KEA’AU – Football season has officially returned to the Big Island and the Kamehameha Schools-Hawai’i community made no secret of its excitement.
Thousands gathered at Pai’ea Stadium on Saturday to watch the Warriors’ season opener, hosting Nankuli of O’ahu in a non-league game. The defending Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division II champions went right back to work, defeating the Golden Hawks by a final score of 50-14.
KSH was on fire all game, but the Warriors’ biggest explosion came in the third quarter, when the white and blue scored three touchdowns – a 60-yard pick-six return by defensive back Paliku Nachor, a fumble return by freshman lineman Dallas Enriquez and a 2-yard run up the middle by senior backfield star Xander Hoopai. After leading just 21-7 at halftime, KSH’s intensity from the start of the second half left no doubt as to who would leave the stadium victorious.
The Warriors played with two quarterbacks – senior Adam Perry and sophomore Chanse Kaaua-Long. Perry threw six passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, while Kaaua-Long completed three passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Perry was a productive starter during KSH’s 11-2 season last year and is expected to remain in the starting lineup in 2024.
Perry’s best backfield weapon, Hoopai, led all running backs with 14 carries for 122 yards and one score. Receiver Kealohi Ramos caught two touchdown passes, making him the best wideout. Kicker Kanoa Honda converted six extra point attempts.
Nanakuli quarterback Kanoa Torres completed nine of his 15 attempts for 63 yards and two interceptions. The Golden Hawks’ best players were running backs Talitonu Keohuhu and Adrian James Letua, who combined for 107 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The Warriors’ next challenge is Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against O’ahu opponent Moanalua at Roosevelt High School. Their first BIIF matchup is on the road against Pahoa on August 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Punahou 35, Kona 0
Like KS-Hawai’i, Konawaena opened its season on Saturday with a game against Punahou in Honolulu.
The runners-up of the 2023 DI State Championship lost to the Buffanblu 35-0, losing their opening game for the third time in a row.
Punahou scored all of its points in the first half to secure Mercy Rule eligibility, including three touchdowns in the first quarter. It totaled 285 yards of offense to the Wildcats’ 77.
Buffanflu’s senior running back Nelson Aau scored the first two touchdowns of the afternoon. He finished the game with another 54 rushing yards. Aau was the engine of an offense that averaged over eight yards per carry.
Punahou receivers Zion White and David Hinton, both freshmen, combined to catch seven balls for 120 yards and score three touchdowns. Senior Sean Connell and freshman Hunter Fujikawa shared quarterback duties for the Buffanblu and combined to score three touchdown throws.
On defense, Punahou linebacker Koo Kia was the best player with 12 tackles.
Sophomore Keenan Alani started at quarterback for Kona and completed six passes. Hercules Nahale, who played for Kealakehe last season, rushed for 50 yards in his debut for Kona.
The Wildcats (0-1, 0-0 BIIF) return to the Big Island for league competition. They next face Waiakea in Hilo on Saturday. The junior game is set for 11 a.m., followed by the varsity duel.
