Last Friday the Nā Menehune football team faced the Kalani High School Falcons and came off with a dazzling 54-6 win to kick off the pre-season.  

Starting off with a roar, the team bid a quick farewell to Division I football, Moanalua got on the board first with Reshod Scott’s front flip into the endzone, for the first score, just minutes after the game began. The excitement of a large crowd in the bleachers was muted with the early shoulder injury to receiver Jayce Bareng, however. 

Despite the game being riddled with injuries on both sides, the team showed that they can still produce coordinated plays. Na Menehune pulled off a dominating 34-0 first-half result. 

This early win boosted the team’s confidence.

Scott, a sophomore making his varsity debut, said that teamwork was key to the team’s success.

“Everyone was doing their part which made it easier for me to do mine, so the chemistry was perfect that night,” he said.

Senior defensive lineman Hunter Eagen also gave the game a positive review.

“It was a fun and engaging game,” he said. “Even if we lost two players early on [in the game] we were able to come together and continue playing. There was a lot of camaraderie and respect on both sides.”

One challenge the football team is facing this year is their move up from the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s (OIA) Division I to the more competitive Open Division. The Open Division will mean Moanalua will play with the likes of St. Louis and Kahuku high schools. The team, however, has high hopes after tasting victory with a new placement.

“We are in good shape to be one of the best schools in our division,” junior linebacker Jordan Lautej said, evaluating the team’s overall performance.