The Lahainaluna football team demonstrated a strong running game in a 48-21 win over King Kekaulike High School at Lahainaluna Stadium on Friday.

Lunas’ Kyle Thomas ran for 227 yards and four touchdowns, and running back Ezekiel Opunui ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the Lahainaluna victory.

Luna’s coach Dean Ricard said Thomas, who wants to play at the college level, has shown strength running through the defensive line, as well as stopping and shifting with sudden bursts of speed.

Besides playing both ways as a defensive corner safety, he also is a sprinter in high school track.

“He’s one of the stronger players,” Ricard said.

Lahainaluna came out fast and scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, compared to one for King Kekaulike. The Lunas defense held Kekaulike scoreless in the second and third quarters.

Kekaulike quarterback Kingston Goliday threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and Wayne Kahula ran for 27 yards and one touchdown.

Lahainaluna has a 1-2 record, and King Kekaulike has a 3-1.

Other MIL action

In another Maui Interscholastic League football game, Kamehameha Maui kept Maui High scoreless in a 42-0 win Saturday.

Kamehameha Maui quarterback Kekoa Keau-Davis passed for 145 yards and ran for 71 yards to score two touchdowns, and Kamehameha Maui’s Zedekaiah Campbell had a 95-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.

Kamehameha Maui running backs Xander Pagan and Nakoa Pau each scored a touchdown.

In an 11 player football non-conference competition, the Molokai Farmers defeated Ka’u High School, 37-22 Saturday.

Coming up

The Baldwin Bears will return to the field to play King Kekaulike at 7 p.m. Friday at King Kekaulike.

King Kekaulike’s aerial attack has been strong so far this season, as quarterback Kingston Goliday has thrown for more than 150 yards in the last two games.

Baldwin currently has a 1-1 record.

On Saturday, Maui High will play against Lahainaluna at 7 p.m. in Lahaina.

In an eight-player competition, the Hana Dragons will play the Molokai Farmers at Molokai at 10 a.m. Saturday.