Lahainaluna's Hercules Mataafa sacks Nanakuli's Chazz Troutman. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 1 of 3

Lahainaluna's Samiuela Filiai recovered this ball in the endzone for a touchdown against Nanakuli. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 2 of 3

Lahainaluna RB Jared Rocha-Islas carries the ball against Nanakuli. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 3 of 3

Sat, Nov 17, 2012 @ Aloha Stadium [ 4:00 pm ]

---

Nanakuli

0

Lahainaluna

28

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Nanakuli (7-5-0)	0	0	0	0	0
Lahainaluna (9-2-0)	7	7	7	7	28

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Makoa Filikitonga Lukela, Jr. 126 yd 1 TD

Chazz Troutman 139 yd

Jared Rocha-Isalas 76 yd

Brandon Felisi 13 yd

Scott-Isaac Medeiros-Tangatailoa 68 yd 1 TD

Lansen Liki 52 yd

Lahainaluna turned in an even-keel performance to knock off Nanakuli, 28-0, in Saturday's semifinal of the First Hawaiian Bank Division II state football tournament.

The Lunas (9-1) will play in Friday's Division II championship against either Iolani or Radford. It's their first title appearance since 2007, when they lost to Iolani, 28-21.

"This team is my family," Lunas' senior defensive back Tytus Lucas said. "I'm proud of them."

Lahainaluna scored a touchdown in each quarter. Two scores were by the offense and two by the defense, although the defense helped set up one of the offense's touchdown with a fumble recovery.

The only wrinkle was that sophomore Makoa Flikitonga Lukela Jr., brought up from the junior varsity, made his varsity debut at quarterback for Lahainaluna. He was 6 of 10 for 126 yards, including a 68-yard TD to Scott-isaac Medeiros-Tangatailoa. Filikitonga Lukela started for junior Taylor Kohler-Fonoimoana, who was injured and hadn't played the Lunas' final regular season game against Maui. Running back/linebacker Semisi Filikitonga started that game at QB.

"We wanted to bring him up and it worked out pretty well," Lahainaluna co-coach Garret Tihada said. "Either way we were going to start him because Kika (Kohler-Fonoimoana) was injured and missed some practice, so just by that alone, (Filikitonga Lukela) earned that position."

Filikitonga Lukela apparently wasn't fazed by his situation, as he received encouragement from his teammates.

"My team helped me out, they backed me up," said Filikitonga Lukela, who added that both QBs before him "helped me out a lot."

Of course, it helps the Lunas played their usual defense. Nanakuli never crossed midfield in the first half. The Golden Hawks did reach the Lunas' 12 late in the third quarter, but lost the ball on downs.

"We don't strive to get a shutout," Lucas said. "We expect (that) people would score on us, but if we get a shutout, that's good, too."

The Lunas' defense set up the first score of the game. The Golden Hawks fumbled on the first play of  their second series of the game at their 42. Five plays later, RB Mark Alamon scored on a one-yard run and Kohler-Fonoimoana's PAT gave Lahainaluna  7-0 lead at 2:28 in the first quarter.

Lahainaluna was pinned at its 11 after a 53-yard punt by Nanakuli's Joseph Shelton. The Lunas still managed to score, this time on Filikitonga Lukela's 68-yard TD pass to make it 14-0 with 11:09 in the second quarter. It remained that way until the half.

The Lunas punted after their first series of the second half and Nanakuli took over at its 43. But four plays later, a bad snap from shot gun formation set the Golden Hawks back to their 20. On second-and-37, Lucas returned an interception off Troutman 34 yards for a TD with 7:58 in the third quarter to make it 21-0.

Lahainaluna's defense added another TD in the fourth quarter. The Golden Hawks faced second-and-19 from their 11 when Troutman completed pass to Charles Garcia behind the line of scrimmage. But Garcia fumbled at the 2 and the ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Samuela Filiai for a TD with 7:32 in the game.

The Lunas use a number of players on both sides of the ball, but manage to keep them fresh and active.

"The key is always trying to get a nice rotation in," Tihada said. "Even though we have two-way players, we try to give 'em some rest. The same as Nanakuli; they do a great job of rotating their players."