GAME NIGHT 8/4: Konawaena/Kahuku

No. 2 Kahuku 61, Konawaena 9, final

At Carleton Weimer Field
Konawaena (0-1) 0 7 2 0 — 9
Kahuku (1-0) 20 21 7 13 — 61
KAH—Duke Heffernan 3 pass from Robbie Sauvao (Heffernan kick)
KAH—Wesley Alo-Maiava 55 run (run failed)
KAH—Alo-Maiava 5 run (Heffernan kick)
KAH—Alo-Maiava 5 run (Heffernan kick)
KON—Hunter Wehrsig 29 pass from Sheynen Nahale (Hunter Hill kick)
KAH—Kainoa Crimson 19 pass from Sauvao (Heffernan kick)
KAH—Toalei Lefau 3 pass from Sauvao (Heffernan kick)
KAH—Zealand Matagi 63 run (Heffernan kick)
KON—Safety, Kahuku snaps ball out of end zone
KAH—Kala‘akeaokahaku Faifili 1 run (kick failed)
KAH—Paniau Lindsey 54 pass from Alex Fonoimoana-Vaomu (Heffernan kick)

JV—no game.

RUSHING—Konawaena: Cyrus Jumalon 10-(-2), Nahale 2-(-12), Orion Smith 1-(-2), Team 1-(-1). Kahuku: Alo-Maiava 9-130, Sauvao 6-19, Zealand Matagi 6-87, Lefau 3-15, Talataina Tevaga 3-12, Team 1-(-9), Faifili 1-1.

PASSING—Konawaena: Nahale 19-47-1-244. Kahuku: Sauvao 14-25-0-154, Fonoimoana-Vaomu 1-2-0-54.

RECEIVING—Konawaena: Smith 1-16, Kealakai Kihe 5-32, Wehrsig 5-76, Jesse Canda 5-68, Marc Basa 2-21, Jumalon 1-31. Kahuku: Heffernan 1-3, Lefau 3-20, Mason Paulo 3-49, Braxton Cravens 1-17, Crimson 1-19, Lokana Enos 2-21, Ethan Erickson 2-16, Kampala Miller 1-9, Lindsey 1-54.

Reserve QB Alex Fonoimoana-Vaomu launches a 54-yard bomb to Paniau Lindsey. Kahuku leads 61-9 with 3:28 left.

A 51-yard interception return by Kahuku’s Kai Noeau to the Konawaena 1-yard line sets up a 1-yard TD for Kala‘akeaokahaku Faifili. Big Red leads 54-9 with 8:04 left. The PAT took some time. Kahuku committed three infractions before Heffernan’s 35-yard try missed.

Bad snap by Kahuku bounces through the back of the end zone for a safety, giving Konawaena two points. It’s 48-9 with :29.9 left in the third stanza.

Zealand Matagi rockets through the line for a 63-yard TD. Kahuku leads 48-7 with 8:24 left in the third. After the kickoff, mercy-rule running clock applies.

HALFTIME STATS
At Carleton Weimer Field
Konawaena 0 7 xx xx — 7
Kahuku 20 21 xx xx — 41
KAH—Duke Heffernan 3 pass from Robbie Sauvao (Heffernan kick)
KAH—Wesley Alo-Maiava 55 run (run failed)
KAH—Alo-Maiava 5 run (Heffernan kick)
KAH—Alo-Maiava 5 run (Heffernan kick)
KON—Hunter Wehrsig 29 pass from Sheynen Nahale (Hunter Hill kick)
KAH—Kainoa Crimson 19 pass from Sauvao (Heffernan kick)
KAH—Toalei Lefau 3 pass from Sauvao (Heffernan kick)

JV—no game.

RUSHING—Konawaena:
#12 Cyrus Jumalon 5-1,
#2 Nahale 2-(-12),
#33 Orion Smith 1-(-2),
Team 1-(-1).

Kahuku:
#13 Alo-Maiava 9-130,
#23 Sauvao 6-19,
#26 Zealand Matagi 4-10,
#44 Lefau 3-15,
#20 Talataina Tevaga 1-3.

PASSING—Konawaena:
#2 Nahale 6-16-0-91.

Kahuku:
#23 Sauvao 12-22-0-135.

RECEIVING—Konawaena:
#33 Smith 1-16,
#5 Kealakai Kihe 1-13,
#3 Wehrsig 2-56,
#9 Jesse Canda 2-6.

Kahuku:
#2 Heffernan 1-3,
#44 Lefau 3-10,
#18 Mason Paulo 2-39,
#31 Braxton Cravens 1-17,
#11 Crimson 1-19,
#49 Lokana Enos 2-21,
#87 Ethan Erickson 2-16.

Kahuku having its way with the power game on the ground and the aerial attack. Konawaena not much of a pass rush and Sauvao is picking them apart. He finds Toalei Lefau on an easy pass to the flat for a 3-yard TD pass on third and goal. Red Raiders lead 41-7 with 18.5 seconds left in the first half.

Red Raiders seem to return to the first group defensively and shut down the Wildcat offense. 3 and out. Then it’s smashmouth to Alo-Maiava for 9 and 21 yards, then they line up in shotgun, two backs and loft a perfect corner lob to Kainoa Crimson for a 19-yard TD. Kahuku leads 34-7 with 1:53 left in the first half.

Sheynen Nahale with a 29-yard TD pass to Hunter Wehrsig to put the visitors on the scoreboard with 5:09 left in the first half. Kahuku leads 27-7.

Sauvao very precise with the medium passing game, going to his tight ends efficiently. Alo-Maiava benefits with another 5-yard TD run out of the full house. That’s his third TD of the game. Kahuku leads 27-0 with 10:35 left in the first half.

Big Red drives 35 yards in 10 plays, facing a resilient Konawaena defense. Fourth and goal from the 5, Alo-Maiava punches it in out of a full-house backfield. Kahuku leads 20-0, 1:17.

A long completion by Konawaena is wiped out by an offensive interference call. Kona punts and Wesley Alo-Maiava scores on a 55-yard jaunt off right tackle on first down. Red Raiders lead 13-0 with 5:46 left in the first.

Robbie Sauvao hits Duke Heffernan on a slant route for a 3-yard TD pass. Kahuku leads 7-0 with 7:42 left in the first quarter.

PRE-GAME
Kahuku wins the coin toss and defers until the second half. Konawaena will receive facing the makai end zone. Wildcats in white helmets, white jerseys, white pants. Kahuku all red.

As of roughly 5:10 p.m., a sudden downpour covered Carleton Weimer Field, but it’s more of a pleasant cool-off than a detriment. It was steamy here in the afternoon, temperature in the high 80s, before the rain. Sky remains overcast and tradewinds are flat to 10 mph max. There’s a sprinkling of Konawaena fans here. Same goes with Kahuku fans. This being a preseason matchup and the Wildcats traveling from off-island, then driving nearly an hour to get here from the airport, this actually might have more of a country game feel. The fans who make the trek here will be mostly hard-core supporters. Just like a neighbor island game.

Here’s Kahuku’s roster.