Kamehameha senior wide receiver Kumoku Noa scored three touchdowns, including two on special teams, in Friday's win over Waianae. Steve Erler | Special to SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

Kumoku Noa was a busy young man Friday night.

The Kamehameha senior scored three of his team's four touchdowns — two of them coming on special teams plays — in a 33-13 season-opening win at Waianae.

Noa, a 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver, sandwiched a pair of return touchdowns around a receiving TD as the Warriors rallied from a 13-6 first quarter deficit.

"He was pretty efficient when he touched the ball," Kamehameha third-year head coach Doug Cosbie said of Noa. "He didn't touch the ball a whole lot, but he made the most of his chances. He probably had about 200 all-purpose yards Friday, so we've just got to find a way to get him the ball more apparently."

The momentum was on the side of the host Seariders following a special teams' score of their own.

"We had an unfortunate penalty called on a fake punt, so that got called back, and then we snapped the ball over the punter's head and they ended up with a touchdown," Cosbie said.

However, Noa put a quick halt to any Waianae celebration on the ensuing kickoff, which he returned for an 84-yard touchdown.

"One of the things we talk about is how special teams can change the momentum in a game," Cosbie said. "It changed the momentum for (Waianae) with the botched punt that they turned into a touchdown, then we got the momentum right back with the kickoff return."

Cosbie credited first-year special teams coordinator Dennis McKnight, who spent two separate seasons as an assistant at the University of Hawaii among many other coaching stops.

"One of Dennis' philosophies is that special teams can change the momentum of a game and that proved itself Friday night," Cosbie said. "Waianae had all the momentum, but Moku's return kind of stole it back to our sideline, which was nice to see."

McKnight, a former offensive linemen who played with the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions during his 10-year NFL career, most recently was an assistant at Lamar and also spent a year as running backs' coach for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.

"It's not an accident that where he goes, his teams do well with returns," Cosbie said of McKnight. "I think UH led the nation in return yardage when he was there. Our goal wasn't necessarily to lead the state, but to get a bunch of big ones, and it's only one game and we've got a long way to go, but I think our special teams played really well and did a good job executing. You've got to give the kids credit, but credit should also go to Dennis and his philosophy."

A few minutes into the second half, Noa hauled in a 47-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Thomas Yam, which stretched Kamehameha's lead to 26-13.

"I kind of describe him as slippery. He's hard to tackle, he's got great hands, he runs good routes and he's a really good receiver," said Cosbie, who likened Noa to his older brother, Kanawai, a former Punahou standout. "He's very similar. He may not look it, but he's deceptively fast. I mean, you look at him and there's nothing that really impresses you until he plays. He runs through tackles and he's pretty elusive."

Later in the third quarter, Noa added a 74-yard punt return to the house for good measure.

"People are noticing him; there are calls asking about him," Cosbie said. "He definitely can play at the next level."

Noa and the Warriors, who are ranked fifth in the Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, return to the field Saturday, when they host Baldwin at Kunuiakea Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL
Kesi Ah Hoy, Kahuku — Rushed for touchdowns of 3 and 5 yards in a win over Campbell

Bradlee Anae, Kahuku — Had six tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Campbell

Kobe Antolin, Kealakehe — Rushed for touchdowns of 2 and 1 yards in a win over Maui

Manaia Atuaia, Kahuku — Forced a fumble and recorded a sack in a win over Campbell

Noah Auld, Kailua — Threw touchdown passes of 10, 6, 30, 19 and 10 yards in a win over Castle

Kaeo Batacan, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Ran for touchdowns of 6, 1 and 16 yards in a win over Kalaheo

Stokes Botelho, Kahuku — Intercepted two passes, including one that he returned for a 37-yard touchdown, in a win over Campbell

Harmon Brown, Kahuku — Rushed for two 1-yard touchdowns in a win over Campbell

Jonathan Charbonneau, Honokaa — Caught four passes for 103 yards in a loss to Waialua

Judd Cockett, Punahou — Caught touchdown passes of 15 and 37 yards in a win over Leilehua

Isaac Crichton, Saint Francis — Scored on a 15-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Anuenue

Bryce Dato, Kapaa — Intercepted two passes in a win over Nanakuli

Willie Ewaliko, Castle — Threw touchdown passes of 22, 32, 5 and 30 yards in a loss to Kailua

Marcus Faufata-Pedrina, Damien — Threw a 19-yard touchdown pass and rushed for 1-yard score in a win over Aiea

Michael Feliciano, Moanalua — Rushed for 230 yards and touchdowns of 25, 82 and 95 yards in a win over Waiakea

Mosese Fifita, Kapaa — Scored on a 26-yard fumble return in a win over Nanakuli

Gafoaleata Fetui-Salavea, Iolani — Ran for touchdowns of 6 and 14 yards in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Kekaulike Kalua, Moanalua — Scored on a 69-yard fumble return in a win over Waiakea

Alema Kapoi, Kamehameha — Had two sacks in a win over Waianae

Rodson Kealohi, Moanalua — Scored on a 43-yard interception return in a win over Waiakea

Shastyn Kekahuna, Roosevelt — Threw touchdown passes of 25 and 15 yards in a win over McKinley

Lancen Kuni, Waialua — Intercepted two passes in a win over Honokaa

Mila Lele, Waialua — Rushed for 192 yards and touchdowns of 9, 9 and 3 yards on 22 carries in a win over Honokaa

Bryton Lewi, Kealakehe — Intercepted two passes, including an 83-yard pick-6 in a win over Maui

Tema Lindsey, Kahuku — Scored on a 22-yard interception return in a win over Campbell

Pulama Louis, Kealakehe — Scored on a 63-yard interception return in a win over Maui

Jonah Luis-Mateo, Saint Francis — Scored on a 69-yard punt return in a win over Anuenue

Wembley Mailei, Saint Francis — Scored on a 25-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Anuenue

Kevin Matsuoka, Iolani — Scored on a 21-yard interception return in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Jensen McDaniel, Kaiser — Rushed for 124 yards and a 7-yard touchdown on 30 carries in a loss to Kapolei

Scott McLeod, Saint Francis — Passed for two touchdowns and rushed for an 18-yard score in a win over Anuenue

Roland Merrill, Saint Francis — Scored on a 47-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over Anuenue

Nikeo Miguel, Kapolei — Forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble in a win over Kaiser

Brendan Namba, Roosevelt — Scored on a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win over McKinley

KJ Pascua, Iolani — Ran for touchdowns of 1 and 11 yards in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Kea Rodrigues, Moanalua — Scored on a 47-yard interception return in a win over Waiakea

Isaiah Rosa, Roosevelt — Ran for touchdowns of 7 and 3 yards in a win over McKinley

Jaymin Sarono, Waianae — Caught touchdown passes of 15 and 26 yards in a win over Kaiser

Ezra Savea, Kapolei — Threw for 185 yards on 12-of-16 passing, including touchdown passes of 19 and 39 yards, and scored on runs of 9 and 38 yards in a win over Kaiser

Logan Serikawa, Moanalua — Recorded two sacks and forced a fumble in a win over Waiakea

Sean Siles, Kalani — Rushed for 163 yards and a 5-yard touchdown on 29 carries in a loss to Pac-Five

Adam Stack, Kamehameha — Kicked field goals of 30 and 27 yards in a win over Waianae

Taulia Tagovailoa, Kapolei — Threw for 162 yards on 8-of-11 passing, including touchdown passes of 15, 12 and 26 yards in a win over Kaiser

Cody Taniguchi, Waimea — Caught a 33-yard touchdown pass and rushed for a 5-yard score in a win over Kaimuki

Martin Tigilau, Kailua — Caught touchdown passes of 10, 30, 19 and 10 yards in a win over Castle

Nic Tom, Kaiser — Rushed for 200 yards, including touchdowns of 46 and 42 yards, on 20 carries and passed for 165 yards on 18-of-24 passing in a loss to Kapolei

Ephraim Tuliloa, Punahou — Threw touchdown passes of 15, 37 and 22 yards in a win over Leilehua

Ty-Noah Williams, Kapolei — Caught touchdown passes for 19, 39 and 12 yards in a win over Kaiser

Aaron Woo, Punahou — Intercepted two passes, including a 30-yard pick-6 in a win over Leilehua

Alakai Yuen, Moanalua — Passed for touchdowns of 23, 23 and 44 yards in a win over Waiakea