KAHUKU — The Kahuku High School football team's first victory of the season was not an easy one, as the Red Raiders held off upset-minded Kalaheo, 33-26, last night before a crowd of about 2,200 at Carleton E. Weimer Field.

Kahuku, ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 1-2 overall in its O'ahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division opener. No. 10 Kalaheo, off to its best start since 1984, fell to 3-1, 1-1.

The Mustangs have not won at Kahuku since 1980, but came out primed for the upset and fought hard until the final minute. They led 10-0 after Bruce Andrews' 11-yard touchdown reception from Cody vonAppen just over a minute into the second quarter, and were within seven points after Kao Malama-Custer's 16-yard TD catch from vonAppen and vonAppen's two-point conversion run with 59 seconds remaining in the game.

But Kalaheo's ensuing onside kick — its fourth of the night — was fielded by Shiloah Te'o and returned to the Mustangs' 40, where the Red Raiders took a knee twice to run out the clock.

"Kalaheo is an emotional team and we knew they would come out strong," said Kahuku senior running back Junior Mata'afa, who finished with 150 yards rushing on 13 carries. "We knew they could play with us."

The Mustangs moved the ball surprisingly well starting with their first drive, which lasted 15 plays and traveled 59 yards before they were stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 3.

Mata'afa rambled 78 yards on the next play, but the Red Raiders then fumbled on a handoff exchange and Kalaheo's Shawn Reed recovered at the Mustangs' 21. Kalaheo then marched down the field again, this time scoring on Nathan Johnson's 23-yard field goal with 26 seconds left in the quarter.

The Mustangs then recovered the onside kick and went up 10-0 on the touchdown throw from vonAppen to Andrews.

They again succeeded in recovering the onside kick, but that drive eventually stalled at the Kahuku 36.

"From last year, I could tell that Kalaheo plays unafraid, and that's what makes them dangerous," Red Raiders coach Reggie Torres said. "We had a hard time stopping them."

The Mustangs' ball-control offense and onside kick recoveries resulted in Kahuku running only two offensive plays in the game's first 14 minutes.

But once the Red Raiders got the ball back, their big and strong offensive line opened huge holes for Mata'afa and St. John Lessary (10 carries, 103 yards).

Lessary scored on a 32-yard run with 7:26 remaining in the second quarter, and Jray Galeai put Kahuku up for good with a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 31 seconds left as the Red Raiders took a 14-10 lead into the locker room.

After a scoreless third quarter, tight end Paipai Falemalu made a diving touchdown catch from Galeai on fourth-and-1 from the 2 to help Kahuku increase its lead to 20-10 early in the fourth quarter. Kalaheo lost a fumble on its next series, and the Red Raiders converted with Lessary's 18-yard TD run to go up 26-10.

The Mustangs closed it to 26-18 after vonAppen's 1-yard quarterback sneak and two-point conversion pass to Andrews with 4:29 remaining, but Kahuku answered with AJ Atuaia's 3-yard touchdown run.

The Red Raiders finished with 326 yards rushing behind the blocking of Samiu Tonga (6-feet-4, 280 pounds), Jordan Bridges (6-2, 345), Anthony Si'ilata (6-2, 305), Lala Ellsworth (6-4, 300), Daniel Kinikini (6-3, 293 and Patrick Au (6-8, 330).

"It's tough going against guys that big," Kalaheo coach Chris Mellor said. "I think we did everything we could. I think we gave them a good surprise. Our mindset going into every game is to win, and I'm proud of our guys."

KALAHEO (3-1, 1-1) 3 7 0 16 — 26

KAHUKU (1-2, 1-0) 0 14 0 19 — 33

Kala — FG Nathan Johnson 23

Kala — Bruce Andrews 11 pass from Cody vonAppen (Johnson kick)

Kah — St. John Lessary 32 run (Lessary kick)

Kah — Jray Galeai 1 run (Lessary kick)

Kah — Paipai Falemalu 2 pass from Galeai (run failed)

Kah — Lessary 18 run (run failed)

Kala — vonAppen 1 run (Andrews pass from vonAppen)

Kah — AJ Atuaia 3 run (Lessary kick)

Kala — Kao Malama-Custer 16 pass from vonAppen (vonAppen run)

RUSHING — Kalaheo: vonAppen 15-40, Phil Tauai 5-12, Max Karsten 7-26, Larry Soto 3-19, Vince Santiago 1-1. Kahuku: Junior Mata'afa 13-150, Lessary 10-103, Galeai 4-18, Wesley Touli 4-29, Atuaia 2-15, Noble Crowell 1-11.

PASSING — Kalaheo: vonAppen 16-33-0—213, Tauai 1-1-0—17. Kahuku: Galeai 1-3-0—2.

RECEIVING — Kalaheo: Malama-Custer 6-107, Andrews 6-68, Soto 2-29, Karsten 1-6, Keano Bruhn 2-20. Kahuku: Falemalu 1-2.

JV score—Kahuku 63, Kalaheo 13

OIA WHITE

PEARL CITY 34, KALANI 14

Pearl City (2-1-1, 2-1) 0 14 13 7—34

Kalani (0-3, 0-3) 0 0 8 6—14

No other details available.

'ANUENUE 28, WAIALUA 27

'Anuenue improved to 3-1 and 2-1; Waialua dropped to 1-3 and 0-3. No other details available.

MIL

KING KEKAULIKE 27, MAUI 19

Michael Douglas rushed for two touchdowns as Na Ali'i beat the Sabers in a Maui Interscholastic League game at War Memorial Stadium.

Douglas scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter and a 25-yard run in the third for King Kekaulike, which won its first game of the season.

Maui's Jordan Inamasu had two rushing touchdowns and threw a 68-yard scoring pass to Mitch Crimm.

King Kekaulike (1-2, 1-0) 3 7 11 6—27

Maui (0-3, 0-1) 0 13 0 6—19

KingK — FG Eli Smith 29

Maui — Jordan Inamasu 1 run (run failed)

KingK — Michael Douglas 2 run (Smith kick)

Maui — Mitch Crimm 68 pass from Inamasu (Crimm kick)

KingK — FG Smith 30.

KingK — Douglas 25 run (Kawika Purdy run)

Maui - Inamasu 3 run (pass failed)

KingK - Cory Roy 1 run (run failed) Reported by Rodney Higa

CORRECTION

Coverage of Friday night's Waipahu-Roosevelt football game was written by Stacy Kaneshiro. There was an incorrect byline on the story.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.