Action from Lahainaluna’s 28-20 win in a preseason game against perennial BIIF Division 1 power Hilo High School and Francis Wong Stadium in Hilo, Hawaii. The Lunas had scoring opportunities early on but an opportunistic Hilo defense took advantage of Lahainaluna turnovers. On their first drive after a deep pass to Avery Baybayan got the Lunas in the red zone, the Lunas were intercepted in near the goal line. Hilo got on the board first with a 38 yard FG that was questionable, as both officials under the goal posts looked at each other for more than a few seconds before finally signaling a successful field goal. Down 0-3, the Lunas methodically drove down the field, culminating in a 9 yard run up the middle from Kaulana Tihada to give the Lunas a 6-0 lead. The extra point attempt was no good.
The Vikings answered back with a long 56 yard touchdown pass to go back ahead 10-6 with 5:32 left in the half. The Lunas drove down the field but again turned it over in the red zone, this time Anu Kaina tried to power his way in for the touchdown but the ball was knocked loose and recovered in the end zone for touchback.
The defense held and got the ball back with 36 seconds left in the half. The Lunas executed their two minute offense perfectly, culminating in a sweet 15 yard touchdown pass from Lyrik Kahula to Avery Baybayan in the back of the end zone. Anu Kaina converted the 2-point conversion to give the Lunas a 14-10 lead with ___ seconds left in the half.
The Lunas executed onside kick, the ball skipping in and out of the hands of a Hilo player and recovered by Avery Baybayan on the 25 yard line with 5.9 seconds left. Kahula scrambled and got to the sideline a little late to stop the clock on what would have been the final play of the half. But an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called against Hilo and the Lunas were allowed an untimed down with no time on the clock. The Lunas made Hilo pay as Kahula threaded the needle to Ian Cabanilla for a 20 yard touchdown pass. The kick was good and the Lunas had scored 15 points in the final 9.2 seconds of the half to take a 21-10 lead at the half.
Hilo started strong in the 3rd quarter, scoring a touchdown to cut the Lunas’ lead to 21-17. Eventually, the Lunas extended the lead when Ian Cabanilla turned up the jets on a slashing run up the middle for a 47 yard touchdown run with 7:21 left in the game. Hilo tacked on another FG – this one hit the crossbar and went over – to come within 8 at 20-28. But the Lunas’ defense and Kaulana Tihada’s ball-carrying sealed the tough road win for the Lunas.
[Nikon Z9, Nikon 300mm f/2.8, Nikon D4S, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII, Nikon D500, Nikon 28-300mm, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8]