reece Sinenci kick), 4:11.

LHS—Sinenci 26 FG, 0:00.

Third Quarter

LHS—Tytus Lucas 17 run (kick failed), 0:05.

Fourth Quarter

LHS—Kohler-Fonohema 7 run (kick failed), 10:58.

LHS—Kohler-Fonohema 1 run (Sinenci kick), 6:34.

LHS—Jeffrey Ancog 23 run (Sinenci kick), 1:12.

Junior varsity—Lahainaluna 27, Kamehameha Maui 12.

Although Lahainaluna place-kicker Reece Sinenci missed this first-quarter field goal attempt. He did make a 26-yarder to end the first half and added three point-after kicks. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

MIL STANDINGS

Friday’s Result

Lahainaluna 36, Kamehameha Maui 0

Today’s Game

Baldwin vs. Maui High at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.