Omura’s Four TDs Lift Seabury Over St. Anthony, 61-6

Seabury Hall sophomores Bryce Barbier (25) and Brandon Smith (23) sandwich St. Anthony’s Luke Gage (82), while Preston Masanda (18) looks on. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

Seabury Hall dropped the hammer on St. Anthony in form of junior running back Cayde Omura, who accounted for four touchdowns and more than half the Spartans’ total offense, en route to a 61-6 victory in 8-man football Thursday at War Memorial Stadium.

Omura, who led all ball carriers with 162 yards, scored on four of his 10 carries, breaking off runs of 29, 46, 9 and 38 yards — all in the first half.

The Spartans actually trailed 6-0 two minutes into the game as St. Anthony capped its opening possession with a 18-yard touchdown pass from junior Colby Tam to wide receiver Keeston Sutherland at the 9:59 mark.

St. Anthony quarterback Preston Masanda tries to avoid the grasp of Seabury linebacker Kawaii Lu’uwai (32) during second-half action Thursday at War Memorial Stadium. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Seabury Hall answered 77 seconds later when Caleb Palmer hauled in a 69-yard pass from quarterback Jaxson Stinger. Ryder Weymouth’s extra point put the Spartans up for good, 7-6.

Palmer and Stinger would later hook up on a 10-yard scoring toss to cap the first-half scoring, 47-6.

The Seabury Hall, now 2-0, utilized its 35-player roster to dominated the line of scrimmage and force six turnovers against an inferior St. Anthony roster of 18 players. The Trojans, who manhandled Hana (48-14) last Saturday, are now 1-1.

“The kids executed well. They came out and did what we had coached them up to do. They trusted each other and the coaches and they did a great job,” said Seabury Hall head coach Andrew Burger.

Seabury’s defense got into the scoring act when junior Carter Christie returned an interception 20 yards for touchdown to end the first quarter.

Seabury Hall fans celebrate the Spartans 61-6 victory Thursday. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Meanwhile, the Spartans’ special teams refuse to take a backseat to the offense or defense, producing a pair of touchdowns on back-to-back plays to start the second half. Weymouth returned the opening kickoff 85 yards and Kai Paner-Rietow capped the Spartans’ scoring by returning a punt 60 yards on the ensuing change of possession.

Three of the Spartans’ six seniors scored touchdowns, including the last three of the game, with Palmer, Weymouth and Paner-Rietow. Seabury finished 318 yards in offense compared to St. Anthony’s 135. Stinger was 4-of-12 passing for 117 yards. He also picked up 24 yards rushing on four carries.

Seabury Hall kicked off 8-man football in the Maui Interscholastic League last Friday, posting a 23-20 win over Molokai.

Seabury’s Levi Okazaki (61) wrestles down St. Anthony’s Preston Masanda. In pursuit is Seabury’s Cole Christie (58). Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

On Saturday, Hana (0-1) travels to Molokai (0-1) for a noon contest.

After its first two official games, Seabury Hall appears to have developed the most among the participating teams after two years of scrimmages and unofficial games.

Three years ago Seabury Hall Athletic Director Steve Colflesh and the school made a commitment to the sport, buying all new equipment.

“When we set up our three-year process, we specifically set it up so that this year we would have seniors. And this is our first year with seniors.

“So when we started our seniors were sophomores and we didn’t let the older guys play, because we wanted to get the younger guys coached up. It shows. They know what they are doing now and they provide leadership for our younger guys.”

The investment has already produced big dividends when you consider more than half the team — 14 freshmen and 9 sophomores — are underclassmen.

“That’s a that nice number,” said Burger about his 23 underclassmen. “Funny thing is, as we were walking off the field I had kids come up to me and say, ‘Coach, I know what I am doing next fall.’

“We’re trying to create a culture. We not there yet but it’s coming around and the best thing is the kids are having a good time and that’s really what its all about.”

Seabury Hall’s next game is Friday, Sept. 28, at Hana, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday’s Game Summary

Seabury Hall 27 20 14 0—61

St. Anthony 6 0 0 0—6

First Quarter

St. Anthony’s Keeston Sutherland looks for running room as Seabury Hall defenders Mogui Lu’uwaii (9) and Caleb Palmer close in. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

SA—Keeston Sutherland 18 pass from Colby Tam (kick blocked), 9:59.

SH—Caleb Palmer 69 pass from Jaxson Stinger (Ryder Weymouth kick), 8:42.

SH—Cayde Omura 29 run (Weymouth kick), 6:19.

SH—Omura 46 run (Kevin Lewis kick), 1:00.

SH—Carter Christie 20 interception return (kick failed), 0:19.

Second Quarter

SH—Omura 9 run (kick failed), 8:38.

SH—Omura 38 run (Lewis kick), 6:28.

SH—Palmer 10 pass from Stinger (Lewis kick), :09

Third Quarter

SH—Weymouth 85 kickoff return (Lewis kick), 11:46.

SH—Kai Paner-Rietow 60 punt return (Lewis kick), 8:56.