(Darryl Oumi / Special to the Star-Advertiser)
Noah Brum has been knocking at the door for the better part of two seasons as Kalani’s starting quarterback.
On Friday night against Radford, he finally walked right in.
The Kalani senior set a school record with 384 yards passing in a 47-37 loss to the Rams at Kaiser Stadium, breaking the previous high set by Ryan Kahana, who threw for 368 yards in a 42-20 loss to Roosevelt on Nov. 1, 1991.
Brum has topped 300 yards in four of Kalani’s past eight games and now holds five of the 10 best performances ever by a Falcons quarterback.
Brum said all of the right things after the game, choosing to avoid talking about the record and instead discuss how close the Falcons came to a big win.
“I really wanted the win,” Brum said. “The yards are cool and all, but this was a game we really wanted to win. We want to try and get to those playoffs.”
Brum admitted it has taken time getting comfortable running offensive coordinator Ron Lee‘s offense, but he has really settled in in his second year as the starter.
In five games, he’s completing 54 percent of his passes (119-for-221) while averaging 44.2 attempts a game and has totaled 1,378 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions.
The Falcons are tied for fifth in the OIA White, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs.
Kalani has never played in a varsity playoff game but has a legit shot at bucking that trend this year. Three of its final four games are against Waialua, Roosevelt and Anuenue, which are a combined 2-9 in league games. Kalani has already beaten Kalaheo (2-2) by 17 and Pearl City (2-1) by 32.
With Kaiser and Radford looking like sure bets to make the playoffs, one of the final two spots could come down to Kalani’s game against Nanakuli on Sept. 21 at Kaiser.
Friday was the first time in three games Brum has thrown more than 320 yards that the Falcons lost.
Kalani had top 10 all-time performances in rushing, passing and receiving in the same game. Enrique Gruver, playing for the first time this season at running back, finished with 129 rushing yards, which is the eighth-most ever by a Falcons player. Receiver Brandon Roberts, who caught four touchdown passes, finished with 10 catches for 153 yards, tying him with teammate Ikona Mamiya, who accomplished the feat last year.
Roberts, who also returns kicks, suffered bruised ribs in the second half trying to punt the ball on fourth down but is expected to be OK.
I graduated for Kalani in 1966, its good to see them have a good year.
“GO FALCONS”