Hawaii, Schager runs over Nevada in 34-13 homecoming win

Hawaii, Schager runs over Nevada in 34-13 homecoming win

Oct 26, 2024

All smiles for Brayden Schager after he ran in his second rushing TD of the game to give Hawai’i a 14-0 lead over Nevada. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN

Hawaii, Schager runs over Nevada in 34-13 homecoming win

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO| HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 26, 2024

MANOA — The Hawai’i football team’s offense is called the RUN-and-shoot after all.

Quarterback Brayden Schager ran for four touchdowns and 120 of the Rainbow Warriors’ season-high 242 rushing yards as Hawai’i rumbled to a 34-13 win over Nevada on homecoming Saturday night at the T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak by the Rainbow Warriors as they improved to 3-5 while notching their first win in Mountain West play and their first win over an FBS opponent this season. They also held a 17-0 halftime lead over the Wolf Pack (3-6), who were also seeking their first win in the conference play in 2024.

“It’s huge,” Schager said of getting back into the win column.

“We got a good football team in that locker room. We just haven’t really showed it yet a whole lot. Tonight gives us, our whole team, offense and defense, special teams, everybody confidence that we can do it at a high level. We just have to go and put it out there. We’ve been in games and we just haven’t been able to capitalize and finish. Tonight we did a great job of that.”

Schager, who extended his school-record streak of 30 straight starts at QB, also joined Glenn Freitas and Ivin Jasper as the only other Hawai’i QBs to score four rushing TDs. His 120 yards on the ground on 19 attempts was a career-best.

He had a pair of 1-yard sneaks in the first quarter to give Hawai’i an early 14-0 lead. Nevada would find the end zone on a 63-yard TD pass on the second play of the second half before a QB draw with under two minutes to play in the third quarter pushed the Rainbow Warriors’ advantage to 24-7.

Schager also scored on a 6-yard read-option keeper early in the fourth quarter and had a 46-yard run late in the game to set up the final points of the night by Kansei Matsuzawa on a 30-yard field goal.

“When we get an O-line playing that well, moving the ball, just moving them at will in the run game, I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Schager said of his rushing performance.

The senior QB was just 14 of 25 passing for season-low 153 yards and one interception, but wasn’t concerned over the diminished numbers through the airwaves.

“It still have a lot of confidence in our pass game and our receivers and myself. We’ll get back on track there, but if we can run the ball the way we did tonight, you can’t be stopped.”

The grounded approach by Hawai’i was felt on its opening drive with running back Landon Sims (nine carries, 82 yards) taking his first carry for 20 yards and had another big run to the Nevada 1-yard line. Penalties wiped out a Schager-TD on a keeper, but the Rainbow Warriors kept pounding the rock before their senior signal-caller scored on a sneak.

It was the third time in five home games that Hawai’i has scored on its opening possession.

The offensive numbers for both teams would indicate that it was a much closer game with the Rainbow Warriors gaining 395 yards to the Wolf Pack’s 380, but the Hawai’i defense forced a pair of turnover on downs and a missed 46-yard field goal try in the first half to blank Nevada in the first 30 minutes of play.

Hawai’i also prevented points in the second half thanks to an interception by Nalu Emerson on Nevada’s final play from scrimmage and a forced fumble by Cam Stone that was recovered by Meki Pei to set up Matsuzawa’s second field goal of the night.

“It’s a good team win. Anytime you can win it’s a good feeling,” said Hawai’i coach Timmy Chang.

“Defense played well the first half getting the stops that we needed. I thought they did a good job of stopping the run and rallying around and tackling the football. I think (Nevada) kind of changed what they had to do in the second half being down as well, but they responded really well and they got the turnovers needed when they needed to.”

Next up for the Rainbow Warriors is a road game at Fresno State (5-3) on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. HST.

Konawaena’s Anahu-Ambrosio makes trip back home to the islands for Nevada vs. Hawai’i

Konawaena’s Anahu-Ambrosio makes trip back home to the islands for Nevada vs. Hawai’i

Oct 25, 2024

 
 

Konawaena alumnus Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio is making the trip back home to the islands this weekend as the Wolf Pack take on Hawai’i Saturday night. | via @hezekiahaa on Instagram

Konawaena’s Anahu-Ambrosio makes trip back home to the islands for Nevada vs. Hawai’i

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 25, 2024

Konawaena alumnus Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio did not have the most ideal high school football career.

A global pandemic wiped out his sophomore season, ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions influenced a move to a different state when he was a junior and a season-ending injury a few games into his senior year cut his playing days as a Wildcat prematurely.

But none of that could stop Anahu-Ambrosio from living out his dream of playing college football.

The redshirt freshman is one of three players that graduated from a Hawai’i high school that made the trip as members of the Nevada Wolf Pack as they prepare to take on the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Saturday night at the T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

Anahu-Ambrosio said he is looking forward to the experience of playing in the 50th state with familiar faces in the crowd.

“It’s such an amazing feeling coming back to Hawai’i to play in front of friends and family,” he said. “The energy and love from the hometown crowd just makes it so special.”

The 5-foot-11, 209-pound linebacker made his collegiate debut in early September against Georgia Southern when he played on special teams.

Konawaena coach Brad Uemoto, who coached Anahu-Ambrosio in 2019 and 2022, knew from the very beginning that Anahu-Ambrosio had what it took to play collegiate football.

Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio makes a reception against Waiakea during the 2022 BIIF regular season. | Brien Ing/ScoringLive

“You could tell that Heze was a special player from when he was really young,” said Uemoto. “He had a different work ethic than the rest of the kids and he was physically dominant.”

Anahu-Ambrosio was also the first player to start as a freshman for the Wildcats since they moved up from Division II to Division I in 2019. He was the team’s leading rusher as a freshman while also playing multiple positions and helped the Wildcats reach the league’s title game.

“As a freshman, his first game was against nationally-ranked Mission Viejo,” Uemoto said of Anahu-Ambrosio. “He competed and didn’t back down from anyone. Scored a receiving touchdown while starting both ways.”

The COVID-19 pandemic saw Anahu-Ambrosio play his junior season at Timpview in Provo, Utah where he recorded 94 tackles with nine sacks before he transferred back to Konawaena with younger brother Zedekiah in 2022.

“He came back to Konawaena his senior year as one of our leaders,” said Uemoto. “He had a previous stint with us as a freshman and earned his place in our program. When he came back for his senior season, he was a team captain, two-way starter at four different positions.”

A knee injury a few games into the 2022 season cut his senior year short however. Uemoto recalled that emotional moment, but knew Anahu-Ambrosio’s football career would not end there.

“His injury was a huge blow to our team. When I walked out there, he was obviously hurt, but he refused to get carted off. I remember him telling me ‘coach, I’m going to walk off.’ I helped pick him up and I just remember holding back my emotions knowing he was probably done. I told him later he had a lot more football in his career. I just knew he had it in him to rebound and be even better.”

Ahead of Nevada’s game against Hawai’i this weekend, Anahu-Ambrosio said that he misses the local food and the ‘laid-back vibe that you just can’t find anywhere else.’ But he stressed that this trip is all business.

“Going into the game against a tough Hawai’i team, I gotta keep my mindset sharp and stay focused,” he said. “Right now I’m focused on my role and doing my best to contribute to the team’s success.”

Also making the trip with Anahu-Ambrosio is quarterback AJ Bianco, a redshirt sophomore out of Saint Louis, and redshirt freshman Josiah Timoteo on the offensive line. Other local players on the roster include former Lahainaluna running back Josh Tihada and defensive lineman Zaiden Wallace, a recent graduate of Campbell.

“Having those guys from the islands around is awesome,” said Anahu-Ambrosio. “It really brings a sense of home to the team.”

Kickoff between the Wolf Pack and Rainbow Warriors is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Menes are queens of the OIA once again

Menes are queens of the OIA once again

Oct 24, 2024

 

The Moanalua Na Menehune sing their alma mater after defeating Kapolei for the OIA Division I championship. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN

Menes are queens of the OIA once again

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 24, 2024

MILILANI — Standing on business.

One year after falling short in the OIA championship, Moanalua is back atop the mountain top after besting Kapolei in four sets, 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 22-14, Wednesday night in the league’s Division I title match.

It was the team’s sixth OIA crown and the first since 2017.

“Every single day at practice, we remembered that and we are like, ‘Hey, that’s not happening this year. This title is ours,’ and that really reflected in our practices,” said senior Zaria Queen, who is committed to play for Stanford.

Queen was one of two players to put down 17 kills for Moanalua and was selected as the HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop.

She said that their goal to get back and win the championship never wavered throughout the season.

“There was no time that we were slacking off, we were holding each other accountable to make sure that when we got to this, we could take care of business,” said Queen.

Fellow senior Jerney Tang-Silva also finished with 17 kills while senior transfer from Damien Kaila Kalama-Bajet stuffed the stat sheet with 26 assists, 12 digs and 11 kills.

“We really wanted it this year and we were all mentally focused from the get go. Ever since preseason we knew that we wanted to be in this OIA championship and we wanted to push ourselves to be the best that we could be, so all the girls, I’m really thankful that we all had that one goal in mind ever since last year,” said Tang-Silva, who also came up with eight digs and was in on three blocks.

Freshman Surfia Grounds put down seven kills off the bench and middle Chloe Fukumitsu had six kills and four blocks to round out the attack for Moanalua (13-0).

“I think that’s a big thing with our team, we have so many weapons from front row to back row so everyone is a threat and so the other side never knows where the ball is going to go and everyone has their nights where they’re killing it and it’s always someone different, so I think that’s a really big part of why we were able to do this tonight,” Queen said.

The Hurricanes (11-2), who were seeking their second OIA title and first since 2008, were led by Leila Paraoan’s 21 kills in the loss.

Kapolei sophomore Anny Scott also had a near triple-double with 26 assists, 12 digs and nine kills after appearing to roll her ankle towards the end of the first set.

Both teams already clinched spots into next week’s New City Nissan Division I state tournament and will be two of five squads representing the OIA.

The Hurricanes will host Mililani on Monday while Moanalua has a bye through next Thursday and will play the winner between Waiakea and Kalaheo in the second quarterfinal match at Kamehameha.

Castle wins first OIA girls volleyball championship in 35 years

Castle wins first OIA girls volleyball championship in 35 years

Oct 24, 2024

 

The Lady Knights pose for a photo after winning the OIA Division II Girls Volleyball Championship. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN.

Castle wins first OIA girls volleyball championship in 35 years

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 24, 2024

MILILANI — The drought is over.

Castle won its first OIA girls volleyball title since 1989 after besting Farrington in four sets Wednesday night in the league’s Division II championship match.

Seniors Trystin Lum and Emily Robins put down 19 and 17 kills respectively to help the Knights (8-4) come away with a 25-15, 17-25, 25-15, 25-17 victory for the team’s fourth OIA crown in school history.

It was a championship run that was fueled by a senior class of nine players that came up short to eventual OIA champion Waialua in the playoffs the past two seasons.

“We didn’t want to let down and we knew that we’ve been fighting for this the past three years and every year we came up short and we knew that this was our year to take it,” senior setter Lehiwa Kapu said. “It feels amazing because we’ve been fighting for this for three years and we finally became D2 champions.”

Kapu finished with 41 assists, seven digs, four aces, two kills and a block to earn HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop.

She also was the server during a 15-0 run in a pivotal third set that allowed Castle to go from a 12-8 deficit to a 23-12 advantage.

“I think that I knew that I had to get us back up and I concentrated. I just fought for my team and we won the (third) set,” Kapu said. “I think that we knew that we wanted it. We had a lot of energy and then the second set we just kind of let down, but we got back up from there.”

The Knights’ championship run was also in George Ehia’s first year as the varsity head coach. He helmed the school’s White Division team a year ago.

Lum, who is committed to play for the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, talked about the improvement of the team with Ehia in charge.

“He pushes us every day at practice,” said Lum, who took a match-high 47 swings. “We run a lot, we do a lot of conditioning, we play a lot and we scrimmage, so I think we were set up for this and it just made us a whole lot better and especially for our seniors — we got nine seniors on the team — so it made us make our imprint.”

It wasn’t just the seniors getting involved for the Knights.

Junior libero Rylie Matsuda dazzled in the back row with a match-high 21 digs with four assists and an ace. Lum spoke highly of Matsuda after the match.

“She’s amazing. She’s amazing at our out-of-system setting,” Lum said of Matsuda. “She puts the ball where it needs to be and she doesn’t give the hitters a problem with messing up our footsteps and getting our approach right.”

The Governors (6-7) were led by Abelyn Toloai’s 13 kills and 11 digs in the loss.

Both Farrington and Castle, along with third-place finisher Pearl City, will represent the OIA in next week’s New City Nissan/HHSAA Division II State Championships.

The Knights swept the Govs when the teams met in the regular season back on Sept. 16 in Kaneohe.

Farrington was seeking its 11th OIA championship and first since 2015.

UH-Hilo pulls away from host Hawai’i Pacific in four sets

UH-Hilo pulls away from host Hawai’i Pacific in four sets

Oct 21, 2024

UH-Hilo pulls away from host Hawai’i Pacific in four sets

BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 21, 2024

The University of Hawai’i-Hilo Vulcans women’s volleyball team made sure to come away with a win on their trip to Oahu over the weekend.

After taking nationally-ranked Chaminade to five sets on Saturday, UH-Hilo came into the Shark Tank and took home a four-set win over Hawai’i Pacific Sunday afternoon in a PacWest match.

Set scores were 25-16, 24-26, 25-15, 25-22.

The Vulcans (14-7 overall, 9-2 PacWest) were led by a trio of hitters that finished with double-digit kills. Chase Koepke led the way with 17 kills on 30 swings.

Taylor Tullo followed with 15 kills and Samara Cruz had 12 kills to round out the top attackers for UH-Hilo.

The Sharks (1-16, 1-10) only had one player in double-digit kills in Sofia Cooper. She took swings from all three positions in the front row and had 11 kills on 23 attempts.

For her efforts, Cooper earned “Timmy T’s Grinder of the Game” honors in the loss.

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