Molokai holds off Hana 24-19 to win MIL 8-player football championship
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Molokai held off a comeback by Hana to secure a 24-19 victory Saturday, clinching the Maui Interscholastic League eight-player football championship.
The Farmers jumped out to an 18-0 lead in the first quarter before Hana rallied with 19 unanswered points to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. Molokai answered with a touchdown of its own to regain the lead and secure the victory.
Molokai opened the scoring when Ikua Hanchett ran for an 8-yard touchdown with 7:22 remaining in the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Farmers with a 6-0 lead.
The Farmers extended their advantage less than a minute later when quarterback Makena Kahale connected with Japheth Kaholoaa on a 26-yard touchdown pass at 6:29. Another unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt kept the score at 12-0.
Hanchett added his second touchdown of the quarter on a 1-yard run with 2:16 remaining. The two-point pass attempt failed, but Molokai had built an 18-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Molokai's Ikua Hanchett carries the ball against Hana during a Maui Interscholastic League eight-player football game Oct. 17. Hanchett scored two rushing touchdowns as the Farmers defeated Hana 24-19 to clinch the MIL championship. Courtesy photo
Hana began its comeback early in the second quarter when quarterback Kaya Rodrigues connected with Maui Lind on a 94-yard touchdown pass with 9:47 remaining before halftime. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Molokai ahead 18-6.
Rodrigues added another score on a 2-yard touchdown run at 4:09 in the second quarter. The extra-point kick was successful, cutting Molokai’s lead to 18-13.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, leaving the Farmers with a five-point advantage entering the final period.
Hana took its first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter when Rodrigues connected with Pacific Poe on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 8:58 remaining. The two-point pass attempt failed, leaving Hana ahead 19-18.
Molokai responded less than two minutes later.
Kahale connected with Jereh Kaya Mariano on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 7:01 remaining in the game, putting the Farmers back in front 24-19. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but Molokai held on for the victory.
The win capped a championship season for Molokai, which finished 3-1 in MIL play.
The Farmers opened their league schedule with a 34-28 loss to Lanai on Sept. 5 before bouncing back to defeat the Pine Lads 46-12 on Sept. 12.
Molokai then edged Hana 14-13 in a close contest Sept. 18 at Hana before winning the Oct. 17 rematch to close out its league schedule.
After dropping their season opener, the Farmers won three consecutive games, including two close victories over Hana, to claim the MIL championship.