(Here’s the rest of the game story that didn’t fit into Sunday’s Star-Advertiser.)
The first half was an exercise in penalties. Kaiser (90 yards) and Lahainaluna (76) combined for more penalty yardage than total yardage. Other than that, it was mostly a defensive stalemate in the trenches.
Kaiser’s front seven stonewalled the Lunas on third- and fourth-and-1 plays near midfield in the first quarter, but the Cougars’ passing game struggled in winds up to 25 mph.
The Lunas broke the ice on Jared Rocha-Islas’ 49-yard jaunt up the middle for a 7-0 lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Fisiiahi picked up a squib kick, lateraled to Buntenbah-Leong and the speedster scored on a 78-yard return to tie the game.
The Cougars then hampered themselves on two productive drives. They drove to the Lahainaluna 21-yard line, mostly on scrambles by Lii Karratti before he throw an errant pass that was picked off near the sideline by Filikitonga, one of nearly a dozen Lunas who played ironman roles.
Lahainaluna drove to the Kaiser 1, where the Cougars’ defense stood firm again. They stopped the Lunas on three running plays, and Rocha-Islas’ 25-yard field-goal try was low and into the line of scrimmage.
Four plays later, Lunas linebacker Connor Mowat corralled Kaiser punter Fisiiahi in the end zone for a safety, and Lahainaluna led 9-7 with 6:59 left in the second quarter.
The Cougars came up with a big play moments later when Keenan Arroyo forced a fumble by Rocha-Islas on a inside run and Ocean Ku-au recovered at the Lunas’ 25-yard line.
But on the next play, Fisiiahi fumbled and the Lunas recovered to end another Kaiser threat.
As a 84 grad from Kaiser am ashame to be 1 after 11/16/13 football game 0n Maui.It was bloodsport for Kaiser’s coaches & players.I need to remind you all of the game with Farrington in the late 70’s.
@smokemarlin — you mean when the KHS student buses had windows broken from rocks thrown as we left the Aloha Stadium? Being told to cover our heads and getting glass shattered on you, not cool.