No. 5 Kamehameha tops Iolani to close season

Kamehameha's Fatu Sua-Godinet celebrates with Kumoku Noa after a touchdown scored against Iolani. Greg Yamamoto | SL

ALA WAI — Kamehameha wrapped up its 2015 season with a 39-24 win over Iolani in both teams Interscholastic League of Honolulu finale Friday afternoon.

A crowd of 1,000 at Eddie Hamada Field were on hand to see the fifth-ranked Warriors (5-4, 2-4 ILH) finish their season on a high note after a rough year. Kamehameha held halftime leads in three of its four losses.

"Our kids were a little down early in the week, but I think we bounced back pretty good and we competed really well," said Kamehameha coach Doug Cosbie. "It was a big of a disappointing season, but we're really proud of our kids. They battled hard and they never quit. We just fell short, didn't make enough plays in a couple of games."

The Raiders finished their first year as a Division I program with a 2-7, 0-6 record, but remained competitive despite the tough season.

"I think the way they've handled themselves and their season says a whole lot about what kind of character they had," Iolani coach Wendell Look said on his team's season. "They never made excuses, they never complained and they didn't regret moving up to Division I."

Kamehameha wide receiver Kumoku Noa caught nine passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the final game of his senior campaign. He finished the year with 55 receptions for 1234 yards and 16 scores.

Iolani sophomore quarterback Tai-John Mizutani had his best game of the year and threw for 485 yards and three touchdowns with one interception on 40-of-57 passing.

"He's been great," Look said on Mizutani. "He kind of took on the persona of this team and came out every week and got better. We're pleased with how he's progressed. He's going to be a good one."

Mizutani was sharp on the Raiders' opening drive, throwing for 55 yards on 7-of-8 passing to set up Keoni-Kordell Makekau's 21-yard field goal.

Makana LaBoy intercepted Brett Yap on the Warriors' first possession and Iolani was able to capitalize with Mizutani's 50-yard touchdown pass to Nick Kennedy to give itself a 9-0 lead with 2:01 left in the opening period.

Yap, who was making his first start of the year, made up for the early miscue with a 66-yard scoring strike to Noa on his very next throw. Adam Stack's PAT cut into Iolani's lead 9-7.

The Warriors' next score came after Makekau fumbled the ball after a 21-yard reception. Stack capped a 10-play drive with a 24-yard field goal to give Kamehameha a 10-9 lead.

Both teams went three-and-out on their next possession before Mizutani was intercepted by Akili Gray inside the Iolani 20-yard line. Fatu Sua-Godinet's 11-yard keeper around left end two players later extended the Warriors' lead, 17-9.

Sua-Godinet continued the consecutive string of Kamehameha scores when he turned a drag route into a 72-yard touchdown reception.

The Warriors' pushed their lead to 22, 31-9 on Brayden Miyamoto's 15-yard rushing score with 2:58 to go in the third.

Makekau's 51-yard touchdown reception on fourth down stopped the Warriors' scoring run. This made the score 31-14 just before the start of the fourth quarter.

Kamehameha got a safety and a 23-yard touchdown catch from Noa in the fourth quarter to give itself some insurance. Connor Hannum's 16-yard touchdown pass from Mizutani wrapped up the game's scoring.

Iolani linebacker Melvin Hoomanawanui had a game-high 10 tackles and a forced fumble in the loss.