Non-League FOOTBALL: Wai'anae holds off Moanalua, 26-17

By Wes Nakama
HHSAA

Kekoa Kaluhiokalani completed 14 of 28 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown and also scored on an 18-yard TD run Friday night to help visiting Wai'anae hold off Moanalua, 26-17, in nonleague football action.

The Seariders evened their record at 1-1, while Na Menehune fell to 0-2.

Brandon Johnston's interception at his own 28-yard line with 49 seconds remaining sealed the victory for Wai'anae.

After trailing 13-3 at halftime, Moanalua had closed the score to 13-10 four minutes into the third quarter as free safety Tahi Caldwell scooped up an errant Seariders option pitch and ran it back 54 yards to the end zone. But Wai'anae stretched the lead back to 20-10 after the second play of the fourth quarter, a 22-yard touchdown pass from Kaluhiokalani to Po'okela Noa-Nakamoto, then made it 26-10 three plays after ensuing kickoff when Sheaven Ferreira-Delima picked up a fumble and ran it in three yards.

Chad Aragon returned the next kickoff 47 yards to the Seariders' 35, and Na Menehune scored five plays later on Micah Kaneshiro's 3-yard TD pass to Jon-Michael Sharsh. Landon Ogawa's extra point cut it to 26-17 with 8:26 left, and Moanalua later gained possession on a fumbled punt snap at midfield with 1:40 remaining.

But after advancing to the 38, Na Menehune lost the ball for a final time when Johnston came up with the interception on a deflected pass.

Wai'anae had taken a 6-0 lead with 2:22 left in the first quarter on Jeremy Willes' 1-yard touchdown plunge, but the PAT attempt was blocked by Clemson recruit Scott Pagano, and Moanalua cut it to 6-3 on Ogawa's 20-yard field goal with 7:24 remaining in the half.

After a fumbled punt return later gave the Seariders possession at the Na Menehune 18, Kaluhiokalani ran it in on a keeper to the left side, diving into the front left pylon with 1:16 left in the half.

WAI‘ANAE (1-1)            6            7            0            13 – 26

MOANALUA (0-2)            0            3            7            7 – 17

 

Wai – Jeremy Willes 1 run (kick blocked)

Moa – FG Landon Ogawa 20

Wai – Kekoa Kaluhiokalani 18 run (Jacoby Cid kick)

Moa – Tahi Caldwell 54 fumble return (Ogawa kick)

Wai – Po‘okela Noa-Nakamoto 22 pass from Kaluhiokalani (Cid kick)

Wai – Sheaven Ferreira-Delima 3 fumble return (kick failed)

Moa – Jon-Michael Sharsh 3 pass from Micah Kaneshiro (Ogawa kick)

RUSHING -- Wai'anae: Lexun Kamealoha 13-90, Alakai Kealoha 8-31, Kaluhiokalani 8-21, Willes 5-3. Moanalua: Kaleo Yanai 5-8, Ishmil Scott 12-36, Kaneshiro 5-(minus-6), DJ Leatimua 1-11, Jerek Pavao 1-1, Maxwell Fiatoa 1-1.

PASSING -- Wai'anae: Kaluhiokalani 14-28-1--195. Moanalua: Kaneshiro 9-23-2--78.

RECEIVING -- Wai'anae: Kamealoha 1-7, Noa-Nakamoto 5-72, Keanu Chung 4-61, Chaz Bollig 2-25, Johnathan Napierela-Rose 1-10, Willes 1-20. Moanalua: Chad Aragon 2-23, Branen Oliveros 1-14, Sharsh 3-21, Donald Lambert 3-20.