Kahuku prevails over Kailua

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• OIA Football Championship Photo Gallery

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kahuku running back Hyrum Moors tries to get past Kailua's Keoki McCabe in the first quarter. The Red Raiders won the OIA title game, 6-0. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Red Raiders (11-0) scored the winning touchdown with 20 seconds remaining on quarterback Waika Carvalho's 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tevita Finau, who tipped the ball with one hand, grabbed it on the 1 and then fell backward into the end zone.

"It was unexpected," said Finau, an all-star basketball player who transferred this summer from Maui High School. "I just focused on the ball."

Kahuku, ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, entered last night averaging 42 points per game. But the Red Raiders were stuffed time and again by No. 3 Kailua (8-2-1) until the lone touchdown. The extra point attempt failed, and Kahuku linebacker Walker Vave intercepted a Surfriders' pass on the game's final play.

"The harder it comes, the sweeter it is," Red Raiders coach Siuaki Livai said. "Nobody expected this. But everything went wrong for us on offense tonight. Even the last play was wrong; (Finau) was supposed to go upfield, but instead he cut outside. But he showed his basketball skills."

Kailua showed spectacular defensive skills all night, stuffing Kahuku's vaunted rushing game and locking down its dangerous air attack. Finau's touchdown was the Red Raiders' second third-down conversion of the night; they failed on their previous eight.

Kahuku had a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line earlier in the fourth quarter, but was stuffed on four straight running plays, including on fourth-and-2.

"(The Surfriders) did a great job, they were able to take away our passing game and our running game," Livai said. "But we learned so much about ourselves tonight, more than we did all season."

It was an uncharacteristic scoreless first half, especially for Kahuku. The Red Raiders had only 62 yards rushing and 19 yards passing, and were 0-for-6 on third-down conversions.

Kailua had the best scoring opportunity, advancing to the Kahuku 5-yard line after Derek Mailau's 47-yard interception return. But on first-and-goal, the Surfriders fumbled and the Red Raiders' Al Afalava recovered the ball.

Kailua also lined up for a 42-yard field goal attempt at the end of the half, but could not get the play off before time expired.

Kailua's running back tandem of Damien Torres and Kekoa Sua combined for 92 yards on 16 carries in the first half, and the Surfriders also had 56 yards passing. But Kailua was dragged down by six penalties for 52 yards.

KAILUA (8-2-1) 0 0 0 0—0
KAHUKU (11-0) 0 0 0 6—6

Kahuk—Tevita Finau 6 pass from Waika Carvalho (kick failed)

RUSHING—Kailua: Damien Torres 14-74, Kekoa Sua 15-61, Kelroy Kohatsu 2-(minus 7). Kahuku: Carvalho 17-76, Dustin Huddy 10-14, Darren Magalogo 3-5, Hyrum Moors 5-27, Simote Vea 3-10, Cy Naki 3-10, Paea Vaimou 3-6.

PASSING—Kailua: Kohatsu 6-21-2-—52. Kahuku: Carvalho 3-14-1—25.

RECEIVING—Kailua: Torres 2-7, Dylan Linkner 2-22, Jeremy Wicker 2-23. Kahuku: Spencer Hafoka 2-19, Finau 1-6.

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