Iolani QB Tai-John Mizutani helped the Raiders avenge a regular season loss to Saint Francis while Nanakuli OH Janae Odom had key performances to put the Golden Hawks in a position to make the playoffs. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Tai-John Mizutani, Iolani football
No matter what the Saint Francis defense did last Friday afternoon, there was no stopping Iolani's Tai-John Mizutani.

The senior quarterback completed 36 of 49 passes for 430 yards and a season-high five touchdowns to help the Raiders dismantle the Saints, 45-29, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II contest at Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

Mizutani, who won the starting job as a sophomore, completed passes to seven different receivers in the win to help the Raiders improve to 3-4 on the season.

"I think he's been pretty consistent all year," said Iolani coach Wendell Look. "We've kind of given him a lot of the responsibility for running our offense on his shoulders, and rightfully so. He's a three-year starter and he's evolved into one of the top quarterbacks in the state." 

Even though Mizutani was given the keys to the Raiders' offense early on his career, Look said that his quarterback has never stopped working. 

"I think not only does his statistics prove that, but I think his on and off the field leadership has developed. He's becoming a pretty good player." 

Last weekend's outing was the fourth time in Mizutani's career where he has thrown for 400 yards or more, and it also brought the signal-caller's career numbers to 6,897 passing yards and 49 TD passes.

To make Mizutani's performance more impressive, the senior quarterback has to pilot an offense with a non-existent running game. The Raiders average just 58 rushing yards per game and has relied on defensive back Kaua Nishigaya to shoulder the load in the backfield.

"Our run game is not where it was last year, or two years ago, but we have to adapt and our kids have adapted and Tai-John has adapted," said Look. "We have to do what we have to do. We go with our strengths, but we're getting better."

Mizutani got into a groove early against the Saints, completing 7 of 8 passes for 75 yards on the Raiders' opening drive, which culminated in Mizutani's 21-yard TD pass to Nishigaya. The hot start was all Mizutani needed to have one of his best games of the year.

Multiple players thrived off of Mizutani's performance: Jonah Miyazawa caught a season-high 13 passes for 132 yards and two scores, Carter Kamana made eight receptions for 130 yards and a 54-yard TD reception, Justin Genovia had 10 catches for 95 yards and Jake Yokogawa hauled in a 14-yard pass from Mizutani for his TD of the season.

"That's part of evolving as a quarterback, is being able to see the field, to have faceless receivers out there," said Look. "He's really developed confidence and a good rapport with all the receivers. When he spread the ball around, that makes us that much more effective and unpredictable."

The senior quarterback's outing helped Iolani bounce back from a disappointing loss to Damien from the previous week, in a game where the Raiders led 28-0 after the first quarter. The Raiders also avenged a 43-26 loss to the Saints with the victory.

For Mizutani and the rest of the senior class, winning has been a learning process. After winning their eighth Division II state title, the Raiders tried their hand in Division I against the likes of Saint Louis, Punahou and Kamehameha, and went winless during the regular season during the past two years.

Iolani moved down to Division II, but it hasn't been easy. Other than a win over PAC-5 on Sept. 16, the victory over the Saints was just the second ILH win that Mizutani and the rest of the Raiders' senior class have enjoyed during their high school careers.

"In the ILH, during his sophomore and junior year, we didn't win a game," said Look. "They've won two games now in the last (three) weeks. They know they can compete, they know that they can play at this level, at this division. They are learning how to finish off games and compete in games."

The Raiders will wrap up first round play in the ILH when it hosts PAC-5 Saturday afternoon.

Female Athlete of the Week: Janae Odom, Nanakuli girls volleyball
While her statistics weren't gaudy, Janae Odom's play on the court was clutch for the Nanakuli girls volleyball team last week.

The 5-foot-6 senior outside hitter had 16 total kills in a pair of straight set sweeps over Waipahu and Pearl City to to extend the Golden Hawks' winning streak to three matches in Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division play.

"She's one of our more talented girls and I can put her pretty much at any position," said Nanakuli coach Junius Wong. "I depend on her a lot because of her skill level. She's a great passer, has a solid block and is our most dependable hitter. I feel like the team definitely runs well when she's doing well."

Following Monday's matches, Nanakuli current sits at 3-5 in the league standings and has the inside track to lock up the West's top seed in the Division II playoffs.

Wong credited Odom's ability to lead the team for the winning streak.

"I feel like the best part that she's doing well in is being more of a team player. It's more of a team-oriented feel with her leading the way."

Odom is also stepping into a new role as the Golden Hawks' go-to hitter, a position that was held by 2016 All-OIA First Team selection Haley Thomas. Wong said training with Tava Volleyball club in the offseason has prepared Odom to be the top offensive threat for Nanakuli.

"(She) has developed her individual game as far as mentality. She understands more as far as what she needs to be doing for her team. Instead of asking for direction, she leads and helps the other girls with direction. She's also the one that when we need that one kill or that one play, she's the one that helps us get it."

With two games left in the regular season, the Golden Hawks are assured one of the West's three berths in the six-team tournament because the own head-to-head tiebreakers over the Chargers (2-6, Marauders (1-7) and Waialua (1-7).

Odom led the offensive effort in Nanakuli's win over Waipahu on Sept. 25. She put down nine kills with seven digs and an ace to lead the Golden Hawks to a 25-10, 25-17 win.

She followed her big game with a seven kill, three dig, two block performance to lead Nanakuli to a 25-20, 25-20 win over the Chargers just two days later.

"Last week was definitely a great week for her and her team," said Wong. "They were able to really refocus after the two weeks of us being 0-4 and being in a rut without having a win. Even though the teams weren't the most competitive (last week), I felt we kept our competitive edge as high as possible."

Odom and the Golden Hawks will wrap up regular season play against Campbell Wednesday and against Kapolei next Monday.

AIR RIFLERY
Cole Fukumitsu, Moanalua — Shot a high score of 538 in a semifinal match loss to Pearl City

Madissyn Marr, Pearl City — Shot a high score of 537 in a semifinal match loss to Kalaheo

Kellyn Okazaki, Kalani — Shot a high score of 524 in a semifinal match win over Waialua 

Justin Pascua, Kalaheo — Shot a high score of 538 in a semifinal match win over Kapolei

BOWLING
Alex Abadilla, Waipahu — Rolled a high single-game score of 226 in an OIA West boys meet

Chase Fernandez, Leilehua — Rolled a three-game series of 580 in an OIA West boys meet

Emiley Hadano, Moanalua — Rolled a single-game score of 193 in an OIA East girls meet

Jazymyn Lazo, Moanalua — Rolled a three-game score of 508 in an OIA East girls meet

Dylan Peters, Kalaheo — Rolled a high single-game score of 213 and a three-game total of 517 in an OIA East boys meet

Kiana Saito, Aiea — Rolled a high single-game score of 201 and a three-game total of 527 in an OIA West girls meet

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Vanessa Alcones, Kauai — Had 32 assists and three aces in a five-set win over Waimea

Alea Cervantes, KS-Maui — Put down 12 kills with three aces in a straight set win over Maui

Falanika Danielson, Mililani — Recorded eight kills, seven digs and three aces in a two-set win over Radford

Emily Dulaney, Moanalua — Had a near triple-double of nine kills, nine assists and 11 digs while adding two aces and two blocks in a three-set win over Castle

Tihani Ehia, Castle — Put down nine kills with 11 digs and two blocks in a three-set loss to Moanalua

Sara Ehnstrom, Moanalua — Dished out a match-high 14 assists with nine digs, three kills, three aces and a block assist in a three-set win over Castle

Inez Garcia, KS-Maui — Had 11 digs with eight aces in a sweep of Maui

Hailey Iha, Kauai — Put down a match-high 17 kills in a five-set win over Waimea

Saige Kaahaaina-Torres, Iolani — Had a triple-double of 25 assists, 17 kills and 14 digs with three blocks in a four-set loss to Kamehameha

Colby Lane — Recorded a match-high 23 digs in a two-set loss to Farrington

Chasry Lum-King, Kaimuki — Had a near double-double of nine kills and seven digs in a two-set loss to Castle

Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina, Aiea — Put down a match-high 11 kills with two digs and an ace in a sweep of Leilehua

Aysia Miller, Mililani — Had 21 assists, five aces, five kills and four digs in a two-set win over Radford and dished out 12 assists with six kills, five digs two aces and a block assist in a straight set sweep over Waialua

Elena Oglivie, Iolani — Recorded a double-double of 10 kills and 10 digs with four blocks in a three-set loss to Maryknoll and had 22 kills with nine digs in a four-set loss to Kamehameha

Lexi Paglinawan, Hilo — Put down 17 kills in a four-set win over KS-Hawaii

Lauren Pau-De Santos, Roosevelt —Recorded 12 assists with five digs, three kills, three total blocks and two aces in a three-set loss to Farrington

Michelyn Pililaau, Kapolei — Put down a season-high 11 kills with three total blocks in a two-set win over Aiea

Naniloa Spaar, KS-Hawaii — Recorded a match-high 34 kills in a four-set loss to Hilo

Terri Takita-Robins, Mililani — Had a match-high 17 digs in a two-set win over Radford

Olivia Transfiguracion, Kapolei — Recorded 24 assists in a sweep of Aiea and 22 assists in a straight set win over Radford

Kawai Ua, Hilo — Had 17 kills in a four-set win over KS-Hawaii

Anuhea Hughes, Farrington — Had 23 digs in a two-set win over McKinley

Jerica Vele, Farrington — Dished out 19 assists with nine digs and a kill in a three-set win over Roosevelt and had 19 assists in a two-set win over McKinley

Chevelle Wagner-Chun, Waianae — Recorded a match-high 22 digs in a two-set win over Pearl City and had 15 digs in a sweep of Campbell

Violet Williams, Farrington — Put down a match-high 11 kills with nine digs and a block assist in a three-set win over Roosevelt

Leiko Yamauchi, Waimea — Had a match-high 44 assists with nine digs, four kills and three aces in a five-set loss to Kauai

FOOTBALL
Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa, Campbell — Recovered two fumbles and scored on a 39-yard fumble return in a 45-6 loss to Kahuku

Jonan Aina-Chaves, Saint Francis — Rushed for a season-high 243 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-29 loss to Iolani

Braden Amorozo, Waipahu — Threw three touchdowns in a 35-14 win over Kaimuki

Nicholas-Alexandre Au, Moanalua — Threw for 255 yards and three scores on 16-for-26 passing in a 21-20 win over Radford

Zeondre Benjamin, Waipahu — Made two interceptions in a 35-14 win over Kaimuki

Ryan Chang, Mililani — Caught five passes for 97 yards and two scores in a 52-0 win over Kailua

Makoa Cooper, Pearl City — Rushed 12 times for 117 yards and two scores in a 42-0 win over McKinley

Chevan Cordeiro, Saint Louis — Threw for 375 yards and one touchdown on 22-for-33 passing in a 23-12 yard win over Kamehameha

Nalu Emerson, Kahuku — Returned two interceptions for two touchdowns in a 45-6 win over Campbell

Lonenoa Faoa, Kapolei — Complete 24 of 29 passes for 228 yards and four scores in a 36-0 win over Nanakuli

Aidan Fernandez, Pearl City — Recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a 42-0 win over McKinley

Matthew Fiesta, Waipahu — Caught three passes for 79 yards and two scores in a 35-14 win over Kaimuki

Dillon Gabriel, Mililani — Threw for 417 yards and five scores on 19-for-34 passing in a 52-0 win over Kailua

Taai Galoia, Lahainaluna — Rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another in a 52-0 win over King Kekaulike

Ezra Grace, Moanalua — Made five receptions for a season-high 112 yards with three touchdowns in a 21-20 win over Radford

Carter Kamana, Iolani — Hauled in eight catches for 130 yards and a score in a 45-29 win over Saint Francis

Sol-Jay Maiava, Kahuku — Passed for two touchdowns and threw for another in a 45-6 win over Campbell

Logan Matsuoka, Kalani — Made five receptions for a season-high 129 yards with two scores in a 41-13 win over Kalaheo

James McGary, Leilehua — Rushed 16 times for 125 yards and one touchdown in a 33-6 win over Farrington

Jonah Miyazawa, Iolani — Caught a season-high 13 passes for a season-high 132 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-29 win over Saint Francis

Koali Nishigawa, Saint Louis — Caught five passes for a season-high 109 yards in a 23-12 win over Kamehameha

Jonah Panoke, Saint Louis — Made five receptions for 118 yards in a 23-12 win over Kamehameha

Drake Sapp, Kalani — Scored on a 70-yard interception return in a 41-13 win over Kalaheo

Isaac Sevao, Campbell — Had seven tackles, including two sacks, and forced a fumble while recovering another in a 45-6 loss to Kahuku

Foi Sila, Farrington — Made a game-high 12 tackles, one for loss, in a 33-6 loss to Leilehua

AJ Tania, Mililani — Scored on 40-yard interception return in a 52-0 win over Kailua

Seth Tina-Soberano, Kalani — Threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-13 win over Kalaheo

Jacob Tobias, Saint Louis — Kicked three field goals and two PATs in a 23-12 win over Kamehameha

Akoni Tom-Makue, Leilehua — Booted four field goals and three PATs in a 33-6 win over Farrington

Fiva Tulafale, Waipahu — Scored on a 62-yard interception return in a 35-14 win over Kaimuki