Kamehameha Schools Maui’s Dylan Schnitzer catches a pass as Lahainaluna’s Michael Rayray defends during the Warriors’ 19-13 loss to the Lunas on Oct. 14. The second-seeded Warriors host Pac-5 in a Division II state tournament semifinal tonight. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
PUKALANI — With one of the best players in the state out of action, the Kamehameha Schools Maui football team knows it is next-man-up time tonight at Kanaiaupuni Stadium.
The No. 2-seeded Warriors will face Pac-5 at 6 p.m. in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II semifinals without University of Hawaii verbal commit Frank Kahoa Abreu, a huge weapon at wide receiver who has also developed into an effective defender at linebacker this season.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior is still nursing a knee injury that he aggravated in a state-clinching 42-14 win over King Kekaulike on Oct. 27, the last game the 6-1 Warriors played.
“Somebody’s gotta step up, right?” Kamehameha Maui coach Ulima Afoa said at practice on Thursday. “So, it’s their opportunity to step up. It’s just a slight knee (injury).”
When asked if Abreu could return for the state final on Nov. 25 if the Warriors advance, Afoa said, “Possibly, yeah.”
Kapohai Abreu catches a pass during the Warriors’ 42-7 win over Maui High on Sept. 29.
Abreu has 26 catches for 463 yards and an MIL-best seven touchdowns this season. Fellow senior Dylan Schnitzer has 29 catches for 533 yards and six touchdowns.
“With Frank being out, I feel like it’s a big responsibility for me to step up and be that guy on the field,” Schnitzer said. “And we have other people stepping up for Kahoa and some people that are hurt, so it’s a big responsibility for me to do my job and be a leader out there.”
Two other players — Kaonohi Casco and Kaikea Hueu — have each scored five touchdowns for the Warriors. Casco has three rushing touchdowns, one receiving and one on defense.
Freshman Frank Kapohai Abreu is a freshman and the younger brother of the UH commit. Kapohai Abreu has 13 catches for 186 yards and two TDs, both of which came in the state-clinching victory.
Schnitzer said that senior quarterback Makana Kamaka-Brayce has stepped up all season, especially lately. The school’s all-time leading passer has thrown for 1,346 yards this season, completing 92 of 138 passes (66.7 percent) for 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Warriors defenders gang-tackle King Kekaulike’s Kalelepono Wong during a game on Oct. 27.
“He’s been great, he’s been taking more, you know, getting us locked in,” Schnitzer said. “People been trying to mess around a little bit, but we have to stay locked in no matter what happens because no matter who is on the other side we have to do our thing on offense.”
Schnitzer, who favors basketball as his likely sport in college, said he will miss catching passes from Kamaka-Brayce, a three-year starter who was The Maui News MIL Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2021.
“Yeah, it’s great, ball’s in the air, ball’s always where it’s supposed to be,” Schnitzer said. “It’s great just having that QB on our team.”
Kamaka-Brayce knows that this will be the last time he suits up in a game at Kanaiaupuni Stadium, along with 18 other seniors on the KSM roster.
“It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be a good environment,” Kamaka-Brayce said. “We haven’t played in a while, so it’s going to feel good coming back.”
Kamehameha Maui quarterback Makana Kamaka-Brayce throws on Sept. 15.
Kamaka-Brayce will miss Frank Abreu — the two have connected for more than 2,000 passing yards in their careers.
“We still have a lot of skilled guys, we still have Dylan out there in the wide,” Kamaka-Brayce said. “At this point, it’s just next man up. We have a lot of young receivers that I think they’re ready for the task.”
Senior middle linebacker Ronin Souza said the Warriors defense that has allowed just 55 total points in seven games and has three shutouts will be ready for the Wolfpack.
“I think one of the things we really need to do is notice who’s their guys and neutralize those guys,” Souza said. “We’ve been really paying attention to most of their schemes, their runs and I think once we stop their run that’ll be the key to really stopping them.”
The game will be just the third time the Warriors have played in the last seven weeks.
“Oh, I can’t wait to get back on the field,” Souza said. “Three weeks, we’ve just been like itching away, just practicing, watching other teams play, supporting them, but I think it’s time for us to play and show what we’ve been working on all this time.”
Afoa cautioned anyone looking past Pac-5 towards a possible berth in the HHSAA D-II state final — the Warriors made that game for the first time in 2021 and lost 61-7 to Kapaa. Pac-5 won its first state tournament game ever last week, 32-7 over Kaimuki, to earn the trip to Pukalani.
“Well, they’re a good football team, obviously, or they wouldn’t be in this tournament,” Afoa said. “Their offense, you’ve got to stop the run, you’ve got to stop the run. They’ve got a bunch of different formations — they’re a little bit like us, a little bit like Lahaina(luna).”
Running back Seth Miller has 635 yards and seven touchdowns this season — he ran 32 times for 173 yards and three TDs in the win over Kaimuki.
“They’ve got a lot of things going for them,” Afoa said. “That running back is pretty good, so if we can stop that running back I think we’ve got a chance.”
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.
*****
FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
DIVISION II
Today’s Games • Semifinals
No. 1 Waimea vs. No. 4 Roosevelt at Hanapepe Stadium, 1 p.m.
No. 3 Pac-5 at No. 2 Kamehameha Maui, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25 • Championship
Semifinal winners at Mililani, 4 p.m.
OPEN DIVISION
Friday’s Results • Semifinals
No. 1 Mililani 44, Campbell 7
Kahuku 28, No. 2 Punahou 16
Friday, Nov. 24 • Championship
Mililani vs. Kahuku at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex, 7 p.m.
DIVISION I
Today’s Games • Semifinals
No. 5 Kapaa at No. 1 Konawaena, 7 p.m.
Farrington at No. 2 Waipahu, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25 • Championship
Semifinal winners at Mililani, 7 p.m.
Warriors defenders gang-tackle King Kekaulike’s Kalelepono Wong during a game on Oct. 27. 
Kamehameha Schools Maui’s Dylan Schnitzer catches a pass as Lahainaluna’s Michael Rayray defends during the Warriors’ 19-13 loss to the Lunas on Oct. 14. The second-seeded Warriors host Pac-5 in a Division II state tournament semifinal tonight. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos 
Kapohai Abreu catches a pass during the Warriors’ 42-7 win over Maui High on Sept. 29.
Kamehameha Maui quarterback Makana Kamaka-Brayce throws on Sept. 15.Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
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