PUKALANI- The KS Maui Warriors went up against the Maui High Sabers, losing 6-35 in the junior varsity football game at Kana’iaupuni Stadium on the night of their annual homecoming.

The first quarter started with both teams in possession once for four downs each.

Then, the Sabers rushed for four first downs and a gain of 48 yards.

They were into Warrior territory when the Warriors’ Maikaike English hit Saber Sampson Tasini, jarring the ball loose. Freshman Jacob Iaea picked it up, and the Warriors had possession on their own 40-yard line.

That ball was eventually turned over on downs, and on their next possession, the Sabers once again ran the ball in a series of five running plays, ending with Hanisi Lotulele sprinting 18 yards down the sidelines to make the first touchdown of the game a few plays into the second quarter.

After Bryson Morreira’s kick was good for the extra point, the score was 0-7, Sabers.

The rest of the second quarter went in the Sabers’ favor, with them playing six first downs and getting a touchdown by Mcnel Guillerimo in comparison to two first downs and no points for the Warriors.

The Sabers also gained close to 80 yards in comparison to the Warriors who gained only a few yards running, and Kamehameha turned the ball over when Kupono Duarte fumbled a lateral pass that was recovered by Maui High.

The Warriors were very nearly scored on five plays later when a handoff to Guillerimo resulted in a 47-yard run before Kamehameha’s Rayne Poepoe pushed him out of bounds just prior to the goal line in the last seconds of the half.

Gallery • 8 Photos

Photo by Maile Sur

Ekolu Watanabe dodges some Sabers.

In the third and fourth quarters, the Warriors continued their passing game, improving a lot on their pass completion rate.

“He has an arm,” Maikaike English said of the team’s new quarterback, freshman Nevan Watanabe, who has filled the position since Kaulana-Alika Wilhelm was called up to varsity before last week’s game against the Baldwin Bears.

The challenge for the team has been adjusting to Watanabe in the new position.

“Some plays won’t work out like before,” said Aaron Murray, defensive back.

While the Warriors relied on their passing, the Sabers made the most of their game by running.

On their second play of the quarter, the Sabers’ Guillerimo broke free and ran 61-yards for another Maui High touchdown. With the extra point point clearing the goal uprights, the Sabers were ahead 21-0.

The Warriors came back with five first downs on their next possession, picking up yardage with a series of passes, including a 26-yarder to sophomore Covy Cremer.

On a second down on Maui High’s 1-yard line, Watanabe dove between the legs of the Saber defenders after the snap and scored a touchdown for the Warriors. The point after kick went wild, and the score was 21-6, Sabers.

In the fourth quarter, it was more of the same. Two more touchdowns run in for the Sabers — one by Guillerimo and another by Tasini — and another interception, this time by Maui High’s Kainoa Davis.

The Warriors were unable to capitalize on their last possession, and the game ended with the Sabers 35 and Warriors 6.

The JV Warriors are looking forward to making a comeback against King Kekaulike in two weeks. After a bye next week and with a new quarterback at the helm, the Warriors will be anxious for another shot at a win against Nā Aliʻi. They lost, 21-38, in a competitive game in the first round.