Despite lingering injuries to RB Jared Rochas-Isalas, the Lunas have still rolled thus far in 2014, putting up 33.8 points per game offensively through five games played. Brien Ing | SL

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After a much needed bye week, top-ranked Lahainaluna is gearing up for its final four games in Maui Interscholastic League play. 

The week off has given the Lunas a chance to heal up and get some key players back on the field. 

“We really needed it because we went through five games and that’s kind of a long stretch to go without having a bye,” said Lahainaluna co-head coach Garrett Tihada. “We’ve just been hit hard by the injury but. We haven’t seen anything like this before.”

Some important players that missed time include four-year varsity running back Jared Rochas-Isalas and two-way lineman Connor Mowat. Rochas-Isalas has only been able to complete one full game due to lingering cramps and Mowat suffered a knee injury in the first MIL game of the season against King Kekaulike, and also sat out against Kamehameha-Maui. Both players are MIL all-stars.

In spite of the injuries the Lunas have still remained perfect. In the meantime Lahainluna has been able to integrate its younger players and get them some quality playing time. Junior offensive linemen Jabe Oliver and Junior Moala have come along nicely in the trenches and sophomore fullback David Kawabata scored the Lunas’ only offensive touchdown in the game against Maui. 

“I’m very proud. We couldn’t ask more of these younger kids,” said Tihada.

Another player that has come up big for the Lunas so far this year is senior quarterback Makoa Filikitonga-Lukea. The three-year varsity signal caller has accounted for 18 total touchdowns in five games this season. Filikitonga-Lukea’s development has helped the Lunas become more balanced offensively. 

“He’s been a lot more patient this year, making the reads and trusting his offensive line a lot more,” Tihada said on Filikitonga-Lukea. “We are making a conscience effort to throw the ball a lot more (this year). We need to be a lot more well rounded offensively.” 

The desire to pass the ball more this year stems from Lahainaluna’s loss to eventual state champion Kaiser in the 2013 Division II state semifinals. That loss also inspired the Lunas to improve their offseason training.

“Kaiser taught us that we needed to get a lot bigger and stronger. We thought we were okay (last year) until we faced that Kaiser team. They were trained by Chad Ikei (and) he did an unreal job getting those kids big and strong, so we kind of adjusted our offseason program a little bit. So far it’s paying off; kids are bigger and stronger this year,” said Tihada.

The results speak for themselves.  In the Lunas’ 2014 opener against Kapaa on the road, Lahainaluna was able to come from behind to score the game-winning touchdown with just five seconds left on the clock.  Also, Lahainaluna was able to outlast Maui in its last MIL game played, 14-0 in a defensive struggle. Tihada hopes that these early close games will benefit the Lunas in the long run.

“That’s something that we can always draw back on. In these tough games you just got to keep fighting. If you just keep fighting, things will just come out the right way. It’s good for the kids to understand from start to finish you have to keep going,” Tihada said.

Lahainaluna returns to action with a road game at Kamehameha-Maui Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.