Caleb Spencer‘s single-game passing mark lasted 13 years at Kamehameha.
Leave it to a sophomore backup to break it.
Thomas Yam, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound sophomore, stepped in for injured starter Fatu Sua-Godinet and despite playing only one snap in the second half, threw for a school-record 323 yards and four touchdowns in a 53-0 win over Baldwin on Saturday at Kunuiakea Stadium.
Yam completed 70 percent (21-for-30) of his passes with star wideout Kumoku Noa hauling in seven of them for 197 yards. Noa’s total was the second highest in receiving ever at Kamehameha, trailing only the 233 yards racked up by Aaron Nichols in 2005 against Punahou.
“Honored,” was Yam’s one-word answer to setting the new mark. “We took what the defense gave us.”
Kamehameha coach Doug Cosbie said he needed Yam to get a lot of reps on Saturday because he is going to count on the sophomore QB even when Sua-Godinet returns.
“He’s going to be a guy we will need to use a lot and he needs experience throwing the ball,” Cosbie said. “You’ve always got to watch the film but I think he did pretty well. He did some really good things and he’s a really smart kid. He’s a really good athlete.”
Yam was the Warriors’ top rusher with 70 yards on six carries, finishing with 393 all-purpose yards.
Although the numbers — and scoreboard — were both impressive, Yam mentioned multiple times after the game that he wasn’t satisfied with his performance.
“I think I did all right but I have a lot to work on,” Yam said. “Reading the right guys to make the right throws to receivers and not throwing the ball too high. I could do better.”
No other Kamehameha QB has topped 300 passing yards in a single game.
For a complete list of Kamehameha’s Top 10 single-game marks in rushing, passing and receiving, check out the Kamehameha team page.
We knew Boogie was something special when he played in our farm league(KYF) on Kauai! Like all other kids that go off island to go to big schools they have to be patient and keep working hard and be ready when the opportunity presents itself!