The Hilo Vikings had been there before, winning the 2017 Division I state title, and reaching the ’18 state final. But down 17-3 against ‘Iolani, the Vikings rallied with 17 unanswered points, including Keanu Keolanui‘s 55-yard field goal as time expired. “I never look at the numbers,” the senior said of his walk onto the field. “That makes me nervous.”
Saint Louis linebackers Nick Herbig and Jordan Botelho along with receivers Roman Wilson and Koali Nishigaya, QB Jayden de Laura and coach Cal Lee reflect on a fourth straight state championship.
The future starts now for Kahuku. No sense stewing over 45-6 loss to a team ranked No. 6 in the nation. This year is done. The Raiders gave their ever-faithful fans an OIA championship last month and yet another appearance in the Open Division final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships. Anybody watching Friday’s nightcap of the title-day, Black Friday tripleheader saw that Saint Louis was a far superior team. There is a huge gulf between the Crusaders […]
There’s two seconds left on the clock. The coach trusts you to kick a field goal from 55 yards out. If you make it, you’re a hero. If you miss it, the drama continues in a deadlocked game. So it was a very big moment for Hilo senior kicker Keanu Keolanui, who made a 47-yarder earlier in the game. He put everything he had to it and then he watched the ball steam toward the center of the goalposts. His […]
Lanakila Pei could only watch as his ‘Iolani career ended with Hilo players storming the field at Aloha Stadium to celebrate a stunning finish to Friday’s Division I state championship game. Prior to a Hilo field goal from 55 yards out bouncing off the crossbar and through the uprights to give the Vikings a 20-17 walk-off victory, it appeared the night’s pivotal moments would belong to Pei in his farewell performance in an ‘Iolani uniform. Pei, the hub of the […]
No. 1 Saint Louis and No. 3 Kahuku clash in the Open Division final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships at Aloha Stadium.
No. 1 Saint Louis 45, No. 3 Kahuku 6 >> CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GAME ———- FINAL At Aloha Stadium Kahuku (9-4) 6 0 0 0 – 6 Saint Louis (12-0) 14 17 7 7 — 45 StL—Roman Wilson 86 pass from Jayden de Laura (Lason Napuunoa kick) StL—Koali Nishigaya 6 run (Napuunoa kick) Kah—Zealand Matagi 38 run (kick blocked) StL—Nishigaya 3 run (Napuunoa kick) StL—de Laura 2 run (Napuunoa kick) StL—FG Napuunoa 35 StL—de Laura 13 […]
With Lahainaluna’s smashmouth offense controlling the ball and the clock, the Lunas defense needed to do a big job. Lahainaluna’s 21-10 win and four-peat as Division II state champion will be remembered for the superhuman 310-yard, three-touchdown performance of running back Josh Tihada. It also required yeoman’s work by a defensive unit that faced Kapaa’s potent offense, led by dual-threat QB Kahanu Davis, for a third time in just 12 months. Safety Kaihulau Casco, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior, led the […]