Football
Turnovers doom Kahuku in loss to Mater Dei


  



Sat, Sep 9, 2023 @ Santa Ana Bowl [ 4:00 pm ]


Final 1 2 3 4 T
Kahuku (12-2-0) 0 8 0 08
Mater Dei (1-0-0) 13 28 7 755

SANTA ANA, Calif. — The No. 1 team from Hawaii was no match for the No. 1 team in the country.

Turnovers plagued Kahuku's offense all night long as Mater Dei dominated the night in a 55-8 Saturday win at the Santa Ana Bowl.

The Monarchs recorded an interception, recovered a fumble and forced a turnover on downs on the Red Raiders' first three drives. Ramere Davis also scored on a fumble return and Daryus Dixson returned an interception to the house for Mater Dei's final points of the game.

In total Mater Dei came away with four interceptions, recovered two fumbles and forced two turnover on downs against Kahuku.

"Tonight, obviously we didn't execute the way we wanted to," said Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho. "Against the No. 1 team in the nation, you cannot make mistakes. They will exploit every single mistakes and you cannot turnover the ball. All year long we've been really good on not turning the ball over, but tonight we had fumbles, we had interceptions. Just sloppy football."

Kahuku avoided the shutout on Tulilele Tagovailoa-Amosa's touchdown late in the second quarter. Tagovailoa scored on a naked boot leg around left end from 15 yards out and Kaimana Carvalho punched in the 2-point conversion to make the score 34-8 with 45 seconds left in the first half.

Kahuku QB Tulilele Tagovailoa-Amosa runs in the Red Raiders’ lone touchdown of the game. Brian Bautista | SL    Purchase image

But the Monarchs scored in record time on Elijah Brown's TD pass to Marcus Brown with 14 seconds remaining to give Mater Dei a 41-8 lead at the break.

Elijah Brown threw for four scores in the win, with two of his scoring passes going to Marcus Brown.

"It was a very humbling experience and we're very grateful for Mater Dei for allowing us to play this game," said coach Carvalho. "It allows us to get better, it allows us to go back to the drawing board and pay attention to detail and make sure that against great teams like this, you cannot make mistakes."

The Red Raiders return home next Saturday to host another nationally-ranked team in St. John Bosco, who was ranked third in MaxPreps' latest poll.





Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

Kamehameha outlasts Punahou in overtime to go back-to-back

Warriors got the game winning goal by Tea Brandon with 1:56 left in regulation and hung on to deny the...

Jr. Bows cap perfect season with first-ever state title

The Jr. Bows outlast the Bulldogs in five sets to sweep the season series to win their first-ever Division...

Wade wills Warriors in dethroning of Buffanblu for D1 state volleyball crown

University of Hawaii-bound Kainoa Wade took 76 total swings and put down 34 kills to lead Kamehameha...

Le Jardin, University Lab advance to set up all-ILH state D2 final

The Bulldogs rallied from a 2-1 set deficit to eke past Konawaena, while the Jr. Bows swept past Molokai.

Wade powers Kamehameha past Moanalua, into D1 finale

Kainoa Wade poured in 36 kills in a four set win over Na Menehune, setting up a rematch with ILH nemesis...

Balanced Buffanblu attack proves too much for Trojans

Adam Haidar and Brody Badham put down 10 kills apiece and Punahou had six players finish with at least...