Warriors top Nā Aliʻi in homecoming game
Photo by Kimani Fernandez-Roy
Damon Martin (#28) gallops over a Nā Aliʻi defender and into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown during the first half of the Kamehameha Maui homecoming game against King Kekaulike, Sept. 23, at Kana’iaupuni Stadium. The Warriors won 38-0.
With the roar of a pumped up homecoming crowd at their backs, the Kamehameha Maui Warriors football team shut out Nā Aliʻi, 38-0, last night at Kanaʻiaupuni Stadium. Even with a few turnovers, momentum never seemed to leave their side throughout the game.
Kamehameha Maui came out strong scoring on their first drive with a run by Damon Martin making it a 6-0 deficit for Nā Aliʻi early after kicker Kealaula Keliʻikoa’s kick went wide. The Warriors would later recover that extra point with a successful 2-point conversion thrown by Kainoa Sanchez to Nathan Facuri after another touchdown run by Martin who had a total of three the entire game and was the game’s leading rusher.
The stadium was filled with the screams of classmates, alumni, and other fans of all ages.
“The crowd is, like, one of our biggest assets in winning a game,” Martin said. He gave a huge amount of credit to the fans for helping the team get hyped for the game.
Assistant coach Brian Harris also said, “I think our boys fed off of that [crowd].”
The Warriors finished the first half up 17-0 over Nā Aliʻi, having added a field goal to the total points in the middle of the second quarter.
The energy of the crowd did not fade as the boys headed to the locker room, however, as halftime consisted of a dance put on by the varsity cheer squad as well as a parade that included groups of elementary and middle school students and a float and banner from each high school grade level.
The Kamehameha Maui Warriors then came out of halftime even more energized and ready for the second half, and they scored three more times with touchdowns by Martin, who ran for 68 yards on the play; sophomore Tristan Catan, who carried the ball in from the red zone; and junior Tyerell Baldonado-Kaleiopu, who sprinted 30 yards for the score.
Nā Aliʻi put up a fight getting two interceptions; nonetheless, the Warriors were able to “play as one family, one team,” said defenseman Jayden Delatori.
Kamehameha Maui Warriors take a break on the bench while waiting for an injured member of Nā Aliʻi to be tended to.
Though the Warriors got the win last night, “Thereʻs some things they need to clean up,” coach Harris said.
With a record of 2-3 on the season, Kamehameha Maui is continuing to work hard to “clean up” those things before their next game, Sept. 30, against Baldwin High School at War Memorial Stadium.
