Posted on: Saturday, October 30, 2004
Kahuku too much for 'Aiea in 32-8 victory
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Bronson Ponciano-Ahue passed for 147 yards, including four touchdowns to Spencer Hafoka, leading top-ranked Kahuku over 'Aiea, 32-8, last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference quarterfinal at Aloha Stadium.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Both players were among a number of Red Raiders to sit the regular-season finale in a 46-0 win against Kailua two weeks ago.
Hafoka had nine receptions for 171 yards. His four TD catches matched his season total entering the game.
Ponciano-Ahue had missed the last four games because of injury.
"'Aiea did a good job on our running game, so we had to look to the outside to Spencer," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "We always take what they give us."
Running back Micah Strickland, who has 801 yards on the season, did not play because of a shoulder injury, Livai said.
Without Strickland, the Red Raiders rushed for 135 yards.
Even reserve QB Jacob Kahawai'i got into the act, throwing a 13-yard TD pass to Viliami Tilini in the fourth quarter, just after 'Aiea had scored.
The Red Raiders converted 4 of 7 fourth-down conversions in the first half in taking a 12-0 lead. Both scores, TD passes of 23 and 17 yards from Ponciano-Ahue to Hafoka, came on fourth down. A fake punt by Lau Kauvaka netted 23 yards and a first down to prolong one of the scoring drives.
On the first score, Hafoka, an all-state receiver, broke two tackles at about the 15 on fourth-and-7 to put Kahuku up 6-0; a PAT kick failed.
On the Red Raiders' next series, they faced fourth-and-4 from their 38. But Kauvaka dodged a rusher on his left and scampered to the 'Aiea 39. Six plays later, on fourth-and-14, Ponciano-Ahue hit Hafoka on a fade to the right for a TD with 9:51 left in the half. A pass play on the 2-point conversion failed to keep it 12-0.
'Aiea's defense played Kahuku strong, but its offense could not generate much. It eventually cost Na Ali'i, who gave up 20 second-half points.
Na Ali'i averted a shutout early in the fourth quarter when running back Donny Mapusaga scored from two yards and then caught a 2-point conversion pass from Kali Kuia. Mapusaga led 'Aiea with 71 yards on 16 carries.
KAHUKU (8-1) 6 6 14 6—32 Kah—Spencer Hafoka 23 pass from Bronson Ponciano-Ahue (kick failed)
Kah—Hafoka 17 pass from Ponciano-Ahue (pass failed)
Kah—Hafoka 26 pass from Ponciano-Ahue (pass failed)
Kah—Hafoka 22 pass from Ponciano-Ahue (Ponciano-Ahue pass from Hyrum Moors)
'Aiea—Donny Mapusaga 2 run (Mapusaga pass from Kali Kuia)
Kah—Viliami Tilini 13 pass from Jacob Kahawai'i (kick failed)
RUSHING—'Aiea: Kuia 3-(minus 8), Mapusaga 16-71, Aleni Loa 2-0, C.J. Tausaga 3-20, Kapena Fonseca 1-(minus 11). Kahuku: Ponciano-Ahue 1-0, Kamuela Alisa 11-36 , Siaosi Lauhingoa 3-1, Hafoka 1-1, Simi Alo 5-43, Hyrum Moors 7-28, Jonathan Rickertson 3-3.
PASSING—Aiea: Kuia 17-26-2—119, Ian Dela Cuesa 2-6-1—8. Kahuku: Ponciano-Ahue 9-19-2—147, Hafoka 0-1-0—0, Kahawai'i 2-3-0—46.
RECEIVING—'Aiea: Ian Dela Cuesta 3-21, Lahaina Olsen-Kuroda 4-16, Mapusaga 3-11, Josh Blakemore 2-24, Teavaiki Vaa 5-35, Terrance Blakemore 2-20. Kahuku: Hafoka 9-171 , Redmond Tutor 1-9, Tilini 1-13.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
The Red Raiders (9-1) will face the winner of tonight's quarterfinal between Farrington and Leilehua in a semifinal next week. The season has ended for Na Ali'i (5-5).
Kahuku defensive lineman B.J. Beatty tackles 'Aiea slotback Ian Dela Cuesta in the first quarter at Aloha Stadium. The top-ranked Red Raiders won the OIA Red Conference quarterfinal game, 32-8.
'AIEA (5-5) 0 0 0 8— 8
