GAME NIGHT 8/20: Kailua/Farrington

Mosi Afe and Farrington can expect a tough battle from Kailua on Saturday. Bruce Asato / Star-Advertiser
Mosi Afe and Farrington can expect a tough battle from Kailua on Saturday. Bruce Asato / Star-Advertiser

Six more games on Oahu scheduled for Saturday including a couple of afternoon tilts involving neighbor island teams. Let’s get to it.

We get a matchup of ranked teams at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium as the eighth-ranked Govs face the ninth-ranked Surfriders.

History: Farrington leads the series 22-10-1 and has won nine of the last 10 meetings … Kailua’s most recent win was a 31-15 victory in 2010 when Kahaku Iaea threw for 303 yards.


Live updates of the 5:30 p.m. kickoff will follow below:

Still overcast after a refreshing downpour at steamy Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium. Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.
Still overcast after a refreshing downpour at steamy Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium. Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.

FINAL: Farrington 42, Kailua 7.
Found out from Coach Wong in post-game that Serikawa suffered a broken collarbone, and that’s why he sat out the rest of the game. I’ll see more on the game video, but that creates a serious domino effect for the rest of the roster. How the Surfriders adapt to life without their starting QB, and whether Lagazo moves from RB to QB on a permanent basis, we don’t know yet, but that’s what it looks like at this point.

FOURTH QUARTER
I stand corrected. Faamatau was not done. He’s back in the game with a few minutes left, running out of the Wildcat. I suppose they wanted to get some reps in this formation done in garbage time, but the injury risk factor is undeniable.

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Mercy-rule running clock has been effect since Farrington went up by 35.

THIRD QUARTER
The third ends with Farrington ahead 42-7. Govs have the ball at their 48 and Faamatau is done for the day. He finished with 98 rushing yards on 18 carries, as well as the 61-yard kickoff return to start the game.

Kailua punter is tackled as he tries to kick, a moment after bobbling the snap. Farrington ball at the Kailua 4, and Faamatau hurdles over a defender at the goal line for his third rushing TD of the day. FAR 42, KAIL 7, 3:34.

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After an interception by LB Freedom Alualu, plus his 10-yard return, the Govs set up at the Kailua 40. Uahinui and Rapozo alternate at QB, and then Umaga bolts up the middle on another basic fullback dive. He surges through the first and second levels, then bulldozes a safety in violent fashion for a 14-yard TD run. FAR 35, KAIL 7, 5:21.

HALFTIME
Faamatau has 15 carries for 94 yards and two TDs, plus the 61-yard kick return to start the game. Uahinui is 3-for-6, 87 yards, two TD passes. Rapoza is 1-for-3, 6 yards.

Serikawa was 0-for-4 when he left. Not sure if it was an injury, though I didn’t see on. Lagazo has 47 rushing yards on 15 carries, 1-for-2 through the air on that 12-yard TD pass to Mejia. Lagazo and Mejia have really stood out as versatile playmakers, but Farrington has bottled up Lagazo quite well.

SECOND QUARTER
The half ends with Farrington clearly in control despite four fumbles lost including the muffed punt. The Govs had just one penalty, but it was costly, a personal foul just before the end of the half that set up the TD pass from Lagazo to Mejia.

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Govs muff a punt return and Kailua’s in business during the final minute of the half. Lagazo, who has shown a nice ability to roll left and throw with authority, rolls again and finds Christian Mejia near the goal line. Mejia corrals the pass, fights and drag a defender over the goal line for a 12-yard TD. Nice call, nice personnel adjustment by the Surfriders. FAR 28, KAIL 7, :06.

Farrington drives 44 yards in three plays. Blessing Umaga, a 5-7, 227-pound fullback, tore off a 36-yard run right up the gut and almost scored on a 6-yard run. Faamatau scores on a 2-yard TD run. PAT snap goes through the holder’s hands. FAR 28, KAIL 0, 3:14.


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Lagazo is making due out of the pocket, not really running a Wildcat offense, but picking up yards here and there. But it’s another three and out. Farrington goes back to the pistol, two-back set. Faamatau with gains of 9 and 9 yards. A five-play drive ends with a 46-yard TD strike from Uahinui to Mosi Alaivanu-Afe, a leaping catch on a quick bullet, and with no safety help, the senior blazes to the end zone untouched for a 46-yard TD. Muddle huddle on the PAT, ball goes loose on the pitch and the play is snuffed out. FAR 22, KAIL 0, 6:17.

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Not much going on so far. As you were. Actually, credit Kailua’s defense. It’s another fumble recovery, this one by Mejia, on another bad snap for the Govs. Ball is sudsy.

FIRST QUARTER

Nice return on the free kick by the Govs, but their drive stalls at the Kailua 10. A bad shotgun snap leads to a 15-yard loss, and that leads to turnover on downs. That’s the first bad snap for Farrington. Kailua has two. Barely drizzling now, but the wet turf is a big factor.

Kailua with Lagazo at QB again. This time, it’s a straight run for him, 3 yards. Then 4 yards. The quarter ends with Kailua at its 32, third and 3. This is what teams do when it’s a muddy field, normally, but with Serikawa unable to hit his receivers, moving the ball 3.5 yards at a time is just fine for the Surfriders.

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Another three and out by Kailua, but Farrington misses out on a scoring opportunity when Christian Mejia sacks Uahinui, forcing a fumble. Kailua recovers. But the offense sputters and on fourth down, a low snap in the end zone is scooped up by the punter, whose knee is on the end zone carpet. SAFETY. FAR 16, KAIL 0, 2:07.

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Kailua goes three and out. Farrington ball at the Kailua 48. Quicker pace now by the Govs. Uahinui with a short completion and Faamatau runs for 7 yards. Then QB Bishop Rapozo finds Kingston Moses-Sanchez on a quick pass, and the elusive receiver goes down the sideline, diving to the pylon for the 33-yard TD play. Explosive. FAR 14, KAIL 0, 8:22.

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Faamatau with a resounding 61-yard kick return to start the game, right through the middle, then he trips and falls at the Kailua 36. Then it’s five gives to Faamatau, who runs through some nice holes and finally scores on a 1-yard run. FAR 7, KAIL 0, 10:34.

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The rain continues to fall here in Makiki. It’s mostly a drizzle moving slightly sideways from Manoa to Papakolea. Not a major factor — yet. If the synthetic turf gets wet enough (ponding?), it could be huge. Both teams are more than happy to ground and pound, so it could be a fast one.

Kailua wins the coin toss and Farrington will receive, facing the Diamond Head end zone. Here we go!

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