No. 15 Roosevelt controls PAC-5

Roosevelt's Shepherd Kekahuna and Isaac Kaleikau combines to tackle PAC-5 running back Micah Kong in the first quarter. Michael Lasquero | SL

HALAWA — Don't let the final score fool you.

Roosevelt's defense dominated this one all the way through.

The 15th-ranked Rough Riders held PAC-5 to just 45 yards of total offense in their 21-6 win Friday evening at Hawaiian Financial FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

The Roosevelt defense held the Wolfpack to 45 yards of total offense & did not allow an offensive TD to PAC-5 in Friday's 21-6 win. Leading Roosevelt defensively was 6-foot-4, 190-pound sophomore Kaeo Akana with 5 1/2 tackles, a TFL, two QB hurries & three of Roosevelt's 9 sacks. pic.twitter.com/KPjU9R0SRl
— Michael Lasquero (@SL_Mich) September 14, 2019

Running back Myka Kukahiwa provided all the touchdowns for Roosevelt, which all came in the first half, as the Rough Riders improved to 5-0 on the season.

Roosevelt totaled nine sacks in the game, with sophomore defensive end Kaeo Akana leading the way with three take downs on PAC-5 quarterback Chase Hedani.

The Rough Riders got on the board early after Jackie Johnson forced a PAC-5 fumble on the opening kickoff that Kyson Aponte-Stone recovered. Quarterback Sky Ogata then completed a 24-yard pass to senior receiver Chase Akana before Kukahiwa ran in a 1-yard score for a 7-0 lead 36 seconds into the game.

Kukahiwa's next TD run was set up by another reception by the elder Akana, which came on a 53-yard catch-and-run on a screen pass. Kukahiwa then ran it in from 10 yards out for a 14-0 lead with 11:03 to play in the first half.

His third scoring run of the game was from three yards out with 7:53 remaining in the second quarter.

Senior RB Myka Kukahiwa ran in three TDs in the first half to power Roosevelt to a 21-6 win over PAC-5 in the Rough Riders' fifth straight win to start the season. pic.twitter.com/uFVQkjV4w6
— Michael Lasquero (@SL_Mich) September 14, 2019

A 45-yard fumble return late in the fourth quarter by Dane Ishibashi provided the only points for the Wolfpack (2-3).

Joshua Arcayena led PAC-5 offensively with 38 yards from scrimmage on 10 touches.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].