Konawaena routs Hilo to win second straight BIIF Division I crown

Konawaena running back Kawelu Kaiawe (8) rushes with the ball in the fourth quarter which eventually turned into a touchdown late in the same drive. CJ Caraang | SL

This one was for Maui.

Konawaena put a cap on an undefeated league slate and a second straight BIIF Division I crown with a signature 51-0 victory over Hilo at Julian R. Yates Field.

The win was dedicated to Maui Noa-Ellis, a 2021 graduate, who recently passed in an automobile accident.

"He was our leader last year, he was the heart and soul of the team," said Keoki Alani of Maui. "For us to do this for him, it feels good."

Alani passed for 192 yards and four scores, Kawelu Kaiawe rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns and Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio had three total touchdowns to lead the way for the Wildcats, who will host the winner of Aiea-Lahainaluna on Aug. 19.

Kona established the run in a big way, with Kaiawe gashing the Hilo defense on three straight runs, the last culminating in a 32 yard rumble for the game's opening score.

"It's what we've been trying to do all week, establish our running game, our passing game, just trying to mix it up, keep the defense guessing," said Kaiawe. "I felt pretty good, our running game was pretty strong (tonight)."

Miscues stalled the Wildcats for the remainder of quarter, but the home team responded with a vengeance in the second, putting up 21 points, including a pair of passes from Alani to Anahu-Ambrosio, en route to 28-0 lead at the break.

The scoring continued for the Wildcats right out of the half, as Keawe Navas-Loa tackled Kaohu Kaluna in the end zone for a safety to make it 30-0 at the 10:56 mark of the third, and on the ensuing kickoff, it was Anahu-Ambrosio once again, fielding the ball on the Wildcats 28 and racing it back the other way down the right sideline to induce a running clock.

Konawaena closed out the third quarter scoring with Alani's fourth scoring toss of the night, this one to Jacob Ah Mook Sang, who took a short dump off pass in space and raced past the Hilo secondary to make it 44-0.

Hilo's best chance at putting points on the scoreboard came early in the fourth quarter, where the Vikings drove to the Wildcats' 8 yard line but Isaac Clement forced a fumble inside the five yard line, where it was recovered by Chray Flanary, ending the scoring threat.

"Isaac (Clement) got it loose and it worked perfect for us because we took it right out of their red zone and ran it (the clock) down," said Trez Uemura of the play.

The Wildcats went exclusively with the ground game on the ensuing possession, grinding out both yardage and clock, alternating carries between Kaiawe and Nakoa Hing, until Kaiawe found paydirt on an 11 yard run off right tackle with 1:37 left to play.

Hilo was held to just 100 yards of total offense and turned the ball over three times, one via interception and the other two on fumbles lost.