Konawaena takes it all the way to beat Aiea on the Ige field goal in the Division I semifinal

Nov. 20-year-old Nakoa Ige Konawaena (10-1) gave up his only lead in the final game of the game when he missed a 20-yard field goal as time expired to set off a wild celebration on the summit of Mauna Loa.

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii—The next time Konawaena coach Brad Uemoto plays a game at July Vates Field, his team will play on turf instead of grass.

“I’m going to take a huge one home with me,” he said, as his feet touched the grass after the Beasts earned one of the biggest wins in school history—a 27-24 come-from-behind victory. Aiea in the Division I semifinals of the First Bank Hawaiian /HHSAA State Championships on Saturday night Nakoa Ige gave Konawaena (10-1) its only lead in the game’s final play with a 20-yard field goal to break the deadlock. celebrated wild beasts on Mauna Loa.

It is finished. NAKOA IGE FROM 20 years ago. KONA AT LAST.- Boy Hull (@billyhull)

“I’m so proud of our kids and their resilience,” Uemoto said. “Underneath it all, we knew we were physically equal. We didn’t want to talk about it. They’re a great physical team. Our kids dug deep and did what they had to do.”

Aiea turned the ball over five times, including twice in the fourth quarter that resulted in Konawaena’s final 10 points, which allowed it to earn its first Division I victory at states and advance to play in the Waipahu final.

“All season we worked hard and figured out what we were going to do and we executed strong tonight,” said sophomore Sedikaiah Anahu-Ambrosio, who had 12 receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-scoring pass from QB Keoki Alani with 5:30 remaining.

Drama on the big island. Sedikaiah Anahu-Ambrosio catches a 7 yard TD from Keoki Alan and we’re tied 24-24 with 5:30 to go — Billy Hull (@billyhull)

Na Alii took the ball and played the ball near midfield when Eli Uemura’s ball popped up without Kaimana Lale-Saole running. It was recovered by Keawe Navas Loa at the Aiea 46 with 2:40 remaining.

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Running back Kawelu Kaiawe, who rushed for 123 yards on 26 carries, ran six times to set up Ige’s game-winning 3-pointer.

“Before this game I was thinking to myself that I was going to go down to the goal line and I just tried to catch my breath and shut everything else out,” Ige said. “After the kick I saw people running towards me screaming and shouting. It felt really good.”

Despite giving up a large size advantage, Konawaena outgained Aiea 379 to 285 in just as many yards and also outgained Na Alii 160 to 139.

Uemura and Anthony Torres each had three tackles for a loss for the Wildcats, who finished with 13 in the game.

Lale-Saole led Aiea with 129 yards on 24 carries, but QB Ezekiel Olie finished 19-for-31 for 146 yards with three interceptions.

“It’s tough. We only had two starters. If you look at it, there’s a lot of injuries, and when you get to the championship, you have to stay healthy,” Aiea coach Wendell Dic said. “(Kona) is a good person. This team has some athletes.”

Alani, who threw 41 touchdown passes in eight regular season games in the BIIF, completed 21-for-38 for 219 yards and two touchdowns with two runners against Aiea (9-4).

“We were kind of getting ahead of ourselves a little bit,” Uemoto said. “We had a game with that deficit throughout, and like I said, I can’t say enough about their resilience.”

Aiea came down the field on his opening drive, needing just seven plays to drive 66 yards with Olie hitting Geronimo Ulgaran for a 16-yard catch and a TD run for the first lead.

After a pair of interceptions on consecutive plays by Konawaena’s AJ Blanco and Aiea Keoki Stephens, the Na Alii took a 10-0 lead on Bryson Boyea Quiton’s 37-yard field goal.

Kaiawe’s 40-yard TD run made it 10-7 after the opening 12 minutes.

Na Ali kept the Wildcats in the game with a bunch of mistakes in a sloppy second half.

Aiea tried to run a fake punt on fourth-and-6 at his own 41 that went nowhere. Konawaena was unable to capitalize when Alani was intercepted by Aizik Mahuka inside the red zone, but Wildcats senior Ro’onui Satta Ellis won it back for the home team when he pounced on an interception on a high ball up the middle for Jayden Chanel. for Aeaea is the second first material.

Ezra Nahoopii-Makakona used a short field following Konawaena’s punt and scored on a 6-yard TD to bring the Na Alii push back to double digits 17-7.

Mistakes again derailed Na Alii as Alani found in the fourth and 3 Anahu-Ambrosio, who was able to break several tackles and cut it into a touchdown basket of 45 to cut the lead to 17-14.

Ige kicked a 33-yard field goal to tie the game at halftime.

Aiea forced a three and a half second down and scored when Eric Saau overshadowed a punt by Chanel and returned it for a TD.