Kahuku fumbles away chance for three-peat
| • | Castle tops Campbell to reach semis, 28-25 |
| • | Schedule: OIA football tournament |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
There will be a new state high school football champion this season.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
That was assured last night, when Farrington stunned two-time defending champ Kahuku, 21-20, at Aloha Stadium to advance into next week's O'ahu Interscholastic Association semifinals and clinch one of the OIA's four state tournament berths.
Kahuku's Paea Vaimoui fumbled the ball after getting hit by two Farrington defenders late in the fourth quarter of last night's OIA quarterfinal game at Aloha Stadium. Farrington recovered the football and held on for a 21-20 victory.
Kahuku, ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, ends its season at 6-3.
"We told the boys, 'In life, there is victory and there is defeat,' " Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said after the game. "Real men pick it up and move forward, making the best out of it and living a positive life. And for our underclassmen, they don't like this feeling, so they need to learn from their mistakes and go back and start working again tomorrow if they don't want to feel like this again next year."
For Farrington, the Governors (6-4) can start working toward their Friday semifinal against Castle, a 28-25 winner over Campbell. Farrington used a balanced offensive attack (94 yards rushing, 157 passing) and were helped by five Kahuku turnovers, including a fumble recovered by Jay Ocol with 25 seconds remaining on the Governors' 12-yard line.
The Red Raiders had been marching down the field, going 58 yards in six previous plays.
"I was on one knee, praying," Farrington quarterback Royce Machado said. "Our coach (Randall Okimoto) kept telling us to believe we could do it, and we believed."
The Governors jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after recovering two Kahuku fumbles. Both touchdowns came through the air, the first on a 16-yard pass from Royce Machado to Chris Feagaimaalii and the second from Machado to Dionte Nomaaea.
The Red Raiders regrouped and tied the game at 14-14 after Paea Vaimoui's 5-yard touchdown run and a 23-yard touchdown pass from Bronson Ponciano to Spencer Hafoka.
Kahuku eventually took a 20-14 lead with 5:54 left in the half on Vaimoui's 4-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt failed after a bad snap.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Farrington took a 21-20 lead with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter after Matt Bell's 1-yard touchdown run and Smith Lafaele's extra point.
Farrington's Jostin Waialae, 40, celebrates with teammate Manu Ah Siu after the Governors knocked off two-time defending state champion Kahuku in the quarterfinals of the OIA football tournament.
Kahuku's next possession ended in an interception by the Governors' Taeao Fagalele — the Red Raiders' fourth turnover.
"It was too much," Livai said. "But we still had a lot of opportunities. Give Farrington credit. It looked like they perfected their game last week and they played an almost flawless game."
Okimoto, a first-year varsity head coach, said it was a long work in progress. The Governors went 2-6-1 last season.
"We haven't concentrated on wins and losses, we've concentrated on effort and attitude," he said. "That's what I was happy about tonight. We were getting beat up, but we hung in there."
Kahuku had 395 yards of offense, including 266 on the ground. Vaimoui led all rushers with 149 yards on 20 carries.
Machado completed 11 of 18 passes without an interception for 157 yards. Farrington had only one turnover, a fumble.
FARRINGTON (6-4) 14 0 7 0—21
KAHUKU (6-3) 7 13 0 0—20
Farr--Chris Feagaimaalii 16 pass from Royce Machado (Smith Lafaele kick)
Farr--Dionte Nomaaea 23 pass from Machado (Lafaele kick)
Kah--Paea Vaimoui 5 run (Malo Keama kick)
Kah--Spencer Hafoka 23 pass from Bronson Ponciano (Keama kick)
Kah--Vaimoui 4 run (run failed)
Farr--Matt Bell 1 run (Lafaele kick)
RUSHING—Farrington: Bell 18-65, Machado 8-(minus 1), Jostin Waialae 7-30.
Kahuku: Manu Ngatikaura 6-17, Vaimoui 20-149, Cy Naki 3-9, Hans Fonoimoana 1-3, Ponciano 5-53, Spencer Hafoka 1-13, Sione Fotu 1-4, Waika Carvalho 2-9, Kyle Juliano 3-9.
PASSING—Farrington: Machado 11-18-0--157. Kahuku: Ponciano 5-8-0--118, Carvalho 2-7-0--11.
RECEIVING—Farrington: Feagaimalii 3-66, Nomaaea 6-60, Bell 1-6, Alvin Faumui 2-25. Kahuku: Hafoka 3-60, Sahavili Latu 2-40, Tuli Toluta'u 1-16, Robert Tuifua 1-13.
