Posted on: Saturday, October 18, 2003
Kahuku stops Kailua, wins division title
| • | Kahuku, Kapolei win OIA crowns |
| • | Kapolei takes OIA White title with 38-21 win over Radford |
| • | Strickland lifts Punahou past Iolani |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
KAILUA — The Kahuku High School football team won its third straight division championship last night by rallying past Kailua, 26-9, before an overflow crowd of about 4,000.
Kahuku, ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Red Conference East Division. The Red Raiders will be the East's No. 1 seed in the league playoffs which begin on Friday. Kailua, ranked No. 6, fell to 6-1-1 and 5-1-1 and is the East's No. 2 seed.
Last night's game was much closer than the final score indicated, as the Surfriders led 7-6 at halftime and trailed 12-9 until 4:09 remaining, when Kahuku tight end Tevita Finau caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Waika Carvalho on a fourth-and-goal play to make it 18-9. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Red Raiders linebacker Walker Vave intercepted a pass on Kailua's next possession, and Paea Vaimoui scored on a 1-yard TD plunge and a two-point conversion run to make it 26-9 with 2:26 left.
Vaimoui's touchdown was set up by Dustin Huddy's 53-yard scamper on the first play after the interception. Huddy led all rushers with 164 yards on 15 carries, although Kahuku's potent offense was held to 102 yards in the first half.
"Our defense is always the one to save us," Red Raiders coach Siuaki Livai said. "Our offense was the worst it was all season, we didn't have a good night. But we've been in this situation before, and we weren't panicked at all. Just frustrated."
The Surfriders took a 7-0 lead with 6:40 remaining in the half after Damien Torres' 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal. Kahuku receiver Spencer Hafoka caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Carvalho to make it 7-6 with 47 seconds left, but the extra point attempt failed.
The Red Raiders took a 12-7 lead with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter on Finau's 5-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-goal. The two-point conversion pass attempt failed.
Finau, a 6-foot-5 senior, was a basketball standout at Maui High School before transferring to Kahuku in the summer.
"I was real nervous and surprised," said Finau, referring to the two touchdown calls. "But coach said I'd be open."
Kailua closed it to 12-9 with 7:57 left when the Red Raiders' Makana Nicodemus pounced on a bad punt snap in his own end zone. But the Surfriders lost a fumble on the second play after the free kick, and Kahuku converted it into a score with Finau's second touchdown catch.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
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Kail—Damien Torres 1 run (Mike Sakaba kick)
RUSHING—Kahuku: Dustin Huddy 15-164, Vaimoui 9-54, Simote Vea 1-4, Carvalho 6-49, Cy Naki 1-13, Hyrum Moors 3-(minus 3). Kailua: Damien Torres 24-100, Dylan Linkner 2-15, Sione Tuifua 1-2, Kelroy Kohatsu 1-2, Donovan Ho 1-0.
PASSING—Kahuku: Carvalho 8-17-0—37, Hafoka 1-1-0—14. Kailua: Kohatsu 7-16-1—101. RECEIVING—Kahuku: La'auli Fonoti 1-1, Hafoka 5-27, Finau 2-9, Huddy 1-14. Kailua: Jeremy Wicker 2-41, Tanu Paleafei 1-23, Linkner 1-10, Bronson Kamaka 1-(minus-1), Albert Kaleo 1-19, Michael Kealoha 1-9.
JV—Kahuku 36, Kailua 0
Kahuk—Spencer Hafoka 12 pass from Waika Carvalho (kick failed)
Kahuk—Tevita Finau 5 pass from Carvalho (pass failed)
Kail—Safety, Makana Nicodemus recovered punt snap in end zone
Kahuk—Finau 4 pass from Carvalho (pass failed)
Kahuk—Paea Vaimoui 1 run (Vaimoui run)
