By Wes Nakama
Regardless of its up-and-down season of lopsided wins and losses, Moanalua was able to find consistency Friday in a solid and satisfying Senior Night victory over visiting Wai’anae, 27-13.
Quarterbacks Tyler Gines-Hufana and AJ Withy-Allen combined to throw for 299 yards and three touchdowns without an interception as Na Menehune improved to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in OIA Division I. Wai’anae, which went through a sudden late-week head coaching change, fell to 7-2, 4-2.
A statement by the Wai’anae athletic department posted on social media Friday announced that head coach Vince Nihipali stepped down effective immediately, and assistant Whiston Kaleimamahu would serve as interim head coach.
Despite the shakeup, the Seariders showed up in full force Friday night and even took an early 7-0 lead eight minutes into the game after a five-play, 69-yard drive capped by John Michael Kaio’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Keonakoa Malais. Shawdan Pacheco tacked on the extra point.
Moanalua answered by covering 74 yards in just seven plays culminating in Gines-Hufana’s 3-yard keeper into the end zone. Makani Markle-Kane’s PAT tied the score at 7-7 with 55 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Na Menehune then took the lead for good late in the second quarter after Withy-Allen’s 28-yard scoring pass to La’akea Tapaoan with 2:19 left. The point-after attempt failed, leaving the score at 13-7 at halftime.
Na Menehune coach Keone Batoon said despite the sudden coaching change at Wai’anae, he still expected the Seariders to compete.
“All of their guys came back to play tonight, nobody was out, so I feel like we got them at full strength,” Batoon said. “But we came out with a driven purpose to win for the seniors.”
Moanalua opened the second half with a five-play, 64-yard drive capped by With-Allen’s 28-yard TD pass to Kamuela Farias, and Markle-Kane’s extra point extended the lead to 20-7. Kaio scored on a quarterback sneak on the final play of the third quarter to close it to 20-13, but the PAT attempt was blocked.
Na Menehune then stretched the lead again to 27-13 after Gines-Hufana’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Javian Mizuno with 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. Wai’anae was able to advance to the Moanalua 41-yard line on the ensuing possession, but an illegal forward pass penalty on third down followed by an incompletion killed the drive with 4:15 left and Moanalua was able to run out the clock on the final series.
Out of Na Menehune’s 299 passing yards, 155 of them went to senior receiver Ryder Chang, who made eight catches.
“Props to the Wai’anae boys for getting all that (coaching change distraction) good, and we were just trying to focus on the game (too),” Chang said. “I trust both of our quarterbacks, they’re both great for us … different playing styles, but it all works out for us.”
Photos: Lori McKeown
Mahalo to our sponsors — their support makes it possible for ESPN Honolulu to capture and share the pride, passion, and unforgettable moments of Hawai‘i’s high school sports.
