A missed extra point was all that separated Campbell and Waipahu during their regular-season meeting six weeks ago, a 28-27 Marauders' victory. Last night, the Sabers turned the tables by scoring on Shaye Asoau's two-point conversion run off a fake extra-point attempt to put Campbell up 29-21 with 3:11 remaining in the game.

Asoau, the Sabers' starting quarterback who lined up as a holder on the play, took the snap and ran a naked bootleg to the left side and scored untouched. Campbell had taken a timeout immediately after Asoau's 1-yard touchdown sneak.

"Our coaches said if we were confident, then to run it and do what we do best," Asoau said of the decision. "The coaches said it's our game, so it was a good choice."

The eight-point cushion proved crucial, as the Marauders scored with 1:22 left on Jeff Baron's 78-yard fumble return for a touchdown. But quarterback Austen Benito was stuffed at the line on the two-point conversion try, and the Sabers recovered the ensuing onside kick.

"It was a quarterback 'iso,' and we weren't able to get the surge we expected," Waipahu coach Sean Saturnio said of the two-point try. "Both teams played well tonight, but they were just able to make one more play than we did."

Campbell coach Tumoana Kenessey said his defense prepared for the final stop during a timeout after the touchdown.

"We told them if (the Marauders) come out in a heavy set — which they did — then blitz from the back," Kenessey said. "Our linebacker (Jake Lopes) made the stop, and everyone else helped wrap him up. It was beautiful."

As expected, the West O'ahu rivals moved the ball with effectiveness throughout the game. The Sabers scored on their first offensive play, an 80-yard pass from Asoau to Kepa Basham. Campbell made it 13-0 after Asoau's 1-yard sneak later in the first quarter, but the Marauders answered with 21 straight points to take a 21-13 halftime lead.

The Sabers tied it at 21-21 after Isaac Laupola's 23-yard touchdown pass to James Bannister on a halfback option with 2:22 remaining in the third quarter.

The game probably would have been tied again later — forcing a likely overtime — if Campbell did not roll the dice after the next touchdown.

"We didn't want overtime," Kenessey said. "We scouted them and knew that the last time, they blitzed everybody (on the extra point). It was a big gamble to go for two, but our guys all executed it to a 'T' and it was well worth it. You gotta take a risk sometimes."

The reward is the Sabers' first varsity football league title of any kind.

"It's wonderful for the community in 'Ewa Beach, after all those years in the cellar," Kenessey said. "It feels good."

CAMPBELL (8-2) 13 0 8 8—29

WAIPAHU (7-3) 0 21 0 6—27

Camp—Kepa Basham 80 pass from Shaye Asoau (Asoau kick)

Camp—Asoau 1 run (kick failed)

Waip—Ben Ameperosa 18 pass from Austen Benito (Benito kick)

Waip—Ryan Winfree 4 pass from Benito (Benito kick)

Waip—Krypton Taito 1 run (Benito kick)

Camp—James Bannister 23 pass from Isaac Laupola (Asoau run)

Camp—Kaniela Stanton 1 run (Asoau run)

Waip—Jeff Baron 78 fumble return (run failed)

RUSHING—Campbell: Anthony Shimizu 5-37, Asoau 5-18, Stanton 7-58, Quinton Richards 13-70, Jessie Lee 6-14, Jacob Kaku 2-8, Isiah Smith 6-35, team 1-(minus 2). Waipahu: Taito 17-64, Benito 11-34, Winfree 2-65, Anthony Vith 1-1.

PASSING—Campbell: Asoau 7-9-0—131, Laupola 1-1-0—23. Waipahu: Benito 9-14-1—114.

RECEIVING—Campbell: Laupola 1-8, Basham 1-80, Stanton 3-17, Kaku 1-11, Bannister 1-23, David Kim 1-15. Waipahu: Ameperosa 3-52, Stan Abasial 3-24, Winfree 3-38.