Iolani rebounds to upend Saint Francis, 45-29

Iolani RB Kaua Nishigaya (1) scores on a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter. Greg Yamamoto | SL

HALAWA — Iolani rebounded from last week's disappointing loss to upend Saint Francis, 45-29, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II contest at Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

The Raiders, ranked seventh in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric D2 Football Power Rankings, improved to 3-4 overall, 2-3 in league play and avenged a 43-26 loss back on Sept. 8.

The fifth-ranked Saints fell to 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the ILH.

Iolani quarterback Tai-John Mizutani threw for 430 yards on 36-of-49 passing, five touchdowns, and one pick.

Jonah Miyazawa caught 13 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Carter Kamana added seven catches for 130 yards and a score. Justin Genovia caught 10 passes for 95 yards.

Mizutani was 7 of 8 for 75 yards on Iolani's opening possession that resulted in a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kaua Nishigaya.

Saint Francis' Jonan Aina-Chaves, who rushed for 215 yards and three scores in the first meeting, finished with 243 yards on 30 attempts and two touchdowns. He broke loose for a 53-yard rushing touchdown and also added a 8-yard touchdown and a 2-point run.

Mizutani found Miyazawa for 29 yards and later Kamana for 54 yards for a 21-6 lead.

Iolani orchestrated a five-play drive extended by a pass interference penalty that later resulted in Jake Yokogawa's 33-yard touchdown pass from Mizutani with no time left on the clock for a 28-14 lead at halftime.

Mika Makekau was 6 of 6 for PATs and added a 21-yard field goal.

The Saints' passing game found life in the second half as Bubba Akana threw for 164 yards on 17-of-26 passing and two scores to Scott McLeod for 4 yards and Lachmann Atoa for 23 yards.

The Raiders padded their lead on Nishigaya's 1-yard score and Miyazawa's 14-yard touchdown both in the fourth quarter.

The Raiders close out the ILH regular season at Kozuki Stadium against PAC-5 (1-6 overall, 0-5 ILH) on Oct. 7. The Saints finish regular season play against first-place Damien (7-1 overall, 5-0 ILH) on the same afternoon at Aloha Stadium.