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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, November 22, 2008

Campbell runs past Konawaena

Photo gallery: Prep football

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Campbell's Arthur Aiwohi catches a touchdown pass while Konawaena's Mason Kahoonei, right, attempts to break up the play in first quarter.

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KEALAKEKUA, Hawai'i —The Campbell football team pulled off a rare statistical feat for a run-and-shoot team last night against Konawaena: more rushing yards than passing yards.

The hard-running Brandon Ahuna and a physical offensive line allowed the Sabers to pull it off in a 25-15 victory over host Konawaena in the first round of the First Hawaiian Bank Division II State Football Championships.

Ahuna, a 5-foot-7, 158-pound running back originally from Hilo, rushed for 130 yards on 19 carries and scored a touchdown.

"I'm so happy our running game was well-executed tonight," said Campbell coach Amosa Amosa. "It's the first time all season our running back rushed for more than 100 yards."

Campbell gained 229 rushing yards and passed for 201.

Ahuna was at his best on inside trap plays.

"The line, they did their job," Ahuna said. "They opened the holes. All I had to do was hit the holes."

The Sabers defense held Konawaena to 173 total yards and gave up only a touchdown late in the first quarter and a late score with the game pretty much in hand.

"The defense is the heart and soul of our team," Amosa said.

Campbell, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White champion, will play No. 1 seed 'Iolani, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, in the semifinals Friday at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

"'Iolani is a big mountain for us to climb," Amosa said. "For us, we want to be the best and play the best. In Division II, 'Iolani is the best team."

Samson Anguay rushed for 65 yards on six carries and Lalo Respicio passed for 176 yards for Campbell.

"Their running game was very good," said Konawaena coach Aaron Nagata. "They have some big guys (on the offensive line) and their backs are short, shifty buggahs. They hide behind those guys."

As for going heavily with the run (34 rushes/37 passes), Amosa said his offense "took what the defense gave us."

The Sabers had been one of the most prolific passing teams in the state this season.

Konawaena, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, went three-and-out on its first possession and Campbell (11-1) took just one play to cash in on a spectacular 39-yard touchdown pass from Respicio to Arthur Aiwohi just 49 seconds in.

Respicio tossed it down the middle, and Aiwohi went high and ripped the ball away from a Wildcats defensive back at the goal line.

Konawaena (10-3) also went three-and-out on its next possession, but put things together on its third series.

The Wildcats drove 57 yards on 11 plays, and tied it at 7 on a beautiful 4-yard fade pass from Thomas Deniz to Thomas Royce in the right corner of the end zone with 2:04 left in the first quarter.

Konawaena converted two fourth-down plays on the drive. One came courtesy of an encroachment penalty, the other came on a 14-yard bootleg by Deniz to the Sabers' 13.

Campbell regained the lead at 13-7 on a 3-yard run up the middle by Ahuna with 10:49 left before halftime. The drive lasted 10 plays and covered 65 yards.

The Sabers scored again with 1:15 left before halftime on a 6-yard pass from Respicio to Daniel Masifilo, which made it 19-7.

In the first half, Campbell, ranked No. 10 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, outgained Konawaena 230 yards to 69.

The Sabers scored on their first possession of the second half with backup quarterback Damon Fuentes at the controls. With Respicio on the sideline getting his leg taped, Fuentes directed a seven-play, 63-yard drive, which culminated on a 13-yard shovel pass from Fuentes to Robert Regpala to make it 25-7.

"Damon Fuentes, that guy works hard," Amosa said. "He usually goes in for mop up jobs. We're confident enough to put him in and direct the offense."

Konawaena's Deniz scored on an 8-yard run with 2:39 left and he ran in the two-point conversion.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertis er.com or 525-8041.

CAMPBELL (11-1) 7 12 6 0—25

KONAWAENA (10-3) 7 0 0 8—15

Camp — Arthur Aiwohi 39 pass from Lalo Respicio (Robert Regpala kick)

Kona — Daniel Royce 4 pass from Thomas Deniz (Kawika Karratti kick)

Camp — Brandon Ahuna 3 run (kick failed)

Camp — Daniel Masifilo 6 pass from Respicio (pass failed)

Camp — Regpala 13 pass from Damon Fuentes (pass failed)

Kona — Deniz 8 run (Deniz run)

RUSHING—Campbell: Ahuna 19-130, Respicio 4-17, Samson Anguay 6-65, Derrick Santiago 4-17, Jumar Gonzales 1-0. Konawaena: Keaoopua Phipps 5-19, Deniz 12-45, Sam Unger 2-4, Kealanuinalu Kae'o 3-26, Shane Henriques 3-16.

PASSING—Campbell: Respicio 18-32-0—176, Fuentes 3-5-0—25. Konawaena: Deniz 9-30-0—64, Unger 1-1-0—(minus 1).

RECEIVING—Campbell: Aiwohi 5-63, Gonzales 2-13, Santiago 3-26, Anguay 4-50, Regpala 2-18, Masifilio 4-31, Ahuna 1-0. Konawaena: Vince Ogawa 1-(minus 1), Unger 5-43, Royce 2-2, Kae'o 2-19.

RADFORD 17, KAUA'I 7

Phil Hogan ran for 160 yards and a touchdown to help Radford to a 17-7 victory over Kaua'i in a Division II first-round game at Vidinha Stadium in Lihu'e, Kaua'i.

The Rams also scored on an 88-yard interception return by Sean Ouchie and a 22-yard field goal by Cody Spraker en route to a 17-0 halftime lead.

Kaua'i scored on a 4-yard pass from Trey Shimabukuro to Canaan Bernard in the third quarter.

Radford will play Lahainaluna Friday at 7:30 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui.

RADFORD (9-3) 14 3 0 0—17

KAUA'I (8-1) 0 0 7 0— 7

Rad — Hogan 5 run (Cody Spraker kick)

Rad — Sean Ouchie 88 interception return (Spraker kick)

Rad — FG Spraker 22

Kau — Canaan Bernard 4 pass from Trey Shimabukuro (Trent Allianic kick)

RUSHING — Radford: Phil Hogan 52-160, Mosiah Manuma 13-24, Tama Fiaseu 2-6. Kaua'i: Paleku Yasay 14-21, Sheldon Sakai 1-0, Shimabukuro 4-(minus 34).

PASSING — Radford: Manuma 8-12-0-82, Pouesi Togiailua 0-1-0-0. Kaua'i: Shimabukuro 9-24-2-145.

RECEIVING — Radford: Shawn Putman-Curry 3-29, Deshawn Robinson 2-22, Andrew Forester 1-23, Brad Osborne 1-8, Christopher Nichols 1-0. Kaua'i: Sheldon Sakai 3-82, Bernard 3-8, Scott Taylor 1-38, Christian Fort 1-11, Dayne Murata 1-6.

Reported by Anahola Joel Pahukula

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.