honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 11, 2008

Respicio's five TDs help Sabers deny Mustangs, 34-15

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lalo Respicio completed 22 of 38 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns as Campbell denied Kalaheo's bid for the top seed in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's White Division playoffs with a convincing 34-15 victory at Kailua High School.

Respicio also scored a rushing touchdown.

"It was a pretty big win for us," Respicio said. "We haven't played for three weeks but we've been working really hard in practice. Everything is timing for us, and when we work hard in practice it's all there for us — the passing, the receiving, the blocking."

Campbell improved to 7-1 overall, 6-1 in the OIA. Kalaheo fell to 7-2 and 6-2.

Complemented by an aggressive defense that forced four turnovers, the Sabers used their run-and-shoot offense to score early and often in the first half.

Less than a minute into the game, Respicio spotted Brandon Ahuna alone on the right side of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

The Mustangs countered with a patient, grinding ground attack but couldn't convert on fourth-and-15 on the Campbell 37.

On the ensuing Campbell possession, Respicio hit Samson Anguay for consecutive gains for 32 and 16 yards. That helped set up a 19-yard touchdown pass from Respicio to Arthur Aiwohi. The two linked up again for a two-point conversion to give the Sabers a 14-0 lead.

Later, with just 21 seconds left in the quarter, Respicio connected with Derrick Santiago for a 24-yard score.

The Mustangs fought back in the second quarter as quarterback Phil Tauai spotted Dwayne Mitchell streaking down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown.

Just before the half, the Sabers struck again, this time on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Respicio to Daniel Masifilo to make it 27-7.

The pace slowed considerably in the second half as both defenses clamped down. But the Sabers weren't done.

In the final minutes of the third quarter, Aiwohi snared a pass from Respicio and exploded toward the goal line. Only a timely ankle tackle by Elijah Mataele prevented Aiwohi from scoring. Respicio then scored on a 4-yard keeper to give the Sabers a 34-7 lead.

The Mustangs' Levi Lomu Jackola scored on a 5-yard run and Mitchell scampered in for the 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to 34-15 late in the fourth quarter.

"To be honest, I thought they would play a little better," Respicio said. "But you can't take anybody lightly in this league."

For Campbell head coach Amosa Amosa, last night's victory was the biggest of the season.

"We were able to take a few days off during the break and help guys recover," Amosa said. "Sometimes that doesn't work in your favor, but our guys worked hard and they came out ready to play. They're a tough, tough team and we wanted to attack them on offense and defense. I was proud that we were able to do that today."

CAMPBELL (7-1, 6-1) 14 13 7 0—34

KALAHEO (7-2, 6-2) 0 7 0 8—15

Camp — Brandon Ahuna 11 pass from Lalo Respicio (kick failed)

Camp — Arthur Aiwohi 19 pass from Respicio (Aiwohi pass from Respicio)

Camp — Derrick Santiago 24 pass from Respicio (Robert Regpala kick)

Kal — Duane Mitchell 35 pass from Phil Tauai (Dong Woo Kim kick)

Camp — Daniel Masifilo 29 pass from Respicio (Regpala kick)

Camp — Respicio 1 run (Regpala kick)

Kalah — Levi Lomu Jackola 5 run (Mitchell run)

Note: Individual statistics were not available.

MOANALUA 13, KAISER 12

Tahje Canyon rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and visiting Na Menehune held off the Cougars in an OIA White game.

Kaiser closed to 13-12 in the fourth quarter on Jarrin Inagaki's 20-yard TD pass to Jordan Woodall, but the PAT failed.

MOANALUA (6-2, 5-2) 0 6 7 0—13

KAISER (3-5, 3-4) 6 0 0 6—12

Kais — Jarrin Inagaki 5 run (kick blocked)

Moan — Tahje Canyon 10 run (kick blocked)

Moan — Canyon 29 run (Justin Watanabe kick)

Kais — Jordan Woodall 20 pass from Inagaki (kick failed)

RUSHING — Moanalua: Michael Egami 10-10, Canyon 16-109, Brandon Hargrove 1-6, Adam Francisco 4-31, Joshua Pedro 2-0, Elijah Cruz 1-8, Tayler Tanaka 1-5. Kaiser: Jesse Kauhola 19-92, Inagaki 9-40, Laa Awong 1-(minus 5), Sani Taylor 2-6.

PASSING — Moanalua: Egami 2-6-0-15, Francisco 3-5-0-37. Kaiser: Awong 5-15-2-59, Inagaki 2-2-50.

RECEIVING — Moanalua: Canyon 2-15, Tyler Pinkney 2-22, Xavier Peterson 1-15. Kaiser: Woodall 2-29, Zacharia Roufs 1-30, Josh Juntilla 1-20, Kauhola 3-30.

JV SCORE — KAISER 43, MOANALUA 7

Reported by Tori McMoore

'AIEA 14, WAIALUA 0

Freddy Taliulu and Michael Hogan scored on 1-yard runs in the third quarter as visiting Na Ali'i beat the Bulldogs, who were held to 39 yards rushing and 66 yards passing.

'AIEA (5-3, 4-3) 0 0 14 0—0

WAIALUA (2-6, 2-5) 0 0 0 0-0

'Aiea — Freddy Taliulu 1 run (kick blocked)

'Aiea — Michael Hogan 1 run (Taliulu pass to Matt Faalele)

RUSHING — 'Aiea: Tony Cabalar 8-38, Dalton Alcantra 1-19, Kaau Kuia 2-12, Sean Malepeai 12-79, Taliulu 3-(minus 6), Titan-Otto Salausa 3-16. Waialua: AJ Hernandez 3-2, William Sacapulo-Uepa 5-(minus 13), Kainoa Rosa 6-9, Kaleo Lopez 2-2, Jacob Holland-Castro1-39.

PASSING — 'Aiea: Taliulu 5-10-0-21, Kuia 6-10-0-35. Waialua: Sacapulo-Uepa 8-20-1-66.

RECEIVING — 'Aiea: Cabalar 1-2, Mason Puckett 2-7, Alcantra 4-34, Sedrick Nelson 1-3, Malepeai 2-13, Brock Asher 1-(minus 3). Waialua: Lopez 4-20, Rosa 4-46.

JV SCORE — 'AIEA 33, WAIALUA 7

Reported by Shantelle Kobayashi

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.