Posted on: Sunday, August 22, 2004
Skyline topples Kahuku, 27-8
| • | Kamehameha, Baldwin tie |
| • | Pac-Five holds off McKinley in Bray opener |
| • | Punahou hammers Kaua'i, 35-12 |
| • | Saturday's prep results |
| • | Friday results |
By Neil K. Warner
Special to The Advertiser
SALT LAKE CITY — It didn't seem to matter what defense Skyline High School lined up in.
It could have been a 3-4, a 4-3 or an eight-man front, Kahuku proved it could move the ball on Utah's top-ranked team, but there was one thing that did stop the visiting Red Raiders.
Themselves.
Kahuku fumbled on its first four possessions and committed eight turnovers overall to help Skyline post a 27-8 win last night in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 at the University of Utah stadium.
"Any time you play a good program with that many turnovers, there is no way you're going to win the game," said Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai, whose team has won three of the last four Hawai'i championships.
Kahuku fumbled nine times, losing five of those, but none was more costly than a fumbled exchange that was scooped up by Skyline linebacker Ryan Morrow and returned 48 yards for a touchdown to give Skyline a 24-8 lead with 10:45 left in the game.
"Ryan Morrow's fumble return was the key play of the whole game because they had the momentum and they were coming back," Skyline coach Roger DuPaix said. "The visiting team always has trouble. Last time we went to Hawai'i we had scads of turnovers and tonight they had a whole bunch. It's hard to focus on football when you're having a nice time."
Despite its miscues, Kahuku trailed just 18-0 at the half and got a break when Skyline fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half. Suaesi Tuimaunei recovered at the Skyline 20, setting set up a Bronson Ponciano-Ahue touchdown pass to tight end Viliami Tilini from 14 yards on fourth-and-5. Te'o Malosi then ran in the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 18-8.
The Red Raiders had seized the momentum and were moving on Skyline, but they continued to turn the ball over.
An interception stopped Kahuku's next drive and then came the back-breaker. Ponciano-Ahue couldn't get a grip on the snap from center. Morrow scooped up the ball in the middle of the field and returned it for a touchdown.
Any hopes of a Kahuku comeback ended when Tanner Clements intercepted a Ponciano-Ahue pass to set up a 22-yard field goal by Ben Vroman with 8:39 remaining.
"The loss hurts but I tell you the experience those boys had together ...," Livai said. "This is a learning experience for the kids. It's definitely a plus and to play out of state."
Sky—Elliott Clark 15 run (kick failed).
Rushing—Kahuku: Strickland 5-44; Te'o 7-41; Kamuela 6-34; Ponciano-Ahue 3-17; Moors 3-14; Karnuth 1-8; Alo 1-3. Skyline: Stephen Pizza 14-49; Putnam 11-47; Clark 1-15; Taeoalii 3-2; Bronson Duerden 1-1.
Passing—Kahuku: Ponciano-Ahue 7-13-1—75; Kurtney Silva 6-9-1—47; Hyrum Moors 0-1-1—0. Skyline: Putnam 8-11-0—70.
Receiving—Kahuku: Hafoka 3-34; Strickland 1-13; Tilini 1-14; Moors 3-23; Alisa 2-18; Tutor 1-10; Tanuvasa 1-5; Vea 1-5. Skyline: Judd Tolman 4-30; Clark 2-18; Taeoalii 1-6; Scott Stevens 1-16.
Sky—Toa Taeoalii 5 pass from Joey Putnam (Conversion failed)
Sky—Clark 10 pass from Putnam (kick failed).
Kahu—Viliami Tilini 14 pass from Bronson Ponciano-Ahue (Te'o Malosi run).
Sky—Ryan Morrow 48 fumble return (kick failed).
Sky—FG Ben Vroman 22
