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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, September 13, 2003

Kahuku pummels McKinley, 40-12

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kahuku's Paea Vaimoui, middle, takes a handoff from Waika Carvalho and looks for running room as McKinley defenders Quinton Sayers, left, and Brian Loli close in.

Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

MILILANI — The Kahuku High School football team flexed some old-fashioned muscle last night, bowling over previously unbeaten McKinley, 40-12, in a key O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference-East showdown.

The Red Raiders (4-0, 3-0 OIA) went deep with five incomplete passes early in the game, but eventually stuck to its vaunted running attack and finished with 257 yards on the ground. Tailback Paea Vaimoui led all rushers with 116 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries.

McKinley (2-1, 1-1) also hurt itself with six turnovers (three fumbles, three interceptions), three of which were converted into touchdowns by Kahuku.

Tigers quarterback Abel Werner had to work for all of his yardage, completing 14 of 35 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown, and rushing for 57 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries.

"It was just hard work on defense — the defensive line keeping contain and the defensive backs keeping coverage," said Red Raiders linebacker Walker Vave. "Our defensive coaches worked us so hard this week, and it paid off."

The Red Raiders took advantage of a McKinley fumble to score early in the second quarter, on Vaimoui's 2-yard touchdown run, then capitalized on an interception to make it 12-0 on Vaimoui's 1-yard run with 5:17 remaining in the half.

That's how it stood at halftime, but Kahuku's Tori Taulogo made an interception on Werner's first pass of the third quarter and the Red Raiders converted it into another touchdown on Waika Carvalho's 1-yard quarterback sneak. A two-point conversion pass from Carvalho to Cy Naki made it 20-0.

The Tigers finally got on the scoreboard after a 14-play, 86-yard drive culminating in Werner's 10-yard touchdown pass to Quinton Sayers with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

But Hyrum Moors returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to the McKinley 42, and Vaimoui scored on the next play by hitting a hole off right tackle and galloping into the end zone.

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