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Baldwin finishes perfect title run

Bears beat Sabers for 11th championship in last 12 years

Baldwin High School’s Bishop Wickes tries to break away from Maui High’s Feleti Afemui during the second quarter of the Bears’ win over the Sabers on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

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.

Maui High defenders try to bring down Baldwin quarterback Chayce Akaka in the first quarter Saturday night. The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

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.

The Sabers’ Brandon Watari catches a pass in front of the Bears’ Leroy Mafatini Jr. in the second quarter. The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

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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Maui High’s Hanisi Lotulelei returns a kickoff during the first quarter. The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

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

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