WAILUKU — After two scoreless ventures into the 11-player game, the Molokai High School football team returned to familiar territory on Thursday night at War Memorial Stadium.

The Farmers rolled to a 50-8 win over Hana in their eight-player debut this season.

The four-time defending Maui Interscholastic League eight-player champions simply dominated all night after opening their season with 37-0 and 39-0 losses to Nanakuli and Kamehameha Maui in 11-man games, their first at that level since the 1960s.

“All that extra practice and the reps we got preparing for the 11-man season just made us that much better in getting ready for eight-man season,” Molokai coach Mike Kahale said. “So, it’s nice to put some points on the board, to get a win. Like I told (the players), ‘this game’s a lot more enjoyable when you get a win.’ I think it will be a fun evening as we get ready to go back on the ferry.”

Molokai turned on the mercy-rule running clock with 6 minutes, 24 seconds left in the third quarter when Kaimana Nakayama hit a wide-open Kanalu Kahale for a 78-yard touchdown.

Kahale, the coach’s son, caught five passes for 169 yards and four touchdowns on the night.

“It felt really good,” Kanalu Kahale said. “I’ve never done this before. Everything worked out.”

The Farmers rolled to a 42-8 lead at halftime after piling up 370 yards of offense and 20 first downs in the first 24 minutes of play.

Kahale caught four passes for 91 yards and touchdowns of 24, 25 and 8 yards in the first half. Jordan Kupau rolled up 130 yards rushing on six carries, including a 69-yard burst up the middle that made it 21-8 with 46 seconds left in the first quarter.

After Molokai’s Adam Anglin recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Nalima Puaa-Aki scored on a 7-yard run to make it 28-8 with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.

Kahale caught his final scoring pass and backup quarterback Dion Kahiwa Augustiro scored on a 24-yard run to complete the first-half scoring.

Hana scored its touchdown on a 1-yard plunge by Hauoli Sinenci with 1:41 left in the first quarter that capped a nine-play, 78-yard scoring drive. The possession was highlighted by a 39-yard pass from Huaka Park to Kealii Aina-Tehero.

Molokai has 48 players on its roster, while Hana has 25. Irie Pu-Akima had nine catches for 113 yards for the Dragons (0-2), who were coming off a 58-0 loss to Lanai — last season’s co-champions with Molokai.

“I’ve got a young team, Molokai they’re always there,” Hana coach Duane Kaupe said. “They always have big boys, but my boys battled.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

Molokai 28 14 8 0–50

Hana 8 0 0 0– 8

First Quarter

M–Kanalu Kahale 24 pass from Kaimana Nakayama (kick failed), 10:23.

M–Kahale 25 pass from Nakayama (Jordan Kupau pass from Nakayama), 5:13.

H–Hauoli Sinenci 1 run (Sinenci run), 1:41.

M–Jordan Kupau 69 run (Nakayama kick), 0:46.

M–Nalima Puaa-Aki 7 run (Nakayama kick), 0:18.

Second Quarter

M–Kahale 8 pass from Dion Kahiwa Augustiro (Nakayama kick), 8:49.

M–Kahiwa Augustiro 24 run (Nakayama kick), 5:37.

Third Quarter

M-Kahale 78 pass from Nakayama (Nakayama run), 6:24.

M H

First downs 24 13

Rushes-yards 33-301 16-39

Passing yards 268 149

Total offense 569 188

Return yards 68 129

Comp-Att-Int 12-19-0 16-30-3

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 12-111 5-27

Punts-avg 1-33.0 3-24.7

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Molokai, Kupau 6-130, Kahiwa Augustiro 11-111, Puaa-Aki 7-34, Nakayama 2-21, Kilakila Orlando 3-17, Kanoa Hiro 1-5, Tofi Ah Van 1-(minus 1), team 2-(minus 16); Hana, Sinenci 7-43, Huaka Park 5-8, Irie Pu-Akima 1-2, team 1-(minus 6), Quinton Vida-Lono 2-(minus 8).

PASSING–Molokai, Nakayama 6-8-0–161, Kahiwa Augustiro 6-11-0–107; Hana, Park 11-24-3–128, Sinenci 5-6-0–21.

RECEIVING–Molokai, Kahale 5-169, Kupau 3-34, Hiro 2-29, Nakayama 1-26, Orlando 1-10; Hana, Pu-Akima 9-113, Kaawaloa Shambnlin 3-20, Nehemiah Hoopai-Feliciano 2-10, Sinenci 1-7, Vida-Lomno 1-(minus 1).

MISSED FIELD GOALS–Hana, Sinenci 44 (WR).

MIL Standings

W L Pct PF PA

Lanai 1 0 1.000 58 0

Molokai 1 0 1.000 50 8

Hana 0 2 .000 8 108

Thursday’s Result

Molokai 50, Hana 8

Saturday, Sept. 7

Molokai at Lanai, 11 a.m.