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Kalani Takase | ScoringLiveAugust 22, 2017, 9:49am
For the Kapolei offense and first-year starting quarterback Kaniala Kalaola, the numbers don't lie.
In just his third varsity start, Kalaola posted a prolific four-touchdown performance to lead the Hurricanes to a 41-7 win over visiting Castle Saturday night. It was, by far, his best game of the young season.
Kalaola completed 23 of his 28 pass attempts (82.1 completion percentage) for 272 yards and was not intercepted — a vast improvement from his first two games, when he combined to go 36-of-64 passing (56.2 percent) for a respectable 550 yards. He did record four TD passes in that span, but was also intercepted as many times.
"He did a good job," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said of the 6-foot, 175-pound junior. "I always think a team makes a pretty good improvement from their first game to their third game and I thought he made some good improvements."
With a plethora of weapons at his disposal, Kalaola spread the ball around to six different receivers.
Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala had game-highs of seven receptions for 126 yards, including a 51-yard TD pass from Kalaola midway through the first quarter, Isaiah Ahana caught four passes for 90 yards with two scores and Ikari Stokes pitched in with five grabs for 45 yards and a touchdown.
"Kaniala did good spreading around the ball and he's getting better every single day," Ahana said.
Most of Kalaola's passes were of the shorter variety — 5-yard outs, quick screens, etc. — with only a handful of throws beyond 15 yards.
"Throwing the short stuff helped us out because we keep throwing the short stuff and they'll come up and that just sets up for the deep ball," said Kalaola, who was 18-of-22 passing for 234 yards by halftime.
The Hurricanes entered the season with just two returning starters on offense, but neither factored into their first two games. Running back Josh Kansana remains out while recovering from knee surgery, while Ahana, a wideout, did not get on the field in wins over Campbell and Waianae.
However, Ahana made his presence felt Saturday with three total touchdowns (he also scored on a 7-yard run late in the game). His emergence, along with the return of 285-pound running back Antoneo Filipo-Brown (3 carries for 37 yards vs. Castle), helped alleviate some of the load on Kalaola's shoulders.
"Having a healthy Antoneo Brown to close things out a little bit was a good sign," Hernandez said.
Kalaola's decision-making was spot-on Saturday. He lost a fumble on a shotgun snap early on in the game — which led to Castle's lone score — but he did well to minimize risk in the passing game. Kalaola ran when he had to — including a pivotal 14-yard scramble to move the chains on fourth-and-12 — and went through his progressions well, as he did on the 12-yard TD pass over the middle to Stokes.
Ahana described the 34-yard TD pass from Kalaola — which was set-up by a Braedon Bantolina recovery of his own squib kick — and stretched Kapolei's lead to 27-7 with 4:58 left in the second quarter.
"When coach called that play, right when we lined up I already knew it was going to be open because the safety was playing far back and every single time he would bite on the inside, so I already knew I just had to give him a quick step in and then come back out and Kaniala would deliver the ball, like always," Ahana said, indicating a growing level of trust between the gun-slinger and his receiving corps.
The learning curve for Kalaola has certainly been aided by a defense loaded with talent that has allowed just 14 points through three games. Opponents are averaging a mere 115 yards of total offense against the ‘Canes.
"The defense has been doing a lot these past three games, so as an offense, we knew we had to step it up, find some momentum and start clicking," said Kalaola, who leads the state in passing yards (722) and pass TDs (8).
After the win over the Knights, Kalaola turned the focus to the Hurricanes' next opponent: Farrington.
"It feels great to come out with another W, but we'll celebrate this for now, come back on Monday, work harder and get better for the next game," he said.
Kalaola and the ‘Canes face the Govs (1-2), 6 p.m. Saturday at Edward ‘Skippa' Diaz Stadium at Henry Kusunoki Field.
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