KAPA‘AU — Hundreds gathered Saturday afternoon at Kohala High School to watch the Cowboys football team open its season against O‘ahu Division II opponent Kalaheo. The Mustangs’ well-balanced offensive attack overwhelmed Kohala, leaving the Big Island with a 40-6 win in the non-conference matchup. “The upside to today’s game was that we finished the whole way through, didn’t gas out and didn’t have any serious injuries,” Cowboys coach Earl Hoshida said postgame.
“Even though we didn’t win, I was proud of our boys for hanging in there and giving it their all.” The blue and orange did most of their damage in the opening half. It took a few drives for Kalaheo quarterback Jude Weber to get into rhythm due to Kohala’s aggressive defensive scheme early on, but once the senior and his receivers started connecting, it was off to the races for the Mustangs.
Senior Kalaheo running back Kamalu Jordan scored the first touchdown of the afternoon with a quick 3-yard run up the middle, but the Mustangs’ elite passing attack took the reins from there. After recovering a fumble off its own punt to open the second quarter, Weber fired a couple of beautiful passes on the run to Jordan and fellow senior receivers Chance Baqui and Nainoa Barbieto to place Kalaheo in the Cowboys’ own territory. Weber then found Jordan in the back corner of the end zone to go up two scores.
Kohala played impressive goal-line defense during the Mustangs’ next drive to force a punt, bu.