Kaimuki squeaks by McKinley in opening night flag football duel

HONOLULU – One score is all it takes. 

At least, that was the case for Kaimuki against McKinley on Tuesday night as the Bulldogs took down the Tigers, 6-2. The game was the second of a doubleheader at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium as the 2025 OIA girls’ flag football season kicked off all over O’ahu, following up Moanalua’s 44-0 victory over Roosevelt. 

Sonja Ammons snared the game-winning touchdown for the Bulldogs at the start of the fourth quarter, working herself open to catch versatile freshman Honey Kuiee-Matias’ only passing attempt of the night for the 1-yard score. Kuiee-Matias had a pair of catches for 21 yards to go along with her touchdown pass, earning HSRN’s “Fun Factory VIP of the Game” honor as she chipped in with multiple defensive plays in the win as well. 

Kaimuki senior Angel Joy Agrippa led the Bulldogs’ receivers with 39 yards spread across three catches while Ammons recorded a trio of receptions for 20 yards and the lone touchdown of the game. Freshman QB Taimane Nahinu completed 8-of-16 passes for 84 yards in the victory for the Bulldogs, though she was also intercepted twice. 

McKinley and Kaimuki combined for five interceptions in total, showing off the defensive chops from opening possession. The sides traded stops throughout the entirety of the first three quarters, entering the final 12 minutes without any score. 

Kaimuki finally broke through as the fourth quarter began, finishing a drive for the only time all night as Kuiee-Matias went into the backfield and tossed the rock over the middle of the field and by a bevy of defenders to an open Ammons to put the Bulldogs up 6-0 with 10 minutes left in regulation. 

It appeared as though Kaimuki clinched the win when Asomailu Kerman intercepted McKinley QB Ayva Walthall at the goal line with under three minutes to play, but an errant snap over Nahinu’s head resulted in a safety and provided new life to the Tigers with one final possession and 1:10 to work. 

The Kaimuki defense held strong though, forcing a turnover-on-downs as time expired to hold on against McKinley, 6-2. The teams combined for 243 yards of total offense, flexing the defensive might all night to open the 2025 season. 

Kaimuki huddles during a tightly-contested victory over McKinley to begin the 2025 OIA girls’ flag football season. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

McKinley’s Walthall turned in a strong effort despite the loss, completing 7-of-10 passes for 50 yards through the air while running for a game-high 67 yards on the ground. The senior split quarterback duties with freshman Maryan Tagalicod, who went 5-for-11 passing for 36 yards and two interceptions in her first action on the gridiron for the Tigers. 

Kaimuki (1-0) will return to action again on Friday, facing off against Roosevelt (0-1) at Moanalua High School in the first game of a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. while McKinley (0-1) takes the field on Saturday with eyes on redemption against Anuenue at Kailua High School with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.