Brandon Ching | ScoringLive
October 8, 2022, 5:09am
No. 1 Kahuku dominates No. 12 Moanalua
Kailie Alama | Special to SLSALT LAKE — Top-ranked Kahuku scored early and often to overwhelm No. 12 Moanalua, 60-7, at Na Menehune's field Friday night.
Waika Crawford led the scoring onslaught with 128 yards, five touchdowns on 11-of-17 passing to lead the Red Raiders to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Open league play.
Na Menehune dropped its third-straight game to fall to 2-5-1 overall and 1-4 in the OIA Open standings.
Three of Crawford's five touchdown passes went to Kache Kaio, who finished with three catches for 33 yards.
The Red Raiders piled on 404 yards of net offense and took advantage of short field position. Kahuku's first half scoring drives started at the Moanalua 38, 29, 21, 30, 41 and 20.
Kaimana Carvalho returned the punt 36 yards and Crawford connected with Kaio three plays later with a 23-yard strike.
Shaun Niu, Jr.'s first interception led to a 4-yard touchdown pass from Crawford to Kaio but the kick failed for a 13-0 lead.
Lamana Tapusoa finished the night with 56 yards on four carries and added a 12-yard touchdown to make it 19-0.
The Red Raiders scored back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter. Kaimana Carvalho hauled in a 11-yard touchdown pass from Crawford and on the next play, intercepted Tayden-Evan Kaawa off a deflection and lateraled it to Madden Soliai, who returned it 43 yards for a 33-0 lead.
Kaawa went 9 of 18 for 64 yards and three picks and Niu, Jr. recorded his second interception that led to a nine-play, 41-yard drive that resulted in Kaio's third touchdown reception from Crawford.
Devon Enesa recovered the ensuing kickoff and the Red Raiders found the end zone with Niu, Jr. hauling in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Crawford, three seconds before halftime to go up, 48-0 at intermission.
Second half went into running clock and Keona Poouahi-MacPherson (10 carries, 60 yards) and Vaaimalae Fonoti (eight carries, 83 yards) each added rushing touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters respectively.
Cade Rodriguez went 10 of 18 for 106 yards and threw a 15 yard touchdown pass to Cameron Johnson for Moanalua's only score late in the fourth quarter.
Keenan Ulu led all receivers with a game-high 55 yards and Joshua Acidera had six tackles.
Carvalho and Solfai each had four tackles for the Red Raiders and Zaden Mariteragi, who handled the kicking duties, broke up two passes.
Moanalua wraps up the season at Waianae (2-5 overall, 1-4 OIA) on Friday, Oct. 14.
Kahuku hosts No. 3 Mililani (5-2 overall, 4-0 OIA) in an anticipated showdown between the two remaining unbeaten teams in the OIA on Saturday, Oct. 15.
