Maui High School’s Dominant Win over Baldwin Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive

The Maui High School football team kept their playoff dreams alive with an impressive 52-15 victory over crosstown rival Baldwin in a Maui Interscholastic League Division I game on Friday night at War Memorial Stadium.

Power Outage Delays Game

The game was temporarily halted by a power outage that turned off the stadium lights on the parking lot side with 9:25 left to play. Thankfully, after a 20-minute delay, play resumed at 10:20 p.m.

Piercen Evans Shines

Maui High’s star player, Piercen Evans, had an outstanding performance, scoring four touchdowns. Evans showcased his skills with a touchdown run in the first quarter, and later scored his fourth touchdown of the game with just under four minutes remaining.

Strong Finish

With the game already in hand, the Sabers managed to score once again after recovering a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Two-way lineman Sione Ngalu took advantage of the opportunity and scored on a 5-yard run on the final play of the game, solidifying Maui High School’s dominant 52-15 win over Baldwin.

The Sabers’ Playoff Hopes

The victory improved the Sabers’ record to 2-1 in MIL D-I play and 2-5 overall. On the other hand, Baldwin fell to 0-3 in league play and 0-7 overall, officially eliminating them from any postseason possibilities.

Dominant Performance

Throughout the game, the Sabers displayed their dominance, outgaining the Bears 150 yards to 3 in the first quarter and 229-52 in the first half. In the end, Maui High outgained Baldwin 530 yards to 162.

Evans was the standout performer, finishing the game with 184 yards on 27 carries and scoring three touchdowns in the first half alone.

Early Lead

The Sabers wasted no time establishing their lead, with Evans scoring a touchdown with 7:16 left in the first quarter. The opening drive covered 75 yards and set the tone for the rest of the game.

The power and speed of the Sabers’ offense was evident early on when Evans broke free for a 62-yard run on the very first play from scrimmage. Although the play was called back due to a penalty, it showcased Maui High’s determination to dominate the game.

Key Plays

The Sabers continued to make key plays throughout the game. Ofa Falekaono, Maui High’s running back, rushed for 39 yards on a play similar to Evans’ early run, setting up another touchdown.

Defensively, Jarel Fuala’au showed remarkable athleticism with a lightning-quick interception that led to another impressive drive and touchdown by Evans.

Strong Finish to First Half

The Sabers closed the first half with an 11-play, 79-yard drive that allowed Evans to score his third touchdown of the game, extending their lead to 22-0 with just 30 seconds remaining.

Baldwin Fights Back

In the second half, Baldwin made a comeback attempt. Tylan Ponatanilla-Balag returned the second-half kickoff for a 75-yard touchdown, giving the Bears their first points of the game.

However, Maui High responded swiftly, scoring again with a 4-yard run by Jarel Fuala’au. Baldwin fought back with a 69-yard touchdown pass from Kalaheo Kana’e Oliveira to Cooper Watkins, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the Sabers’ dominant lead.

Strong Offensive Performance

Charlie Peterson had an exceptional game, making six catches for 92 yards. Quarterback Nathaniel Russell also had a noteworthy performance, completing 7 of 9 passes for 118 yards.

Baldwin’s Struggles Continue

With their 21st consecutive loss, Baldwin still searches for their first win of the season. Their last victory came on October 23, 2021, when they defeated King Kekaulike 22-0.

Upcoming Games

The Sabers’ victory keeps their playoff hopes alive as they improve to 2-1 in MIL D-I play. Their next game will be against King Kekaulike on Friday, October 20th at War Memorial Stadium.

The loss eliminates Baldwin from any postseason possibilities, and they will face Lahainaluna on Saturday, October 21st.