The Big Island’s drought continues.
The Big Island’s drought continues.
Salanoa-Alo Wily rumbled for two fourth-quarter touchdowns Friday night, and Kahuku came back to beat Hilo 20-10 in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association football playoffs at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
The Vikings’ first loss of the season drops the Big Island Interscholastic Federation to 0-16 at the state Division I tournament.
However, for much of the error-filled contest, the Vikings (10-1), backed by a stingy defense, looked poised to break through.
The game turned on Hilo quarterback Sione Atuekaho’s fourth-quarter interception. Trailing 10-3, the Red Raiders took over in Vikings’ territory and let the 6-foot-1, 270-pound Wily take over.
Hilo’s defense shined during the first half, holding the Red Raiders (9-2), the Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up, to just 42 yards.
But Kahuku started to impose its will in the second half, led by Wily, who rushed for 120 yards.
Senior linebacker Ofa Fahiua stood out for the two-time defending BIIF champion Vikings with six tackles, one for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a blocked punt.
Hilo took advantage of four Red Raiders turnovers.
Defensive back Donavan Kelley set up the Vikings’ first-half touchdown with a fumble return deep into Kahuku territory. A few plays later, Atuekaho hit Isaac Lerma with a touchdown pass as the Vikings took a 7-0 lead.
Kelley also grabbed an interception, but he was forced out of the game in the second half.
Both teams reached double-digits in penalties, and Kahuku repeatedly stubbed its toe in the first half.
Hilo led at halftime despite only amassing 27 yards on 31 plays.
Kahuku meets top-seeded Punahou next Saturday in the state semifinals.
FARRINGTON 22, MAUI 6
Farrington, the OIA’s third place team, racked up 416 yards of offense and knocked off Maui Interscholastic League champion Maui High Friday at Aloha Stadium.
The Govs (9-2) advance to face OIA champion Mililani (11-0) next week in the Division I semifinals.
Senior running back Ranan Mamiya led the way for the Governors with 159 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
It was the first state tournament appearance for Maui High since 2000.