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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, October 20, 2002

Kahuku rallies, then holds off Kailua

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

KAHUKU — In one of the year's most thrilling finishes, the Kahuku High School football team held off previously unbeaten Kailua, 12-7, last night before about 4,000 screaming fans at Carlton E. Weimer Field.

On the game's final play, Kailua's Keali'i Kalahiki caught a 47-yard deflected pass from quarterback Ranson Kepa but was tackled on the Kahuku 1-yard line as time expired.

The victory gives Kahuku, 6-2 overall, a share of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Red Conference-East championship with a 6-1 record. The Red Raiders also earned the Red-East's No. 1 seed in the OIA playoffs, which begin next week. Kailua (7-1, 6-1) had won each of its previous seven games by at least three touchdowns and was considered by many to be a big favorite last night.

"Kailua is good, but we knew we could do it," said Red Raiders cornerback Sam Spurrier, whose 84-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter closed Kailua's lead to 7-6. "We knew what we had to do, and we were ready."

It took a 41-yard touchdown pass from Waika Carvalho to Tali Toluta'u on fourth-and-6 to give Kahuku its 12-7 lead with 10:13 remaining in the game. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

The Red Raiders forced Kailua to punt on the next series, but went three-and-out on their next possession to give the ball back to the Surfriders.

On its second play, however, Kailua fumbled and Kahuku recovered on the Surfriders' 42. On first down, the Surfriders' Norjay Abejon intercepted a pass in the end zone to give Kailua another opportunity with 3:13 left.

But Kailua lost the ball on downs with 1:24 remaining, and the Red Raiders started to run out the clock. Then, on third-and-1 from the Surfriders' 5, Kahuku fumbled and Kailua's Jermaine Hisatake recovered on the 3. Three completions from Kepa to Kalahiki advanced the ball to the Kahuku 48, setting up the final dramatic play.

Kepa launched a long pass down the left sideline, and the ball went through the hands of Kahuku's Viliami Nauahi and into Kalahiki's. But Kalahiki was ruled down on the 1-yard line as he tried to stretch the ball into the end zone.

"We just made too many mistakes," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. "You can't make as many mistakes as we did against a good team like Kahuku."

The Surfriders took a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game after Kepa's 36-yard touchdown pass to David Kaihenui. Kailua had held the Red Raiders to 3 yards rushing and 34 total yards in the first half.

The Surfriders were knocking on the door again in the third quarter, until Spurrier's interception with 8:53 left.

"I think that changed the momentum," Spurrier said.

KAILUA (6-1) 7 0 0 0 — 7
KAHUKU (6-1) 0 0 6 6 — 12

Kai — David Kaihenui 36 pass from Ranson Kepa (Kekoa Sua kick)

Kah — Sam Spurrier 84 interception return (run failed)

Kah — Tali Toluta'u 41 pass from Waika Carvalho (pass failed)

RUSHING — Kai: Nathan Leaver 16-79, Kepa 7-(minus 41), Kekoa Sua 1-1, Bronson Kamaka 5-23. Kah: Spencer Hafoka 5-(minus 9), Cy Naki 2-5, Manu Ngatikaura 11-25, Waika Carvalho 5-(minus 14), Paea Vaimoui 4-13, Sione Fotu 2-12, Kyle Juliano 1-(minus 3), Tony Haiku 9-31.

PASSING — Kai: Kepa 11-26-2—238. Kah: Carvalho 4-10-0—82.

RECEIVING — Kai: Keali'i Kalahiki 5-97, Kaihenui 2-81, Sua 1-39, Brad Ching 2-17, Kimo Keo 1-4. Kah: Hafoka 3-41, Toluta'u 1-41.

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