By Wes Nakama
Watch out for the Pack.
Senior running back Seth Miller rushed for 253 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries and also scored on a 47-yard pass play Friday afternoon to help visiting Pac-Five stun ‘Iolani, 26-14, at Eddie Hamada Field for the Wolfpack’s first victory over the Raiders since 2007. Pac-Five improved to 5-0, and dropped ‘Iolani to 3-5.
Per the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Hawai’i Prep World, the Wolfpack’s last victory over the Raiders was a 21-14 win way back on Oct. 20, 2007, which was followed by 17 straight series losses until Friday, which was ‘Iolani’s Homecoming game.
“I’ve played for (Pac-Five) since seventh grade, and we never had a chance to beat ‘Iolani before,” said Miller, who is 5 feet 10, 175 pounds. “It’s a special group of kids out here, and the coaches put their faith in us. All we have to do is build chemistry and perform as best as possible, and that’s what we did today.”
The Wolfpack took advantage of three lost fumbles by the Raiders and led 12-0 at halftime after Miller’s 5-yard scoring run eight minutes into the first quarter and his 47-yard TD catch-and-run from quarterback Braden Sarahina 90 seconds before intermission. The first extra point attempt was blocked, and Pac-Five failed to convert the two-point conversion after the second score.
‘Iolani finally found the end zone with 2:40 remaining in the third quarter after a nine-play, 62-yard drive capped by Jones Vierra’s one-yard run, and Kekama Kane’s PAT cut the margin to 12-7. But the Wolfpack quickly responded with an eight-play, 80-yard march highlighted by Miller’s 44-yard run and culminating in his seven-yard dart to paydirt. Evan Derauf tacked on the extra point to make it 19-7 just 43 seconds into the fourth quarter.
The Raiders also answered quickly, needing only six plays to cover 60 yards with Vierra running it in from three feet out and Kekama’s extra point cutting it to 19-14 with 9:09 still remaining.
But Pac-Five effectively shut the door by marching 85 yards in 12 plays and eating six minutes off the clock, capped by Miller’s nine-yard run with 3:06 left. Derauf’s PAT extended the lead to 26-14.
“Our (offensive) linemen came in this year with team chemistry and they got stronger and faster, and they just did their job,” Miller said. “I know those guys, I know they’re super strong, they don’t give up, they’re very hard-working and so I just trust in them to make that hole for me, and I just gotta go through it.”
On the ensuing drive, ‘Iolani faced fourth-and-10 from the Wolfpack 22, and C.J. Villanueva completed a pass to Tyger Hayashi near the first-down marker. But a measurement showed the ball just short, and Pac-Five was able to run out the remainder of the clock.
Heffernan said his team’s victory was meaningful, and not just because it ended a long skid against the Raiders.
“Coach Wendell (Look) runs a great program here, they have a great administration and great kids,” Heffernan said. “There are people on their team that I’ve had the fortune to know outside of football, I know some of these guys and their families. It was good to see this game was played with a lot of class, everyone played hard. There were mistakes on both sides of the ball … but the respect was evident. It means a lot.”
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