Kalani WR Trevor Yamashita makes the first touchdown reception of the game in the first quarter. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kalani WR Enrique Gruver tries to evade the tackle of a Kalaheo defender. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kalaheo running back Makena Johnston stiff-arms a Kalani defender as he advances for yardage. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kalani WR Brandon Roberts (2) slips through Kalaheo defense in the red-zone to make a touchdown in the third quarter. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Sat, Aug 31, 2013 @ Kailua [ 6:30 pm ]

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Kalani

34

Kalaheo

17

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Kalani (6-4-0)	13	13	8	0	34
Kalaheo (2-7-0)	0	10	0	7	17

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Jack Bell 129 yd 1 TD

Noah Brum 333 yd 2 TD

Makena Johnston 121 yd 1 TD

Noah Kim 7 yd 2 TD

Shayde Spencer 108 yd 1 TD

Trevor Yamashita 114 yd 1 TD

KAILUA – Having something shipped by air is much faster than having it sent via ground delivery. Thus was the case in Kalani's win over Kalaheo Saturday night.

Behind Noah Brum's 333 passing yards, Kalani (2-2 overall, 2-1 OIA White) was able to score on their first three drives to take an early lead. It wasn't till the second quarter when Kalaheo (2-2, 2-1) scored their first points of the game.

One reason why the Falcon offense was successful in the game was because their defense was able to get off the field on third down. Kalani's defense did not allow Kalaheo to convert on third down all game long. Leading the way defensively for the Falcons was senior linebacker Blaise Yamauchi with three sacks and a forced fumble.

"The coaches on defense, (especially defensive coordinator) coach Cal (Lee), do a tremendous job," said Kalani coach Greg Taguchi. "They had a good game plan coming in and they just do a great job with our athletes."

Kalani started the game red hot with Brum's second pass of the night going to Trevor Yamashita for a 16-yard passing touchdown, set up by the Falcons' defense forcing Kalaheo to turn it over on downs. Marc Teshima's PAT was good and the score was 7-0, just two minutes and eight seconds into the game. Teshima also tacked on field goals of 20 and 23 yards to give Kalani a 13-0, lead heading into the second quarter.

The Falcons would get the ball to start the second quarter, but Kalaheo was finally able to force the Falcons to turn it over on downs. The defense was rewarded for their efforts with Makena Johnston's 88-yard jaunt to pay dirt. Johnston finished with six carries for 121 yards and also caught one pass for three yards.

"He's like the energizer bunny," said Kalaheo coach Darrel Poole on Johnston. "He keeps on ticking; he's so resilient. He'll get injuries, but he'll play through it like a typical, hard-nosed athelete."

Jaimes Geren's PAT sailed through the uprights making the score 13-7 with ten minutes and 27 seconds remaining in the first half. Geren also connected on a 32-yard field goal attempt to trim the lead, but a pair of Noah Kim touchdown runs made the score 26-10, at halftime.

Besides Brandon Roberts' slant-pattern catch-and-run for a 20-yard touchdown, both offenses were stagnant in the third quarter.

"Offensively we got to start executing a lot better than we have been," said Taguchi.

Kalaheo found some traction midway into the fourth quarter with quarterback Jack Bell completing a pass in the seams to Shayde Spencer for a 65-yard touchdown. Spencer finished with five catches for 108 yards and a score. He also ran the ball five times for 14 yards and forced a fumble on defense.

"He's another person that we can depend on to come up with big plays," said Poole on Spencer.

The Mustangs' onside kick attempt did not travel the necessary distance and Kalani was able to run out the clock with Jonghyun Park.

"Kalaheo is a tough team," said Taguchi. "A lot of credit goes to Kalaheo. I know they don't have a lot of numbers, but they got a good team."

The majority of Kalani's offensive production came from the receiving trio of Yamashita, Roberts and Enrique Gruver. Yamashita caught a game-high 11 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown while Roberts and Gruver added 83 and 111 yards receiving respectively.