Baldwin finishes perfect title run
Bears beat Sabers for 11th championship in last 12 years
WAILUKU — The Baldwin High School football team has the top-ranked offense in the Maui Interscholastic League, but it was a punt that may have been the key play in Saturday night’s 28-14 victory over Maui High at War Memorial Stadium.
Damien Awai’s booming kick — and two touchdown runs by Chayce Akaka — helped the Bears (8-0, 4-0 MIL second round) finish an unbeaten regular season and secure their 11th Division I state tournament appearance in the last 12 years.
Baldwin is expected to host a state quarterfinal on Nov. 4 as part of a doubleheader with MIL D-II champion Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium.
After the Sabers took advantage of a turnover to move within a touchdown in the third quarter, the Bears were forced to punt on fourth-and-11. Awai unleashed a 73-yard kick that left the Sabers (5-3, 2-2) on their own 6-yard line, and the Bears forced a three-and-out.
A three-play drive followed, with Bishop Wickes scoring on a 15-yard run to push the lead to 21-7 with 3 minutes, 4 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The win was then all but assured when an interception by Jansen Roldan with 6:08 to play gave the Bears the ball on the Sabers’ 32. Awai caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Akaka on fourth-and-1 with 3:30 to play.
Akaka ran for 175 yards and Wickes had 78 rushing yards on 12 carries. Akaka was also 6-for-14 passing for 65 yards.
Maui High’s Hanisi Lotulelei broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds left. He finished with 101 yards on 19 carries to give him 569 yards in his final four high school games.
The Sabers were held to three first downs in the first half, but turned to their top-ranked defense to get back in the game.
On the opening possession of the third quarter, Maui High blitzed Akaka, forcing a fumble that was recovered and returned 15 yards by Josh Shirota to the 7. Two players later, John-Michael Mokiao-Duvauchelle scored on a 3-yard run.
Baldwin needed just four plays to reach the end zone on the game’s opening drive — Akaka broke free down the left sideline on a 48-yard run.
Akaka scored from 16 yards out in the second quarter after escaping pressure on a play that started as a planned pass.
Later in the first half, Akaka broke free for an apparent 43-yard touchdown run, but it was called back on a personal foul penalty on a block. Wickes eventually missed a 43-yard field goal on the final play of the half.
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
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Baldwin 6 8 7 7–28
Maui High 0 0 7 7–14
First Quarter
B–Chayce Akaka 48 run (pass failed), 9:59.
Second Quarter
B–Akaka 16 run (Daniel Corpuz pass from Akaka), 3:52.
Third Quarter
MH–John-Michael Mokiao-Duvauchelle 3 run (Kalia Kapisi kick), 8:43.
B–Bishop Wickes 15 run (Luke Maghanoy kick), 3:04.
Fourth Quarter
B–Damien Awai 9 pass from Akaka (Maghanoy kick), 3:30.
MH–Hanisi Lotulelei 48 run (Kaipisi kick), 0:39.
Junior varsity–Maui High 44, Baldwin 18.
* * *
Friday’s Result
LAHAINALUNA 42, KING KEKAULIKE 0
At Sue Cooley Stadium
King Kekaulike 0 0 0 0– 0
Lahainaluna 15 13 7 7–42
First Quarter
LL–Kawehi Gillcoat 24 pass from Etuati Storer (Siale Hafoka pass from Pablo Rico), 7:32.
LL–Radon Sinenci 5 run (Rico kick), 1:54.
Second Quarter
LL–Sinenci 9 run (Rico kick), 6:23.
LL–Sinenci 1 run (kick failed), 1:48.
Third Quarter
LL–Kamahao Acpal 7 run (Rico kick), 6:14.
Fourth Quarter
LL–Storer 31 interception return (Haaheo Au kick), 4:01.
KK LL
First downs 3 15
Rushes-yards 27-(minus 7) 43-231
Passing yards 6 24
Total offense (minus 1) 255
Return yards 4 95
Comp-Att-Int 1-8-1 1-3-0
Fumbles-lost 3-2 3-2
Penalties-yards 3-15 6-50
Punts-avg 7-28.1 1-46.0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–King Kekaulike, Dylan Poouahi 2-12, Martin Flores 2-3, Earl Naki-Vea 1-3, Cameron Russell 3-(minus 5), team 1-(minus 11), Trey Hunter 18-(minus 9); Lahainaluna, Justice Tihada 6-59, Aliksa Pihda 2-41, David Kawabata 4-35, Donovan Defang 7-29, Lennox Kahahane-Lived 4-20, Sinenci 3-15, Hoaka Phillips 3-11, Acpal 2-11, Nyles Pokipala-Waiohu 2-9, Jesse Dudoit 1-9, Joshua Tihada 1-6, Josiah Sombelon-McEwen 1-3, Tui Lai 1-2, Dean Miyamoto 1-2, Kaimana Mano 1-2, Mystic Kauhaahaa 1-1, Au 1-(minus 3), team 2-(minus 21).
PASSING–King Kekaulike, Hunter 1-6-0-6, Russell 0-2-1-0; Lahainaluna, Storer 1-3-0-24.
RECEIVING–King Kekaulike, Kanoeaukai Gouveia 1-6; Lahainaluna, Gillcoat 1-24.
MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.
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FINAL MIL STANDINGS
OVERALL
DIVISION I
W L Pct PF PA
y-Baldwin 8 0 1.000 233 101
Maui High 5 3 .625 209 97
DIVISION II
W L Pct PF PA
y-Lahainaluna 5 3 .625 209 88
KS Maui 2 6 .250 126 153
King Kekaulike 0 8 .000 12 350
y-won overall league championship
Friday’s Result
Lahainaluna 42, King Kekaulike 0
SECOND ROUND
DIVISION I
W L Pct PF PA
y-Baldwin 4 0 1.000 104 33
Maui High 2 2 .500 97 52
DIVISION II
W L Pct PF PA
y-Lahainaluna 3 1 .750 108 38
KS Maui 1 3 .250 55 75
King Kekaulike 0 4 .000 6 172
Saturday’s Result
Baldwin 28, Maui High 14
End of regular season