KSM wins in blowout
PUKALANI — It was senior night for the Kamehameha Schools Maui football team and several Warriors 12th-graders went out with a bang.
Senior quarterback Tiliti Adams passed for a Maui Interscholastic League-record seven touchdowns — including six touchdowns and 280 yards in the first half — and the Warriors rolled to a 51-14 win over King Kekaulike at Kanaiaupuni Stadium.
The result lifted the Warriors to 4-3 in the Maui Interscholastic League and kept their slim postseason hopes alive at 2-1 in the second round. Na Alii fell to 2-4, 1-1.
The Warriors lost a tough decision to Lahainaluna 31-17 last week. They said goodbye to 20 seniors on Friday.
“Tiliti had a big night and our offense had a big night,” Kamehameha Maui coach Ulima Afoa said. “Our seniors had a big night. It’s good, it’s a good way to bounce back from last week. It’s a good way to head into next week.”
Makani Smith-Kemfort caught seven passes for 124 yards and three touchdowns, Ezekiel Weber caught four passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, Karsyn Pupunu caught five passes for 83 yards, and C.J. Hamsaki caught three passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns. All are seniors.
Adams finished 19-for-25 passing for seven touchdowns, no interceptions and 358 yards in the air. He also ran five times for 41 yards.
“It feels nice because it’s our senior night,” Adams said. “I like to end it like that over here with a good game.”
The Warriors took total control in the first quarter when Adams passed for 184 yards and four touchdowns. He added two more scoring passes in the second quarter and finished the first half with 280 yards in the air.
His six touchdown passes in the half tied an MIL record set in 2006 by Baldwin’s Jordan Helle against Pac-3. The six TD passes were also the single-game MIL record until Adams’ big night.
All seven touchdown passes going to seniors put a smile on Adams’ face.
“I’m just so thankful right now,” Adams said.
The onslaught began when Adams hit Weber for a 23-yard score less than 2 minutes into the game. That capped a five-play, 88-yard drive. Weber also had a 37-yard catch and Pupunu a 33-yard reception on the possession.
The next time the Warriors got the ball back they went 67 yards in three plays, scoring on an 11-yard pass from Adams to Hamasaki. That possession started with a 40-yard scramble by Adams.
After forcing a three-and-out possession on defense, the Warriors got the ball back and quickly made it 21-0 on a one-play drive — a 37-yard scoring pass from Adams to Weber — that was set up by a 44-yard punt return by Kapena Gushiken.
Two plays later, Kamehameha Maui’s Elijah Uwekoolani recovered a fumble. Two plays after that, Smith-Kemfort caught a 27-yard scoring pass from Adams to make it 28-0 with 2:40 left in the first quarter.
On their next possession, the Warriors went 66 yards in nine plays and scored on a 19-yard Adams pass to Smith-Kemfort — the extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving the score 34-0 with 9:01 left in the first half.
King Kekaulike got on the scoreboard after a six-play, 50-yard drive that was capped by a 27-yard scoring pass from Franco Melgar Martich to Kainalu Pahia with 4:27 left in the first half.
Smith-Kemfort caught his third scoring pass of the first half on a 9-yard strike from Adams with 1:44 left in the second quarter. Smith-Kemfort caught three passes on the drive for 61 yards.
Hamasaki picked up a short kickoff to King Kekaulike to start the second half at Na Alii’s 15-yard line. Moments later, Hao Awai made a 35-yard field goal to make it 44-7 and turn on the mercy-rule running clock with 10:17 left in the third quarter.
Hamasaki caught his final touchdown pass from Adams, a 17-yarder, to make it 51-7 with 11:29 to play.
Melgar Martich dove in from the 4 for a King Kekaulike touchdown with six seconds to go to wrap up the scoring.
King Kekaulike coach Tyson Valle was not available for comment after the game before The Maui News’ deadline.
“All around, I’m very happy for our seniors,” Afoa said. “We had a big senior class and they showed up to play tonight.”
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
King Kekaulike 0 7 0 7–14
KS Maui 28 13 3 7–51
First Quarter
KSM–Ezekiel Weber 23 pass from Tiliti Adams (Hao Awai kick), 10:10.
KSM–C.J. Hamasaki 11 pass from Adams (Awai kick), 5:38.
KSM–Weber 37 from Adams (Awai kick), 3:23.
KSM–Makani Smith-Kemfort 27 pass from Adams (Awai kick), 2:40.
Second Quarter
KSM–Smith-Kemfort 19 pass from Adams (kick blocked), 9:01.
KK–Kainalu Pahia 27 pass from Franco Melgar Martich (Thor Ventura kick), 4:27.
KSM–Smith-Kemfort 9 pass from Adams (Awai kick), 1:44.
Third Quarter
KSM–FG Awai 35, 10:17.
Fourth Quarter
KSM–Hamasaki 17 pass from Adams (Awai kick), 11:29.
KK–Melgar Martich 4 run (Ventura kick), 0:06.
Junior varsity–King Kekaulike 31, Kamehameha Maui 16.
MIL Standings
SECOND ROUND
(Overall MIL records in parentheses)
DIVISION I
W L Pct PF PA
x-Baldwin (3-2) 0 1 .000 14 26
Maui High (0-6) 0 2 .000 40 54
DIVISION II
W L Pct PF PA
x-Lahainaluna (6-0) 2 0 1.000 57 31
KS Maui (4-3) 2 1 .667 92 58
King Kekaulike (2-4) 1 1 .500 44 78
x-won first round
Friday’s Result
Kamehameha Maui 51, King Kekaulike 14
Today’s Game
Maui High vs. Baldwin at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 18
Baldwin vs. Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19
King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m