Red Raiders get OIA's top seed by routing 'Aiea

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Some Kahuku High School football coaches wore black T-shirts to Aloha Stadium last night, with big white block letters on the back spelling out the phrase: "LEAVE NO DOUBT."

Kahuku defenders smother 'Aiea quarterback Lole Laolagi for one of their seven sacks. The Red Raiders won, 48-0. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

In last night's other co-championship game, Kailua held off Castle, 13-7.

It won't get any easier for 'Aiea (10-1), which will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion St. Louis (8-0-1) in the state tournament's first round.

But after last night, 'Aiea may have already seen the best the state has to offer.

"They were really good when we played them two years ago, but they were awesome tonight," said Na Ali'i coach Wendell Say, the dean of OIA coaches in his 10th year at 'Aiea. "It's hard to compare all the Kahuku teams; they're all good. But they played one of their best games tonight."

The Red Raiders took all of 17 seconds to begin the demolition, with Mulivai Pula returning the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. Pula later scored on runs of 42, 5, 6 and 3 yards and finished with 144 yards rushing on 13 carries, all in the first half. Kahuku led 41-0 by intermission.

"I always felt I was going to have a good game tonight," Pula said.

Red Raiders coach Siuaki Livai said the real stars of the game were on defense, where Kahuku held Na Ali'i to minus-23 yards. Defensive end Jonathan Mapu and linebackers Joshua Hodge and Sione Olevao led a relentless pass rush that sacked 'Aiea quarterback Lole Laolagi seven times. Laolagi, who led all OIA passers this season with 2,172 yards and 31 touchdowns, completed only 5 of 16 passes for 21 yards, and he was intercepted four times.

"You gotta give it to our defense," Livai said. "There are so many good offenses out there, but it usually comes down to who has the best defense. That's what wins championships."

The Red Raiders returned only one defensive starter from last year's state championship team, but that starter is Mapu — considered by some to be Hawai'i's top college prospect.

"We studied them real good and just played assignment football," Mapu said. "Our plan on defense was to take them out early and smother them. Last week, we didn't play well against Roosevelt, so tonight we wanted to make a statement."

That statement came through loud and clear to 'Aiea.

"We saw them on film, but we didn't expect them to dominate us like that," Say said. "We had a really hard time picking up their rush package, and Lole couldn't scramble like usual because they cut down all the lanes."

Livai said even though Kahuku will share this year's title due to an altered schedule caused by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he said the Red Raiders have proven they are the OIA's best.

"Now we beat 'Aiea, so that means we took care of all three teams (in the co-championships)," Livai said. "Our community feels like other people are always waiting for us to fall, but every week we're beating great teams. We're for real."

Hence, the T-shirts.

"Some people were doubting us against Castle, Kailua and even 'Aiea," Pula said. "But action speaks louder than words."

'Aiea (10-1) 0 0 0 0— 0
Kahuku (11-0) 14 27 0 7—48

Kah—Mulivai Pula 91 kickoff return (Solomon Lee kick)
Kah—Pula 42 run (Lee kick)
Kah—Pula 6 run (kick failed)
Kah—Inoke Funaki 14 run (Pula run)
Kah—Pula 5 run (Savannah Sabido kick)
Kah—Pula 3 run (kick failed)
Kah—Kimo Leung-Chio 56 run (Lee kick)

RUSHING—'Aiea: Junior Neemia 6-20, Kalani Kekawa 2-3, Reuben Medeiros 1-minus 19, Lole Laolagi 12-minus 48. Kahuku: Pula 13-144, Leung-Chio 5-84, Funaki 5-60, Jared Tufaga 5-23, Hans Fonoimoana 2-22, Earvin Atuaia 2-13, Ferron Fonoimoana 3-10, Benson Chang 1-10, Travis Kaka 3-8, Tyler Oto 4-7, Sosefa Lauaki 1-5, Awrhie Gorai 1-1, Kekoa Kamakeaina 1-1.

PASSING—'Aiea: Laolagi 5-16-4—21; Kahuku: Funaki 5-7-0—72, Ferron Fonoimoana 1-2-0—21, Oto 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING—'Aiea: Bryan Tucker-Salas 1-10, Chris Antonio 1-7, Medeiros 3-4; Kahuku: James Kammerer 2-28, Ferron Fonoimoana 1-27, Funaki 1-21, Benjamin Chase 1-11, Oto 1-6.

BIG ISLAND

• Waiakea wins title: Waiakea defeated Konawaena, 14-0, last night to capture the Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship.

Waiakea advances to the state tournament.

MAUI

• Lahainaluna crowned: Laulile Latu scored on a 1-yard run, Jaiome Alboro on an 8-yard run and Kieven Ferreira on a 16-yard fumble return as Lahainaluna (4-1, 8-2) defeated Baldwin (4-1, 7-3), 26-14, for the Maui Interscholastic League championship last night.