The Red Raiders, ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 10-0 and will face Kailua for the OIA Red Division I championship on Friday. The Surfriders beat Mililani, 20-12, in last night's other semifinal game. Farrington will play Mililani for third place on Friday.

Last Halloween, Farrington stunned Kahuku with a 21-20 upset that ended the Red Raiders' season. Last night, the No. 7-ranked Governors (5-4-1) got their fans excited again by taking a 12-6 lead into the second quarter.

But the Red Raiders regrouped and scored 36 straight points over the next three quarters to advance to their fifth league championship game in six years.

"We knew what they were going to do, but we came out slow and that's what happens when you come out slow," Kahuku defensive back Tori Taulogo said of the early deficit. "It's the same feeling that we had last year. But we just had to suck it up and stay calm and be not too worried about it."

With Farrington leading 12-6 early in the second quarter, Taulogo made a circus interception at midfield, kept his balance, and returned it to the Govs' 30-yard line. On the next play, Cy Naki ran up the middle to tie the game.

Hyrum Moors, one of 12 ball carriers for the Red Raiders, scored on a 5-yard TD run to make it 18-12 with 3:11 remaining in the half.

"We told each other, 'Don't loosen up, even if we're winning, because it's only six points and they can come back like last year,'" Taulogo said.

Kahuku continued its run at the start of the second half, recovering a Farrington fumble when the Governors tried a reverse on the kickoff. The Red Raiders scored three plays later on Waika Carvalho's 1-yard quarterback sneak.

After forcing the Governors into a three-and-out on the ensuing series, the Kahuku went 55 yards in five plays and made it 30-12 on Dustin Huddy's 4-yard TD run.

Taulogo made another interception early in the fourth quarter to set up a six-play, 82-yard drive, culminating in Huddy's 5-yard touchdown run, which stretched the lead to 36-12.

"We made too many mistakes in the second half," said Matt Bell, Farrington's All-State senior running back. "It looked like they wanted to win more than us."

After Kahuku took a quick 6-0 lead on Carvalho's 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tevita Finau, Farrington answered with a 20-yard field goal by Bell, Eti Atonio's 1-yard quarterback sneak and Bell's 28-yard field goal to grab a 12-6 lead.

"Farrington has improved big-time," Red Raiders coach Siuaki Livai said. "They came to play and they fought to the end."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.

• FARRINGTON (5-4-1) 12 0 0 6 — 18
• KAHUKU (10-0) 6 12 12 12 — 42

Kah—Tevita Finau 28 pass from Waika Carvalho (kick failed)
Farr—FG Matt Bell 20
Farr—Eti Atonio 1 run (kick blocked)
Farr—FG Bell 28
Kah—Cy Naki 30 run (run failed)
Kah—Hyrum Moors 5 run (pass failed)
Kah—Carvalho 3 run (run failed)
Kah—Dustin Huddy 4 run (pass failed)
Kah—Huddy 5 run (kick failed)
Kah—Michael Garcia 11 run (kick failed)
Farr—Harrison Harris 25 pass from Atonio (run failed)

RUSHING—Farrington: Ameko Vaimasanu'i 4-23, Bell 12-65, Harrison Harris 2-(minus-3), Jostin Waialae 4-(minus-8), Atonio 3-(minus-4). Kahuku: Huddy 8-62, Spencer Hafoka 2-14, Moors 4-19, Jorge Peapealalo 1-30, Naki 3-44, Carvalho 6-37, Jonathan Rickertson 1-3, Darren Magalolo 3-1, Paea Vaimoui 1-15, Manu Ngatikaura 5-27, Garcia 2-10, Bronson Ponciano-Ahue 3-9.

PASSING—Farrington: Atonio 11-24-3—168. Kahuku: Carvalho 7-10-0—150.