Recap
Highest score by the Nānākuli varsity football team. No one can ever take that away from you.
Waianae, HI — The Golden Hawks put a beating on visiting McKinley, scoring a school-record 70 points in a win over the Tigers. The previous record of 61 points came in a 61-0 win over Anuenue back in 2014.
“The offense did well,” Nanakuli coach Kili Watson said. “But there’s a lot of things we can fix. We left some points on the field. McKinley came out tough. They’re a well-coached team. Props to them.”
Nanakuli quarterback Keahi Ah Sui found himself involved in six Golden Hawks touchdowns. Three came through the air, as Ah Sui connected with three receivers on scores to go along with 137 passing yards on efficient 12-for-15 passing. Ah Sui also ran in a trio of scores as he led an explosive run game that accumulated 328 yards on the ground. Christian Asinsin led all rushers with 186 yards on 18 carries, with Ah Sui next with 131 yards on 11 carries.
McKinley drew first blood. After a Nanakuli onside kick attempt to start the game, McKinley began its first drive in Golden Hawks territory. Tigers quarterback Dustin Chow quickly took the team into the red zone on a 46-yard catch-and-run to Michael Papa, before finding Papa again for the 6-yard score after just four plays. From that point on, it was all Nanakuli.
Having conceded the opening score, the Golden Hawks proceeded to put up three unanswered touchdowns. Just one play after McKinley’s score, receiver David Kalili dodged and spun his way to a 75-yard kickoff return touchdown. Then the offense got involved, with Ah Sui getting his first rushing touchdown (4 yards) and first passing touchdown (Allen Mahoe III, 25 yards) on consecutive drives . Chow’s 25-yard touchdown connection with Papa broke up the Nanakuli scoring streak, if only briefly. With a 20-14 lead in hand, the Golden Hawks went on another scoring run, starting with Ah Sui’s 20-yard toss to Kalili. Asinsin found the end zone on the next drive with a goal-line carry. Asinsin nearly picked up his second touchdown two drives later, but fumbled on the goal line after a 28-yard run. Offensive lineman Elward Westbrook Jr. was in the right place at the right time to collect the ball for a touchdown. Joseph Lewis IV’s 10-yard touchdown catch from Ah Sui capped off four straight Nanakuli scores.
Mirroring their game-opening score, Chow connected with Papa on a 19-yard pass to close out the half as McKinley limped off the field trailing 50-20 at the halftime break.
Chow completed his third touchdown throw in the third quarter on a 12-yard completion to Papa, but a comeback was not in the cards as his score was answered by three Nanakuli touchdowns. Ah Sui scored on a pair of goal-line QB keepers to open and close the second half. Branztyn Reyes’s 55-yard punt return touchdown in the third quarter made it 64 points and officially broke the school scoring record.
McKinley couldn’t keep up with Nanakuli’s scoring outburst throughout the game, but put up a valiant effort offensively. Chow finished with 324 passing yards on 21-for-44 passing. Chow had four touchdown throws to go with three interceptions.
Jonathan Chen, Star-Advertiser