The season will end Friday afternoon for both ‘Iolani and No. 5 Kamehameha, which have been eliminated from postseason play.
The Raiders will try to end the season with their only win in ILH play in their homecoming game against the Warriors, who will not play on despite a No. 5 ranking.
‘Iolani is expected to have RB KJ Pascua and WR Keoni-Kordell Makekau available for today’s game after both missed last week’s 31-7 loss to Saint Louis. This will be the final game in the career of Makekau, who enters the contest fifth all-time on Oahu in receiving with 2,288 career yards and 21 touchdowns. Also finishing up his career is Kamehameha WR Kumoku Noa, who has 1,073 yards and 13 touchdowns in eight games this season. He needs 127 yards against ‘Iolani to become the seventh player to go over 1,200 receiving yards in a season.
Kickoff is at 3:15 p.m. Live updates will follow:
Interesting, Raiders only have 12 seniors on roster but they are almost all starters. Three defensive backs, a linebacker, a defensive lineman, three offensive linemen and four of top five receivers.
Raiders will receive and start from their 20.
QB Tai-John Mizutani goes 7-for-8 for 55 yards on opening drive but ‘Iolani is stopped inside the 10 after a tackle for loss by Tainoa Foster and a third-down sack by Alema Kapoi. Makekau and Pascua both started with Makekau hauling in four passes for 29 yards and Pascua running three times for 23 yards.
Noa with a 45-yard kick return on the ensuing kickoff to the Kamehameha 49. Senior Brett Yap starts at QB for Kamehameha. Fourth different starting QB for the Warriors this season. Koby Ford in at running back. Warriors drive inside the 20 but a holding penalty moves them back and then Makana LaBoy gets the INT for the Raiders. Fatu Sua-Godinet with a nice 22-yard catch on that drive for Kamehameha.
Mizutani gets time on third-and-6 and fires a nice ball to Conor Hannum for 8 yards and a first down. A clipping penalty on ‘Iolani makes it first-and-25. Makekau with a 9-yard reception and breaks the tackle and would have been gone but he was ruled to have stepped out at the 50. Next play is a 50-yard TD pass from Mizutani to Nick Kennedy over the middle. Extra point is no good as ‘Iolani tries a drop kick.
Mizutani is 11-for-13 for 126 yards and a TD already.
‘Iolani goes with the short pooch kick to avoid Noa and his returns. Kamehameha starts on its 34. One play, touchdown as Yap hits Noa in stride and he outraces two ‘Iolani defenders for a 66-yard TD. ‘Iolani 9, Kamehameha 7, 1:48, Q1.
Mizutani hits Makekau who breaks two tackles and gets into space for a 21-yard reception but he’s hit and fumbles. Didn’t see who made the hit but Foster with the fumble recovery.
Warriors drive inside the 10 but ‘Iolani’s defense holds as Yap overshoots Noa on a fade and then hits Sua-Godinet for only 2 yards on third-and-goal from the 9. Adam Stack‘s 24-yard field goal is good. 10-9 Warriors, 10:13, Q2.
‘Iolani is three-and-out as Mizutani throws high to an open Makekau on third down.
Kamehameha goes three-and-out with three incomplete passes. Helam Baldomero forces one incompletion with a nice stick of Sua-Godinet over the middle that popped ball into air.
A 58-yard punt pins ‘Iolani on its own 4 and then Mizutani with a poor throw that is picked off by Akili Gray on the 12. Sua-Godinet in at QB and Kanoa Shannon at RB. Sua-Godinet goes option keeper for an 11-yard TD run. 17-9, 7:17, Q2.
Raiders stopped after Kamehameha’s Kaipu Baker stops Pascua on third-and-1 for a loss of 1 and then DL Kanoa Gilliland tackles Mizutani for no gain on fourth down.
Kamehameha three-and-out as Brenen Roberts is tackled for a 9-yard loss as Kamehameha tried a reverse pass it looked like. DL Noah Nua then sacks Yap, who is back in at QB.
Another three-and-out by ‘Iolani as the passing offense has suddenly looked shaky. The quick stuff isn’t there anymore.
Third-and-8 and Yap hits Sua-Godinet on a crossing route. Sua-Godinet gets to the other sideline and then runs through a pair of ‘Iolani defenders to take it to the house. 72-yard TD pass and catch from Yap. Kamehameha 24, ‘Iolani 9, 0:59, Q2.
Yap 9-for-17, 176 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT.
HALFTIME BOX
at Kozuki Stadium
Kamehameha (4-4, 1-4) 7 17
‘Iolani (2-6, 0-5) 9 0
Iol—FG Keoni-Kordell Makekau 21
Iol—Nick Kennedy 50 pass from Tai-John Mizutani (kick blocked)
KS—Kumoku Noa 66 pass from Brett Yap (Adam Stack kick)
KS—FG Stack 24
KS—Fatu Sua-Godinet 11 run (Stack kick)
KS—Sua-Godinet 72 pass from Yap (Stack kick)
RUSHING—Kamehameha: Koby Ford 7-36, Sua-Godinet 1-11, Brayden Miyamoto 2-4, Yap 2-1, Kanoa Shannon 1-1, Brenen Roberts 1-(minus 9). ‘Iolani: KJ Pascua 11-36, Mizutani 3-0
PASSING—Kamehameha: Yap 9-17-1-176. ‘Iolani: Mizutani 16-21-1-168.
RECEIVING—Kamehameha: Sua-Godinet 4-103, Noa 4-75, Jaykob Cabunoc 1-(minus 2). ‘Iolani: Makekau 6-59, Kennedy 5-70, Conor Hannum 4-25, Tamatane Aga 1-14.
Warriors receive to start the second half.
‘Iolani kicks to Noa and he makes them pay with a 56-yard return to the ‘Iolani 40. Third-and-5 and Cabunoc fumbles on a short pass after the catch. Makoa Magnani recovers it for ‘Iolani.
‘Iolani goes for it on fourth-and-6 from its own 42. Mizutani escapes the rush and throws one deep. Makekau with the over-the-shoulder catch for 41 yards and a first down on the 17. 100 yards receiving for Makekau. Makekau is then called for offensive pass interference on a play that would have put the ball inside the 5. Second-and-25 from the 32. Mizutani to Aga for 19 yards makes it a manageable third down but some miscommunication on that play. Makekau tries a 35-yard field goal but is wide left. Kamehameha takes over.
Warriors three-and-out as Ryan Yoshioka had good coverage on the deep ball to Noa on third down.
Raiders start on their own 39. Kamehameha DL Nakoa Pauole blows up the whole drive. He sacks Mizutani, tackles Pascua for a loss on second down and then on fourth-and-1 after a 17-yard pass to Hanum, stops Pascua for no gain. Kamehameha ball.
Noa with an 11-yard reception and then is open deep on third-and-6 from the 29 but Yap misses him. Fourth-and-6. Kamehameha goes for it. Noa with a great catch for 11 yards. Brayden Miyamoto with a 15-yard TD run to make it 31-9 with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter.
Receiver Nick Kennedy down after an 8-yard reception. Doesn’t look serious. 2:36 left in third quarter and Mizutani is 22-for-31 for 278 yards. Fourth-and-2 and Mizutani hits Makekau over the middle who speeds past the first defender, makes the second guy miss, and he zig-zags to the end zone for a 51-yard TD. Two-point pass to Pascua is good. Kamehameha 31, ‘Iolani 17, 1:32, Q3. Makekau with eight grabs for 151 yards and a TD.
Noa goes over 100 yards with a 6-yard reception on third-and-3 for a first down. Third quarter ends with Kamehameha second-and-9 at its own 46.
Third-down pass is popped into the air and Tanner Kai makes a diving catch, no, ref rules it hit the ground. That was close. Kamehameha punts. ‘Iolani will start on its 18.
Kennedy open down the sideline on a double move but Mizutani overthrows him by a step. That might have been 80 and a TD. Third down and Mizutani is sacked by Kapoi and Kekoa Kekumano. Punt snap is way high and it’s out of the end zone for a safety.
Noa hauls in a 23-yard TD pass from Yap to make it 39-17. Noa now with seven catches for 126 yards and 2 TD to get to 1,199 yards this season.
Makekau keeps the drive alive with a 3-yard reception on fourth-and-3. He now has 11 grabs for 169 yards. Mizutani up to 386 passing yards. Five short of the school record held by Reece Foy.
Conor Hannum 16-yard TD reception from Mizutani, who has a school-record 410 passing yards. 39-24, 5:07, Q4.
Noa with a 1-yard reception and he’s at exactly 1,200 receiving yards for the season.
Kamehameha with fourth-and-6 on the ‘Iolani 35. 3:30 remaining. Shannon goes for 15 yards and a first down at the 20. Stack misses a 30-yard field goal and ‘Iolani takes over with 1:57 remaining.
Raiders get the ball back and now have three different receivers over 100 yards for the game.
at Kozuki Stadium
Kamehameha (5-4, 2-4) 7 17 7 8 — 39
‘Iolani (2-7, 0-6) 9 0 8 7 — 24
Iol—FG Keoni-Kordell Makekau 21
Iol—Nick Kennedy 50 pass from Tai-John Mizutani (kick blocked)
KS—Kumoku Noa 66 pass from Brett Yap (Adam Stack kick)
KS—FG Stack 24
KS—Fatu Sua-Godinet 11 run (Stack kick)
KS—Sua-Godinet 72 pass from Yap (Stack kick)
KS—Brayden Miyamoto 15 run (Stack kick)
Iol—Makekau 51 pass from Mizutani (KJ Pascua pass from Mizutani)
KS—Safety, ball snapped out of end zone
KS—Noa 23 pass from Yap (kick failed)
Iol—Conor Hannum 16 pass from Mizutani (Evan Minami kick)
RUSHING—Kamehameha: Koby Ford 15-75, Miyamoto 5-23, Kanoa Shannon 3-19, Sua-Godinet 2-11, Yap 3-1, Matthew Aio 1-0, team 1-(minus 2), Brenen Roberts 1-(minus 9). ‘Iolani: KJ Pascua 14-40, Mizutani 9-(minus 24).
PASSING—Kamehameha: Yap 19-32-1-247, Sua-Godinet 1-1-0-12. ‘Iolani: Mizutani 40-57-1-485.
RECEIVING—Kamehameha: Noa 9-127, Jaykob Cabunoc 6-22, Sua-Godinet 5-110. ‘Iolani: Kennedy 14-159, Makekau 11-169, Hannum 9-107, Tamatane Aga 3-43, Pascua 3-7.
keep it coming!