HONOLULU — The first quarter of the Division II State Football Championship lasted 45 minutes, and for the most part, it was all King Kekaulike. Then again, it was pretty much like that for the whole game. The second-ranked Na
HONOLULU — The first quarter of the Division II State Football Championship lasted 45 minutes, and for the most part, it was all King Kekaulike.
Then again, it was pretty much like that for the whole game.
The second-ranked Na Alii from Maui became the first Neighbor Island high school to win a state football championship after beating top-ranked Kauai High School, 33-20 last night.
“We gave it all we could,” said senior Kevin Holtzman, KIF’s defensive player of the year. “We left it all out on the field.”
The Na Alii scored two touchdowns in the first three minutes of the game. The first touchdown came when King Kekaulike’s Randen Abafu deflected a pass by Kauai’s quarterback Andrew Renaud.
The ball popped in the air and landed right into Abafu’s arms, which resulted in a 22-yard interception return.
King Kekaulike’s second touchdown came only 30 seconds after with Kyle Duarte’s fumble recovery made for a 0-yard touchdown.
But it was still too early in the game to predict how the night was going to go.
“We didn’t panic,” said Kauai head coach Kelii Morgado. “We knew we had to start scoring slowly.”
With less than five minutes to go in the first, Renaud tossed a shuffle pass to KIF’s offensive player of the year, Pono Mathews, who rushed 22 yards for Kauai’s first touchdown of the night.
The extra point by Kaino Lemke gave them an added boost.
Kaua‘i fans erupted with cheers, but less than two minutes later, those cheers were silenced by yet another King Kekaulike touchdown by Duarte.
Second quarter, Kaua‘i hit the field a regrouped team, as they seemed to have more control over their game.
Renaud threw to Tyrus Ceria-Lux who rushed 31 yards to cut King Kekaulike’s lead down to 20-13.
King Kekaulike’s Abafu recovered another Kaua‘i fumble and ran a 38-yard fumble recovery touchdown.
At the half, Morgado tried to keep his team motivated.
“He told us to stay in the game and just play our best,” said junior Ceria-Lux.
Kaua‘i remained scoreless in the third quarter, while King Kekaulike picked another touchdown to extend the lead.
The tables were turned in the fourth, as Kaua‘i, not going down easily, scored within the first minute.
They kept their counterparts at bay, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough.
“It was the turnovers that cost us,” Ceria-Lux said.
“If it weren’t for the turnovers it’d be a different story. It would’ve been better if we would’ve won, but things happen for a reason.”
Overall, Kauai’s Brendan Young had a good rushing game, ending with 65 and averaging five per possession. Justyn Jumawan-Pereirra totaled 57 yards with his punt returns.
Renaud threw 19 completions out of 44 attempts.
Morgado is still proud of his team.
“We just made too many mistakes in the game and King Kekaulike was able to capitalize on every one of them,” he said.
“But we made a move. We made it all the way to the big house and not too many teams can say that.”
• Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com
