Kalaheo completes 27-13 comeback to win first D-II title
Senior running back Marquez Mellor rushed for 129 yards as the Mustangs overcame a 13-7 halftime deficit against Kaiser.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Kalaheo High School football players filled a gap in their program's history on Thursday night by winning the OIA Division II championship. The Mustangs defeated Kaiser 27-13 in a game that featured a second-half turnaround after they trailed by six points at the half.
Kalaheo coach Jaymason Lee credited his players for persevering against a disciplined Kaiser defense. Lee, who was a standout quarterback at Castle, has led the Mustangs for three years. He said the team focused on selfless play and taking care of the players, noting that the football would take care of itself.
Senior running back Marquez Mellor carried the ball 19 times for 129 yards. He scored on runs of 5 and 50 yards. Mellor acknowledged that Kaiser loaded the box to stop the run early in the game. He said the passing game by quarterback Loch Moorman opened up the running lanes, and he praised the offensive line for their effort.
Kaiser took an early lead with a 27-yard pass from Koa Reis to Leon Martin, followed by a 6-yard run by Reis. The Cougars held a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. Kalaheo tied the game at 7-7 with 5:03 left in the first half when Zayne Farley caught a 69-yard touchdown pass from Moorman.
Kaiser re-established its lead just before halftime. Koa Reis threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Pada with 14 seconds remaining in the first half. The score was 13-7 in favor of the Cougars at the break. Kaiser finished the first half with 166 total yards of offense and no turnovers.
In the third quarter, Kalaheo drove 80 yards in 16 plays to take a 14-13 lead. Mellor scored on a 5-yard run to complete the drive. Later in the game, Mellor broke through the left tackle for a 50-yard touchdown run, extending the Mustangs' lead to 21-13 with 6:46 remaining.
With 1:28 left in the game, Kaiser was at its own 2-yard line. Kalaheo defender Nainoa October sacked Kaiser quarterback Koa Reis. The fumble was recovered by Caynin Makainai-Maiava in the end zone for a touchdown, making the final score 27-13. It was the first OIA Division II title for Kalaheo.
