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Sat, Sep 24, 2022 @ Kailua [ 6:30 pm ]

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McKinley

0

Kalaheo

37

Final	1	2	3	4	T
McKinley (0-8-0)	0	0	0	0	0
Kalaheo (1-8-0)	0	20	17	0	37

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Alika Amasiu 93 yd 2 TD

Preston Note 11 yd

Elijah Taylor 88 yd 1 TD

Samisoni Mafi 176 yd

Jayden Fargas 35 yd 1 TD

Samisoni Mafi 11 yd

KAILUA—Alika Amasiu and Elijah Taylor combined to score five touchdowns to help Kalaheo break their losing streak and roll past McKinley, 37-0 at Kailua's Alex Kane Stadium Saturday.

The Mustangs snap a six-game losing streak and improved to 1-6 overall, 1-4 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II standings.

"It's always nice to get a win against a physical McKinley team. They were hurting in some positions, but they never quit and battled until the very end," Kalaheo coach Nelson Maeda said. "It's great to get our first win, especially on homecoming with all the distractions."

The Tigers dropped to 0-6 overall, 0-5 in the OIA and lost their 19th-straight game dating back to 2019.

Amasiu contributed in all three phases. The junior had 93 passing yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for another. On defense, he chipped in seven total tackles, one going for a loss. To top it off, he kicked in three extra points.

"He never comes off the field. He's an instrumental guy on our team and he did a wonderful job tonight, running the offense and of course, on special teams," Maeda said.

"For us, this is iron man football. We're such a young team and it's the foundation for our team. Not only me, it takes all 11 guys and I'm proud to represent Kalaheo and I'll go to battle with these boys any day of the week," Amasiu said.

Kalaheo completed a 13-play, 53-yard drive with Amasiu's 14-yard touchdown pass to Kamalu Anoba-Jordan.

After McKinley punted, Taylor turned on the jets for a 45-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead. Taylor finished with 88 yards on 11 carries in the first half.

The Mustangs forced another Tiger punt and took over on the McKinley 36. Taylor gained 17 yards, but Alex Simpson dropped Amasiu for a 7-yard loss. Following two incompletions, Amasiu connected with Jayden Vargas for a 26-yard score, but the kick was no good.

"Something just clicked for us. Something picked up and we took it from there. The crowd helped too and gave us that momentum," Amasiu said.

Kalaheo led, 20-0 at halftime.

The Tigers lost 27 yards on a bad snap and on the next play, the ball went out of the end zone for a safety in the third quarter.

McKinley had minus-87 yards due to bad snaps.

"We were fortunate they were having trouble with their snap and it put them in less-than-desired down and distance situations and safeties. That helped the momentum for us and our good fortune," Maeda said.

Kalaheo took over on the McKinley 33 and the next play, Amasiu rushed for his only touchdown of the night for a 29-0 lead.

The Mustangs recorded another safety two plays later and on the ensuing kickoff, Taylor returned it 65 yards to the house to start running clock.

The Tigers were without quarterback Afi Togafau and turned to the run game the whole night. Samisoni Mafi literally carried the load offensively and took the direct snap in their jumbo package. He rushed for 176 yards on 34 carries.

"He's a tough running back, he's tough to bring down," Maeda said.

McKinley started on their own 35 and their drive took up 17 plays and they got down to as far as the Kalaheo 10 but turned it over on downs.

Sean Uccardi had seven total tackles and Vance Ramolete chipped in four, two going for losses for the Kalaheo defense.

Simpson had three tackles to go along with the sack and Preston Note batted away two passes for McKinley.

The Mustangs topped the Tigers last season, 34-22 on Nov. 20, 2021. McKinley's last win came against Kalaheo on Sept. 7, 2019.

Kalaheo hosts Kaiser (3-3 overall, 3-2 OIA) at Kailua on Saturday, Oct. 1 and finishes the regular season against Kaimuki (3-3 overall, 3-2 OIA) at Farrington a week later.

McKinley goes to Waialua (3-4 overall, 2-3 OIA) and Nanakuli (5-1 overall, 5-0 OIA) on the same nights for their last two regular season games.