McKinley holds off Farrington
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
McKinley High School quarterback Abel Werner completed 22 of 29 passes without an interception for 216 yards and two touchdowns last night to lead the Tigers to a 27-12 victory over Farrington before a crowd of about 3,500 at Roosevelt Stadium.
Werner, a junior, was 12-of-16 in the first half for 129 yards.
The win improved McKinley, ranked No. 6 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll, to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference-East. Farrington fell to 3-3, 2-3.
Werner and the Tigers came out firing from the opening kickoff, driving 80 yards in 10 no-huddle plays before a missed field goal from 33 yards out.
McKinley, however, got the ball back on the Governors' 30-yard line after a Farrington fumble.
The Tigers cashed in on Michael Vasconcellos' 1-yard touchdown plunge with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter.
The Governors responded with a 13-play, 80-yard drive culminating in Matt Bell's 2-yard touchdown run with 6:49 left in the half. Farrington faked the extra point conversion but failed on its two-point pass attempt.
McKinley marched right back after the ensuing kickoff, going 61 yards in eight plays and scoring on Werner's 18-yard pass to Joshua Bumanglag. John Mai's extra point made it 14-6 with 4:01 remaining, and the Tigers held that lead into halftime.
A 40-yard halfback option pass by the Governors' Bell went right through a receiver's hands in the end zone on the half's final play.
Farrington closed to 14-12 with 7:35 left in the game after Dionte Noma'aea's 59-yard touchdown run on an inside reverse, but the Governors' two-point conversion pass was knocked away by McKinley's Tony Mareko.
The Tigers then put together another monster drive, going 74 yards in 12 plays and scoring on Werner's 3-yard touchdown pass to Bumanglag with 3:44 remaining. The extra-point attempt was blocked, but the Tigers' Daniel Desoto intercepted a Farrington pass on the ensuing series and Vasconcellos sealed the game with a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:31 left.
MCKINLEY (4-1, 3-1) 7 7 0 13 — 27
FARRINGTON (3-3, 2-3) 0 6 0 6 — 12
McK — Michael Vasconcellos 1 run (John Mai kick)
Farr — Matt Bell 5 run (pass failed)
McK — Joshua Bumanglag 18 pass from Abel Werner (Mai kick)
Farr — Dionte Noma'aea 59 run (pass failed)
McK — Bumanglag 3 pass from Werner (kick blocked)
McK — Vasconcellos 2 run (Mai kick)
RUSHING — McK: Vasconcellos 15-55, Werner 9-23, Bumanglag 2-11; Farr: Bell 19-99, Royce Machado 9-50, Samson Milo 4-18, Jostin Waialae 3-18, Noma'aea 1-59.
PASSING — McK: Werner 22-29-0-216; Farr: Machado 7-12-1—64, Bell 0-1-0—0.
RECEIVING — McK: Isaiah Iaea 8-88, Iama Lauvao 6-58, Bumanglag 6-52, Vasconcellos 2-17; Farr: Alvin Faumui 2-24, Bell 2-13, Noma'aea 2-13, Chris Feagaimali'i 1-14.
JV score: Farrington 35, McKinley 22.
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