Nanakuli took advantage of the momentum gained from its overtime victory against Pearl City last week to dominate McKinley Saturday night in a 42-6 victory at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.
The Golden Hawks (4-3, 3-2) scored fast and often, notching their first touchdown less than three minutes into the game when senior QB Sedric Crawford ran in a 1-yard score. Junior receiver Kekoa Torres was one of the Golden Hawks’ offensive stars as he scored his first of three touchdowns on a 14-yard catch only two minutes later.
Torres repeatedly praised the offensive line for making his touchdowns possible, saying, “I felt really good, but if it wasn’t for my linemen and my team, I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Junior receiver Tahj Hauhio took control of the running game in a phenomenal ground showing, recording 31 carries for 229 yards and one touchdown to finish eighth on the school’s single-game rushing list. Crawford added 13 carries for 99 yards and one touchdown, and Torres notched four rushes for 42 yards and one touchdown.
Recognizing how crucial the rushing yards were for the offensive victory, Torres said, “It was really good. We all worked as a team. If it wasn’t for our linemen helping to block upfield, we wouldn’t have done it.”
Despite the Tigers scoring their lone touchdown of the game in the second quarter on a 22-yard pass from junior QB Kaena Leopoldo to senior receiver Aaron Velasco, Nanakuli answered with a 31-yard touchdown run by Torres — his second of the game.
One minute later, senior receiver Nainoa Paz caught a 3-yard pass in the end zone to close the first half and Torres notched his third touchdown with a 15-yard scoring catch.
“The Pearl City win was great momentum,” Torres said. “We came in this past week starting good and it was all worth it going to practice, putting in that work, and coming out. We all showed up today.”
Looking forward to facing Kalaheo next Friday, Torres is prepared to put in the work.
“We celebrate tonight but come next week, we gotta let it go and get ready for the next game,” he said.
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