Kamehameha senior free safety Kalamaku Kuewa intercepted a pair of passes, including a game-sealing 71-yard pick-6 to lead a solid defensive effort by the Warriors Friday night. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Athlete of the Week: Kalamaku Kuewa, Kamehameha football
Kalamaku Kuewa's hard work paid off for the Kamehameha senior free safety Friday night.

The 5-foot-10, 177-pound Kuewa intercepted a pair of passes, including a game-sealing 71-yard pick-6 to lead a solid defensive effort by the Warriors in the season-opening 34-15 win over host Farrington at Edward ‘Skippa' Diaz Stadium at Henry Kusunoki Field.

"He had an incredible game" Kamehameha coach Abu Maafala said of Kuewa. "He's always been great at tracking and finding the football. He came up big for us with a couple of interceptions and took one to the house."

Both of Kuewa's picks were off of Govs' quarterback Chris Afe-Alaivanu, who, with his 6-foot-1, 273-pound frame, was able to extend plays and get throws off despite being in the grasp of defenders multiple times.

"The number one thing you preach to a defensive front is to get after the quarterback and get him on the ground so that he can't throw the ball, but he was able to absorb the rush, keep his eyes downfield and still make the throw," Maafala said. "They were about two or three big balls away from being right in that football game, so for us, with a quarterback like that, we've got to make sure that we don't let him throw the ball downfield because it is a lot to ask a (defensive back) to cover a guy for that long."

After Farrington cut the Kamehameha lead to 14-6 with Stephen Eter's 10-yard touchdown pass to Reginal Faamatau inside the final minute of the second quarter, it attempted — and recovered — an onside kick to retain possession of the football. However, Kuewa's first pick came at a most opportune time to close out the first half.

"Farrington was moving the ball and within striking distance of making a play and making it a real game at the end of the first half," Maafala said. "The ball got thrown up, Ku found it, tracked it and got it and did an outstanding job."

Kuewa's second interception came early in the fourth quarter and stretched the Warriors' lead from 21-9 to a three-score game at 27-9. On the play, he dropped back into deep coverage, read Afe-Alaivanu perfectly and snatched the pass out of mid-air before finding an open lane along the right sideline en route to the end zone for the 71-yard interception return.

"Everybody on our sideline was thrilled and his teammates and coaches were happy for him," Maafala said. "We celebrated together. It was one heck of an individual play and it came at a vital time. We were trying some different things offensively, but the defense all night stepped up big for us and on that particular play, Ku sealed the deal and I'm thankful for that."

Kuewa also broke up two other passes on a couple of plays that could have gone either way, according to Maafala.

"Because we're a high-risk, high-reward defense, the free safety is the most important guy in the defensive secondary because he is the last line of defense and of much how pressure we like to put on the quarterback, so the home run balls are squarely on his shoulders," Maafala said.

Maafala praised Kuewa's mental toughness, which was also evident last Spring, when Kuewa batted .286 and led the Kamehameha baseball team with 18 runs batted in and seven doubles.

"The one thing that comes to mind when I think of him is his toughness," Maafala said. "He's a very tough, hard-working kid and being a part of that successful baseball team, he understands what it takes to win and how important practice is and he approaches every day like that. The way he played Friday night is the way he practice every day, so he's earned it and he's put in a lot of work. He's come a long way as a player and he's elevated his level of play. Last year he was close to making similar plays, but now because he has put in the work and understands what we want to do, it's paying dividends for us because he's making those plays."

Kuewa and the seventh-ranked Warriors (1-0) will continue the non-league portion of their schedule with a road game at reigning Division II state champion Lahainaluna Saturday afternoon.

FOOTBALL
Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa, Campbell — Intercepted two passes and caught a touchdown pass in a loss to Kapolei

Alika Ahsing, Waipahu — Caught four passes for 81 yards with a touchdown and scored on a 12-yard blocked punt return in a win over Nanakuli

Braden Amorozo, Waipahu — Threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-30 passing and rushed for another score in a win over Nanakuli

Tarynce Antolin, Waipahu — Intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in a win over Nanakuli

Hoku Arias, Kamehameha — Had seven tackles, including two for losses, and one sack in a win over Farrington

Alika Arecchi, Damien — Scored on a 71-yard kickoff return in a win over Castle

Kealii Barrett, Waipahu — Had seven tackles, including three for losses, and two sacks in a win over Nanakuli

Jaeden Chow, Leilehua — Scored on an 87-yard fumble return in a win over Saint Francis

Chevan Cordeiro, Saint Louis — Rushed for two touchdowns and threw another score in a win over Waianae

Nainoa Decorte, Moanalua — Scored on a 23-yard fumble return in a loss to Punahou

Ezra Evaimalo, Kamehameha — Had nine tackles, including two for losses, and one sack in a win over Farrington

Alfred Failauga, Waipahu — Rushed 16 times for 151 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Nanakuli

Marcus Faufata-Pedrina, Damien — Threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another in a win over Castle

Matthew Faufata-Pedrina, Damien — Recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a score in a win over Castle

Aaron Faumui, Kapolei — Had three sacks, including one for a safety, in a win over Campbell

Leif Fautanu, Jr., PAC-5 — Had three tackles for losses, including one sack, and forced a fumble in a win over McKinley

Aidan Fernandes, Pearl City — Had six tackles, including two for losses, and intercepted a pass in a loss to Lahainaluna

Kennedy Freeman, Punahou — Had a sack and recovered a fumble in a win over Moanalua

Kaikea Gonsales, PAC-5 — Rushed 11 times for 106 yards and a touchdown in a win over McKinley

Kalena Harder, Kapaa — Ran for two touchdowns in a win over Maui

Sitiveni Kaufusi, Punahou — Rushed 10 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Moanalua

Keoua Kauhi, Damien — Rushed 21 times for 158 yards in a win over Castle

Centennial Kulikefu, Waipahu — Had 6 1/2 tackles, including three sacks, in a win over Nanakuli

Tuipulotu Lai, Lahainaluna — Had 4 1/2 tackles, including a sack, and forced a fumble in a win over Pearl City

Saige Mactagone-Kuhaulua, Kapolei — Intercepted two passes in a win over Campbell

Kanai Mauga, Waianae — Made eight tackles, including a sack, intercepted a pass and returned a kickoff 77 yards in a loss to Saint Louis

Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Kapolei — Caught five passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Campbell

Justus Neufeldt, Kalaheo — Rushed for three touchdowns in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

Rylee Oneill, Waipahu — Had 9 1/2 tackles, including two for losses, and one sack in a win over Nanakuli

TitanAlii Pesamino, Farrington — Had six tackles, including two sacks, in a loss to Kamehameha

Ryden Quitoriano, Waiakea — Caught two touchdown passes and kicked a 32-yard field goal in a win over Waialua

Kainoa Sanchez, Kamehameha-Maui — Threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two other scores in a win over Kalaheo

Kanoa Shannon, Kamehameha — Rushed 17 times for 113 yards and a touchdown in a win over Farrington

Marcus Spencer, Leilehua — Made a game-high eight tackles in a win over Saint Francis

Spencer Takitaki, Maui — Scored on a 99-yard kickoff return in a loss to Kapaa

Samsen Tanuvasa, Farrington — Had eight tackles, including two for losses, and one sack in a loss to Kamehameha

Tapena Tuitupou, Saint Francis — Had 3 1/2 tackles, including two sacks in a loss to Leilehua

AJ Ulufale, PAC-5 — Caught a touchdown pass and rushed for another in a win over McKinley

Jaylen Uyemura-Lee, Castle — Passed for 202 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Damien