Posted on: Sunday, November 23, 2003
Lahainaluna holds off Hawai'i Prep, 21-14
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAILUKU, Maui — Obviously better than its record indicated, Lahainaluna held off Hawai'i Prep, 21-14, last night in a quarterfinal of the First Hawaiian Bank Division II State Football Championships at War Memorial Stadium.
The Lunas (2-7-1) will play 'Aiea (8-2) in one semifinal at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Kamehameha Schools. Damien (4-5) will play Waimea (6-2) at Vidinha Stadium on Kaua'i in the other semifinal that night.
Nahiku Phillips scored two touchdowns, one on a 33-yard reception from Mahi Medeiros, and the other on a 44-yard run, for the Lunas.
"It's like everybody's been underestimating us because of our record," Phillips said. "But week by week, we've improved."
Running back Michael Kopra rushed for 274 yards on 22 carries, including both of HPA's TDs on runs of 24 and 71 yards, for Ka Makani (7-5). Kopra even lined up at quarterback when Mau'ae Purdy got hurt late in the game.
"Kopra's a special kid," HPA coach Tom Goodspeed said. "He (also) plays great linebacker. He's the heart and soul of this football team."
The Lunas set the tempo after taking the opening kickoff to their own 35. They consumed five minutes, 35 seconds in moving 56 yards on 12 plays, taking the lead on Paul Maielua's 27-yard field goal. It was one example of how the Lunas controlled the clock, limiting opportunities for Kopra.
"We couldn't keep giving Kopra the ball," Lahainaluna coach Robert Watson said. "The guy's too explosive."
Ka Makani were penalized seven times for 46 yards.
"For the most part, we shot ourselves in the foot," Goodspeed said. "Penalties killed us on offense. But (Lahainaluna) is a very good football team. They controlled the ball."
After Maielua's field goal, Kopra's 24-yard TD run put HPA ahead 7-3. But the lead was short-lived as the Lunas came back with Medeiros' 33-yard TD. He caught the pass at the 5 and spun out of a tackle to make it 9-7.
Less than a minute later, Kopra scored on a 71-yard run to put HPA ahead 14-9. Just before halftime, Kaniela Tuipulotu scored on a 5-yard run to give the Lunas a 15-14 lead.
Lahainaluna increased its lead with 6:23 left in the game on Phillips' 44-yard TD run.
HPA started a drive at its own 48 after the Lunas fumbled with 4:24 left. Ka Makani drove to the Lahainaluna 10. On fourth-and-9, linebacker Charles Wallace knocked Billy Case III out of bounds at the 5, four yards shy of the first down with 32 seconds left.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
• • •
Lah—FG Paul Maielua 27
RUSHING—HPA: Mau'ae Purdy 12-6, Kopra 22-274, Leighton Hind IV 3-22, Zach Say 3-10, Billy Case III 1-6. Lahainaluna: Mahi Medeiros 6-4, Maielua 10-76, Tuipulutu 4-24, Darren Hirouji 7-27, Phillips 5-55, Carson Chihara 3-5.
PASSING—HPA: Purdy 3-5-1—21, Kopra 1-1-0—13. Lahainaluna: Medeiros 7-14-0—107. Maielua 0-1-0—0, Phillips 0-1-0—0. RECEIVING—HPA: Sparky Springmeier 2-19, Kopra 1-13, Max Harmon 1-2. Lahainaluna: Nahe Akoi 4-52, Phillips 3-55.
NOTE: Senior quarterback Jared Tavares threw an interception in Mililani's 47-12 loss to Saint Louis Friday night. Another quarterback was reported with the interception in yesterday's paper. ... Farrington cornerback Taeao Fagalele's first name was misspelled in yesterday's paper.
HPA—Michael Kopra 24 run (Kopra kick)
Lah—Nahiku Phillips 33 pass from Mahi Medeiros (kick failed)
HPA—Kopra 71 run (Kopra kick)
Lah—Kaniela Tuipuloto 5 run (run failed)
Lah—Phillips 44 run (kick failed)
