Hawaii and NY take different approaches to LLWS pressure

Baseball looks like it comes easily to Hawaii's Aukai Kea.

Case in point, Honolulu's first game of the Little League World Series, when Kea slugged a walk-off home run after tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings.

But even he isn't afraid to admit it — playing on national television and meeting major league players can be quite daunting.

Honolulu, Hawaii's Taylin Oana, center, gets his toe on home plate before the diving tag attempted by Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan's Jarren Purify (6), top left, after being caught in a rundown between third and home during the second inning of a baseball game against Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan in United States pool play at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. Hawaii won 8-3. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)

"This whole tournament, this whole journey has been really nerve-wracking because our faces are all over the world and you never know who's watching," 12-year-old Kea said.

"You don't want to mess up in front of them," said his teammate, Ka'Olu Holt. "You want them to like you."

The pressure will be amplified Wednesday night as Hawaii and a team from New York's Staten Island are set to play in the marquee matchup of the tournament thus far. The winner will head to the championship game in the United States bracket.

Umpire Jeff Pruitt, left, and Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan's Reggie Sharpe (1) and catcher Jake Martin, top right, watch as Honolulu, Hawaii's Taylin Oana, bottom right, scores ahead of the tag by Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan's Jarren Purify (6), rear, after being caught in a rundown between third and home during the second inning of a baseball game against Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan in United States pool play at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)

The loser could still make that U.S. title game — a semifinal for the whole LLWS — but will have a harder road.

While both teams have reached the same destination, and possess the same goal going forward, they've taken different approaches when it comes to managing the pressure that Kea and Holt described.

Hawaii has embraced the nerves that come with representing their league for the first time in South Williamsport, playing in front of crowds that include tens of thousands of people, and signing autographs for fans who have ranged from little kids to Alex Rodriguez.

Staten Island's Gregory Bruno delivers in the second inning of a baseball game against Houston, Texas, in United States pool play at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)

"We keep telling the kids to enjoy this," Honolulu manager Gerald Oda said at a news conference. "I mean, a group of 14 kids from Honolulu, Hawaii, playing in Williamsport, Pennsylvania? This doesn't happen too often. We really want the kids to enjoy it, soak it all in, but at the same time, show a lot of appreciation."

New York, meanwhile, has taken a more business-like approach to block out any potential distractions.

"I'll always ask (the players), 'What does it mean?' and they'll all say, 'Absolutely nothing. We're here to play baseball.' They know why we're here," New York manager Joe Calabrese said.

Staten Island's Gregory Bruno delivers in the second inning of a baseball game against Houston, Texas, in United States pool play at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)

For many teams, simply reaching South Williamsport is the goal. Not New York.

"We're not just happy to be here," said Calabrese, who has been coaching teams in Mid-Island Little League for over 20 years. "We're looking to win the Little League World Series."

Hawaii, the West region representatives, opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over a talented Georgia team in the longest game in Little League World Series history, and took down Michigan 8-3 two days later.

New York has been equally impressive on the mound, defeating Iowa 5-2 and Texas 2-1. However, it will have to do it without the arm of Gregory Bruno, who has pitched eight of the team's 12 innings so far and must rest by Little League pitch-count rules.

Calabrese, whose son Joe Calabrese Jr. also made it to Williamsport in 2006, is confident that his deep roster has what it takes to prevail.

"We're scrappy, we battle, and our kids are focused," Calabrese said. "They're going to scrape and claw for it. They work extremely hard and they have that same type of (New York) mentality."

The two teams from opposite sides of the country are the only two undefeated American clubs remaining. But neither team has faced a test quite like the the one it will Wednesday.

"It's been a dream. I've always wanted to play in Williamsport," said Holt, who is slated to start on the mound for Hawaii. "To dream of winning it would be awesome."

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Josh Allen took a pounding and doled out punishment — looking every bit like the reigning MVP.

He carried Buffalo to its first road playoff win in more than three decades, 27-24 over Jacksonville in the AFC's wild-card opener Sunday. Tough and tenacious, Allen did what he does best.

With linebacker Devin Lloyd bearing down on him, Allen found Brandin Cooks for 36 yards just before the two-minute warning and then capped the go-ahead drive with a 1-yard touchdown run in which Jacksonville let him score.

On the fourth down play before his score, Allen gained 10 yards on a sneak, refusing to go down while being pushed and pulled to the goal line.

“When your quarterback’s that type of warrior, that type of competitor, it just goes through the whole team,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said.

Buffalo (13-5) will play at Denver, Pittsburgh or Houston next week, a chance to build a road winning streak after a decades-long skid.

“Now we have a chance to do it again," said Allen, who came up short on final drives in playoff games the past two years.

“Feels good. Feels good. At the same time, it just means we get another game.”

Focused on getting rid of the ball quickly and negating Jacksonville’s pass rush, Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. He ran for two scores, was sacked just once and played turnover-free football. Khalil Shakir caught 12 passes for 82 yards for the Bills.

“Such a competitor,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen. “He was spitting it out pretty good, obviously. ... He definitely carried them.”

It was somewhat necessary considering NFL rushing leader James Cook was mostly bottled up, finishing with 46 yards on 15 carries.

“We’re going to play for each other, we’re gonna fight to the very last second, and you saw that here today,” Allen said.

Jacksonville got the ball back with a chance to drive for the win, but Trevor Lawrence's first pass was tipped and intercepted. Tre'Davious White got a hand on the ball, and fellow safety Cole Bishop corralled to end any chance of a comeback.

“It was awesome,” Allen said. “A guy that’s been under a lot of scrutiny throughout the last couple years. To get him back and get him back in a Bills uniform and making plays for us when we need it the most, that’s Tre.”

The Bills had been 0-5 on the road in the playoffs under McDermott, starting with a 10-3 loss at Jacksonville in the 2017 wild-card round. The Bills had dropped eight consecutive postseason games on the road since winning at Miami in the 1992 AFC championship game. It had been the NFL’s second-longest, active road playoff skid.

“We were aware of what the talk was, but at the end of the day, the game is decided between the white lines, and our guys knew that,” McDermott said.

Lawrence completed 18 of 30 passes for 207 yards, with TD throws to Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington and Travis Etienne. Washington finished with seven catches for 107 yards.

“You’ve got to live with it,” said Lawrence, who threw two interceptions. “It’s life. You don’t get do-overs. That’s a bummer, but I know that we left everything out there. I know I put everything into this this year, and it sucks that we don’t get to keep playing because it’s a special group.”

Coen surely will get questioned for not running the ball more against one of the league’s most porous run defenses. Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten combined for 118 yards on just 14 carries.

Allen, meanwhile, showed his toughness. He twice ended up in the medical tent in the first half but didn’t miss a snap. He got hammered in the head twice during one play, with Josh Hines-Allen landing on the side of his helmet right after teammate Travon Walker tackled him to the ground. His left ear appeared to be bleeding, but he got checked out and returned.

Allen later slammed his right hand into the helmet of right guard O’Cyrus Torrence after releasing the ball. And he completed the injury trifecta when his left leg got bent awkwardly on his 2-yard TD run.

Allen stayed on the ground following that last hit from Hines-Allen and gingerly walked to the sideline and back into the tent. But, as usual, the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder powered through and was back on the field making plays.

Bills S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) was ruled out to start the third quarter, a huge loss for an already banged-up secondary. It left the Bills to play with rookie Jordan Hancock and second-year Cole Bishop. WR Gabe Davis, who played for Jacksonville last season, injured his left knee in the fourth and was carted to the locker room and ruled out.

Jaguars RG Patrick Mekari (back) left in the third. LG Ezra Cleveland also was banged up and alternating plays with rookie Wyatt Milum.

The Bills will play at Denver, Pittsburgh or Houston next weekend.

The Jaguars will turn their attention toward improving a roster that lacked enough difference-makers on both sides of the ball.

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Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) scores a touchdown in front of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Greg Newsome II (6) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Buffalo Bills' Ray Davis, bottom right, fumbles a kickoff return from the Jacksonville Jaguars as teammate Baylon Spector (54) and Jacksonville Jaguars' Devin Lloyd (0) try to recover the ball during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets up after collecting a first down near the Jacksonville Jaguars end zone later in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) pushes in for a first down as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead (91) tries to stop him during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)