The Kamehameha defense was sizzling hot Saturday night in a 27-0 pounding of Waianae.
The Warriors kept the defensive motor running all night long, and 18 of their tackles went for negative Waianae yardage.
In the end, the Seariders were held to minus-25 yards rushing and 154 passing for a net total of 129.
As usual, there was the Hoku Arias factor. The linebacker had a fumble recovery and two sacks, including one in which he stripped the ball from Waianae quarterback Kevin Poepoe before Warriors teammate Lancen Dung picked it up and scored from 15 yards out.
But it was also a major night for Kupono Blake, a defensive lineman and linebacker who had two sacks and two other tackles for loss.
After the game, Kamehameha coach Abu Maafala mentioned that Blake recently committed to play for Air Force. It was his only offer.
“I got the offer from D-line coach (Tim) Cross sometime in May,” Blake said. “He came across my film, and Nakoa Pauole (a former Warriors defensive lineman) is out there (playing for Air Force). He vouched for me. He’s my brother.”
Blake, who said he made his commitment about three weeks ago, will take an official visit sometime after the season.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I’m really excited about it. They have a good coaching staff and real nice people. I’m excited to be a Falcon.”
Blake said Kamehameha’s effort on Saturday was one of the team’s better performances.
“We came out with a different fire tonight,” he said. “It was pretty awesome. We want to prove that we can hang with the best teams.”
The biggest test for Kamehameha (4-4, 3-3 ILH Open) comes next Friday against No. 1 Saint Louis.
“Our goal is to always come after it and to know we can bang,” Blake added. “We’re Warriors and that’s how we do it every night.”
Maafala had lots of good things to say about Kamehameha’s defensive unit, which had recovered three fumbles with two interceptions.
“Hoku Arias has done a great job of pulling everybody together,” he said. “The defense plays well together, lifts each other up, challenges each other. Kupono Blake has been doing this all year. There hasn’t been a game where he hasn’t been wrecking shop. He gets off the blocks and is a very smart player. He’s everything you want in a defensive lineman.
“We’ve got a big one coming up next week. It’s Saint Louis-Kamehameha. I don’t think it will take a lot to get the defense up for that game.”
There were other big-time defensive players on Saturday for the Warriors, including Kawika Clemente (tackle for loss, fumble recovery), Ezra Evaimalo (two tackles for loss), Akalea Kapono (sack, tackle for loss), Dayne Maeva (interception) and Micah Lilo (interception).
On the other side of the ball, five different players threw passes for Kamehameha — four quarterbacks and wide receiver Skyler Ramos, who took a lateral and tossed a 32-yard TD pass to quarterback Christmas Togiai. The Warriors passed for 136 yards and rushed for 83 for 219 total scrimmage yards, and they also turned over the ball four times.
C’mon coaches. Really. We watch you guys practice all these plays and game time we don’t see anything. Why didn’t you use #88 more, major MISMATCH…..MAJOR. And he did good too. Even in the Mililani game he did good. My goodness coaches REALLY!!!! We are trusting you guys with our sons….(and daughter). Coach Young, let your position coaches coach. Trust them. Please trust them. Stop going against what the position catch tells the players, if you do trust them……THEN YOU DONT NEED THOSE COACHES!!!!!!! Waianae has too many talented players, but you need to use them. Stop telling them lies at the end of the game……THE FAULT IS IN YOU AND THE COACHES!!!!!! THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY ARE TOLD TO DO. One coach says one thing than the other coach says another. WHO THE HECK ARE THE PLAYERS LISTENING TO???!!! WHO!!!??? Frustrating for everyone in the community cause we see how good these boys can be. But you guys as coaches don’t care. Do you coaches actually know what kind of talent you guys have and what they are capable of doing? If you want to win coach, whoever wants to go both ways……let them. Cause you really need help on both sides. C’mon coach Young, we have 2 more games, we need to beat Campbell to get into playoffs……..WE CAN DO IT. We as a community believe in Waianae. Let your coaches coach. We are gonna need Zeften in more on offense. Diesel and Adonis needs to be used more. Every lineman who wants to play both ways….let them. Go Waianae!!!!
I agree Waianae coaches need to utilize those tightends more. In double tight, bunches or any other triple tightend formations. They need to get creative cause those TEs are mismatches.
It seems that they fail to maximize the potential of the kids that they have. The last few years kids like Rico Rosario, Bredain Ayala and Kanai Mauga masked a lot of the coaching deficiencies cause they were so good and just made plays.
When the coaches don’t have kids of that talent, they need to get creative and maximize all the kids abilities and focus on their strengths. But no, they try to fit a circle into a square cause that’s the Waianae way.
U all need to review the game and then put out the stats. False stats again on different players. Game films don’t lie.