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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, August 30, 2009

Warriors' defense shuts down Seariders


By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAI'ANAE — Kamehameha head coach David Stant expects a lot out of his defensive players.

Last night he got just about everything he could out of them in a defense-dominated 13-0 win over host Wai'anae in a nonleague game at Raymond Torii Field.

The fourth-ranked Warriors improved to 3-0 while allowing just 116 yards of total offense. The Seariders, ranked sixth in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, fell to 1-2.

"A win is a win, but you know, having a defense like ours allows us to take more chances with things like field position," said Stant, a former Kahuku and University of Hawai'i defensive lineman. "I can't say enough about our defense, they're just playing phenomenal right now."

The Warriors' front seven wreaked havoc all night, collecting four sacks, led by Beau Yap's two. Kamehameha also forced and recovered three fumbles and intercepted a pass.

"We know that defensively we pretty much have to set the tone," said Yap, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end. "I would give us a B-grade tonight, but we'll take the win."

Both teams struggled to get things going offensively early on.

The Seariders' defense — which allowed just 82 yards — held on three fourth-down conversion attempts by the Warriors in the first half.

Blaise Cuban returned a Wai'anae punt 54 yards to the Seariders' 20 midway through the first quarter, but the Warriors squandered the opportunity, running twice for no gain and throwing two incompletions — the second coming on fourth-and-10.

Wai'anae went three-and-out on its ensuing drive. Cuban returned the ensuing punt 26 yards to the Seariders' 33-yard line.

Quarterback Christian Akana found tight end Keoni Bush-Loo for a 13-yard gain on first down and Kupono Park got the Warriors on the board with a 6-yard run three plays later. The extra point kick was no good and Kamehameha led 6-0 with 1:54 left in the first quarter.

Wai'anae turned it over on fumbles on its next two offensive plays, but both Kamehameha drives ended in turnovers on downs.

However, the Seariders were deep in their own territory and again forced to punt on fourth down with punter Keoni Napierala-Rose standing five yards deep in his own end zone.

Kamehameha's Kawika Stant blocked the punt and Yap recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.

"We were running a punt block and everyone just executed it perfectly," Yap said. "The ball ended up right in front of me and I just fell on it."

Tarra Gabriel's extra point made it 13-0 with 6:24 left until halftime.

Kamehameha played without standout running back Ryan Ho, an All-Interscholastic League of Honolulu rusher last season.

"We know what Ryan can do, we've seen that in interleague play so far," coach Stant said. "We just wanted to get some of the other guys some looks."

KAMEHAMEHA (3-0) 6 7 0 0 — 13

WAI'ANAE (1-2) 0 0 0 0 — 0

KS — Kupono Park 6 run (kick failed).

KS — Beau Yap recovered blocked punt in end zone (Tarra Gabriel kick).

RUSHING — Kamehameha: Blaise Cuban 1-10, Park 16-33, TC Campbell 5-(minus 18), Charley Bollig IV 1-4, Jason Muraoka 10-44, Alika Bell 1-(minus 2), Michael Kukahiwa-Haruno Jr. 1-(minus 3). Wai'anae: Kanekapila Hussey 2-14, Puletua Wilson 17-6, Keoni Napierala-Rose 7-1, Eleu Wilson 3-7, James Wilson 1-0, Brian Paul Manuel 1-(minus 3), Bronson Barbosa 1-4.

PASSING — Kamehameha: Campbell 3-8-0—(minus 7), Christian Akana 1-2-0—13, Kukahiwa-Haruno 3-6-0—28. Wai'anae: P. Wilson 8-22-1—87.

RECEIVING — Kamehameha: Keanu Haina 1-(minus 10), Keoni Bush-Loo 1-13, Bollig 1-7, Keanu Ruelke 1-5, Muraoka 1-(minus 2), Bell 1-17, Matthew Mitravich 1-4. Wai'anae: Manuel 1-7, J. Wilson 4-53, Napierala-Rose 3-27.

JV score — Kamehameha 20, Wai'anae 14.