Saint Francis wears down PAC-5, 35-21

Saint Francis' Kaleo Neves celebrate a safety in the third quarter against PAC-5. Greg Yamamoto | SL

HALAWA — Saint Francis broke open a 21-all game at the break to beat PAC-5, 35-21, in both teams' Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II season opener Friday night Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

Junior quarterback Bubba Akana threw four touchdown passes to help the Saints, ranked third in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric D2 Power Rankings, improve to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.

The first half was a competitive affair for both teams, but depth ultimately took a toll against PAC-5 (1-2 overall, 0-1 ILH D2) after the break.

"Looks like we ran out of gas," said PAC-5 coach Kip Botelho. "A lot of guys was playing two ways and cramping up. It was a good football game, we just have to watch film and make the corrections and get better."

On the other sideline, Saint Francis coach Kip Akana had nothing but praise with how well the Wolfpack performed against his team.

"Hats off to PAC-5, they played a great game today," said Akana. "I'm happy for my friends on the other side, Kip Botelho them. I have a lot of respect from them, they did well."

While his team is off to its best start in program history, Akana expected much more from his team. The Saints turned it over on downs two times and were flagged 15 times for 140 total yards.

"We were fortunate to get that first win, that first ILH victory, but we got a lot of work to do," said Akana.

Saint Francis got on the board earlier after recovering a PAC-5 fumble on the opening drive of the game. The Saints took over on the Wolfpack's 6-yard line and scored on Akana's 3-yard pass to Scotty McLeod on fourth down. A bad snap on the PAT left the score at 6-0 at the 8:37 mark of the first quarter.

PAC-5, who was playing in its first game since Aug. 12, quickly responded with a 94-yard kickoff return by Kaikea Gonsales. Tyler Fukuroda booted the PAT to give the Wolfpack a 7-6 lead.

The momentum was short-lived however as McLeod returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards for a score. Bubba Aina-Chaves ran in the 2-point try to make it a 14-7 game with 8:07 to play in the first stanza.

The Wolfpack answered on their next possession on Fukuroda's 23-yard TD pass to AJ Ulufale to make it a 14-all game heading into the second quarter.

Saint Francis regained the lead with Akana's 12-yard TD pass to Samson Kaleikau four minutes into the second period, but PAC-5 came right back with Fukuroda's 12-yard TD pass to Jett Uechi for the final score of the first half.

The Saints took took the lead for good on Akana's 33-yard pass to Lachmann Atoa at the 5:46 mark of the third quarter. The PAT was no good, but Saint Francis made up for it with a safety 17 seconds later when Fukuroda was sacked in the end zone by Taka Lautaha.

Akana ended the scoring with his 5-yard pass to McLeod with 3:09 left in regulation.

Saint Francis picked off Fukuroda three times before the night was over, but had no answer for Uechi, who finished with nine receptions for 186 yards and a score.

Wembley Mailei, Shepard Kekahuna and Kordell Ng had interceptions for the Saints' defense.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].