‘Iolani opens defense of its six consecutive Division II state titles this afternoon against Kauai in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships at Kozuki Stadium. Can Kauai pull off the upset and advance to the Division II title game for the third time in school history? Updates are below:
2:02 p.m.: Kauai receives the opening kickoff and starts the game with 6-foot-5, 320-pound Devan Ferreira at center. Kauai runs it six straight times to start the drive. Quarterback Kelson Andrade finds Kanoa Iwasaki for 9 yards on third-and-10 but ‘Iolani is whistled for a personal foul, helmet-to-helmet. Kauai with a killer holding penalty on second-and-4 from the ‘Iolani 5. Andrade’s pass is incomplete on third down and Kauai’s 14-play drive goes 69 yards in 6:56 but they miss a 29-yard FG.
2:14 p.m.: ‘Iolani goes three-and-out as quarterback Austin Jim On scrambles for 6 yards on third-and-8. Punter Jordan Genovia drops the punt snap and Kauai recovers on the ‘Iolani 12. Kyren Rapacon scores on a 3-yard touchdown run and Kauai takes the early lead with 3:22 left in the first quarter.
2:21 p.m.: Let the conspiracy theories begin. ‘Iolani’s Jordan Ross fumbles on the ‘Iolani 34 and Kauai recovers it but they rule an inadvertent whistle. Replay the down.
2:24 p.m.: Kauai gets it back anyway as Jim On fumbles on a handoff two plays later. Frederick Astrologio on the recovery for Kauai.
2:27 p.m.: First quarter ends with Kauai second-and-goal on the ‘Iolani 7.
Kauai has run 23 plays in the first quarter on offense. ‘Iolani has run six.
2:30 p.m.: Andrade’s pass is incomplete on second down but they run a reverse to Kanoa Iwasaki on third down and Iwasaki goes into the end zone from 7 yards out. Kauai ahead 14-0 with 11:48 left in first half.
2:32 p.m.: ‘Iolani should have had a fourth fumble but they call a backwards pass incomplete. Jim On with a 16-yard pass to Keoni-Kordell Makekau on third down as Makekau is back from injury. Aga is hit after a 7-yard gain and ‘Iolani fumbles again. Bukoski on the recovery for Kauai, which takes over on its own 48.
2:36 p.m.: ‘Iolani makes a huge play on defense as Quinton Slade-Matautia forces an Andrade fumble and J.T. Los Banos with the recovery. ‘Iolani with a third-and-2 and Jim On’s pass goes off the receivers hands and is intercepted by Bukoski. Unreal first half.
‘Iolani’s first four drives have ended like this: Fumble, Fumble, Fumble, INT.
2:48 p.m.: Kauai pounds the rock inside the 20 but Bukoski fumbles and ‘Iolani recovers on its own 10. Six combined turnovers in the first half.
2:52 p.m.: Raiders can’t do anything as Jim On has all day two plays in a row but has nobody to throw to. ‘Iolani has to punt from its own 5 with 32 seconds left. Raiders false start but a running-into-the-kicker penalty offsets. ‘Iolani punts again. Kauai takes over on its 44 with :06 seconds remaining.
2:53 p.m.: Kauai takes a knee and we go to halftime.
Kauai rushed the ball 32 times for 156 yards in the first half but two killer turnovers are the only reason the Red Raiders aren’t up by more.
Game is similar to the 2009 state title game when ‘Iolani turned the ball over six times in the first half against Kauai before winning 24-17. That game was tied at the break though. The Raiders find themselves down 14 here.
‘Iolani running back Jordan Ross had one catch for 4 yards but was carted off with a possible concussion. He will not return. Makekau also was hit on his sore shoulder and his return is in doubt. Jim On is 10-for-16 for 65 yards and a pick.
3:11 p.m.: ‘Iolani will receive the second-half kickoff. Jim On completes his first five passes of the drive as the Raiders are in Kauai territory. Third-and-9 from the 35 and Jim On launches a ball about 10 yards out of bounds. The Raiders go for it and Jim On’s pass for Connor Ohira is incomplete. Kauai takes over.
3:23 p.m.: Kauai runs the ball 12 straight times and ‘Iolani can’t stop them. Reggie McFadden ends the drive on a 1-yard touchdown plunge and ‘Iolani is officially on upset watch as Kauai has dominated the line of scrimmage, leading 21-0.
3:31 p.m.: Raiders convert a fourth-and-4 to put the ball on the Kauai 26 as the third quarter ends with ‘Iolani down 21-0.
3:35 p.m.: ‘Iolani with third-and-4 at the 10 and Jim On is sacked by Kalawaia Judd to make it fourth down. Jim On throws for the end zone and an obvious pass interference call on Kauai moves the ball to the 7. Jim On with a 7-yad TD pass to Chase Kanekuni and ‘Iolani is on the board with 10:16 remaining.
3:43 p.m.: Kickoff out of bounds and Kauai gets it on its 35. ‘Iolani can’t stop the run and Kauai just running clock now. Kauai has done a great job at making the first tackler miss all game long. Kauai whistled for a holding penalty and ‘Iolani has its chance to get a stop. Raiders decline the penalty, I have no idea why. Trying to save time? Weird call to me. Iwasaki takes it on third-and-4, makes ‘Iolani defender miss with a spin move and is gone. 31-yard TD run. This baby is over. Kauai is going to beat ‘Iolani for the first time in four tries in the state tournament.
3:54 p.m.: Jim On completes four passes to put the ball inside the Kauai 20. ‘Iolani has first-and-goal at the 6 but Jim On is incomplete on three straight passes and Kelii Kelekoma gets the sack. Kauai with the ball and 5:10 remaining.
3:57 p.m.: Kauai picking up big chunks of yards now. Over 300 yards rushing as a team with McFadden over 110 now. Under four minutes remaining. I am heading down to the field.
Kauai 28, ‘Iolani 7
At Kozuki Stadium
Kauai (10-0) 7 7 7 7 — 28
‘Iolani (7-5) 0 0 0 7 — 7
Kauau—Kyren Rapacon 3 run (Tristan Bukoski kick)
Kauai—Kanoa Iwasaki 6 run (Bukoski kick)
Kauai—Reggie McFadden 1 run (Bukoski kick)
Iol—Chase Kanekuni 8 pass from Austin Jim On (Keoni-Kordell Makekau kick)
Kauai—Iwasaki 31 run (Bukoski kick)
RUSHING—Kauai: McFadden 29-135, Kelson Andrade 12-79, Rapacon 14-67, Iwasaki 3-39, Bukoski 1-14. ‘Iolani: Tamatane Aga 5-12, Jordan Genovia 1-(minus 15), Jim On 6-(minus 26).
PASSING—Kauai: Andrade 4-6-0-35. ‘Iolani: Jim On 27-39-1-189.
RECEIVING—Kauai: Bukoski 2-25, Iwasaki 2-10. ‘Iolani: Chad Hanaoka 8-58, Kanekuni 8-49, Connor Ohira 5-41, Makekau 3-31, Tyler Teruya 2-6, Ross 1-4.
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