Action from Lahainaluna’s 17-10 win over Maui High in the MIL season opener at Sue D. Cooley Stadium in Lahainaluna. It was a defensive struggle all night. The Lunas took the lead 3-0 on a 22 yard field goal from Owen Garcia-Olea with 5:33 left in the 1st. Maui High tacked on a field goal from 27 yards out in the second quarter to tie it up at 3 as the teams went into halftime. The Lunas’ o-line came out inspired, helping the Lunas drive down the field for a touchdown, a 24 yard strike from Noa Gordon to a wide open Kainoa Keanini. The kick failed, but the Lunas led 9-3.a On its next possession, Lahainaluna again scored, this time Kaulana Tihada plunged in from 1 yard out, then added the 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 17-3. On the ensuing kickoff, however, Maui’s Keoni Ihu-Rodriguez initially bobbled the kickoff, but recovered and ran 91 yards for a touchdown to come within 17-10. On the next drive the Lunas turned it over as Maui High intercepted a Noa Gordon pass. A penalty on the Lunas gave the Sabers first down at the Lunas’ 14 yard line. The Sabers had the ball with first and goal from the 4 yard line. Two sneaks from the Sabers’ quarterback Evan Tarasenko got the Sabers to the 1 yard line. In an epic goal line stand, the Lunas defensive line – clearly undersized against Maui High’s massive offensive line – held. On 3rd and 1, Jaysen Akahi-Vida plugged the gap and held up Tarasenko at the line and tackled him into the backfield. After a Sabers time out, on 4th and 1, the Sabers decided to go around the right side, but the Lunas line got penetration and Kuola Watson snuck in to get Kupono Soberano’s legs while Anu Kaina and Kade Cunningham tackled him up top and prevented him from crossing the goal line. The Lunas held on to win 17-10.
According to the Maui News, the Lunas only had 24 yards of total offense in the first half to Maui’s 92 (which included a 44 yard pass), but the Lunas turned that around with a 149-21 yard advantage in the second half.
[Nikon Z9, Nikon 300mm f/2.8; Nikon D4S, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8; Nikon D500, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8]