Kahuku High School senior Cameron Mercado is not intimidated by long distances, whether it's 50 yards or 5,000 miles.

Mercado, whose three field goals — including a 49-yarder — lifted the Red Raiders to a 9-6 victory over Farrington last night, transferred to Kahuku from Boca Raton (Fla.) High School in January. His sister had been attending Hawai'i Pacific University, and he was looking for a change in scenery.

Red Raiders coach Reggie Torres, meanwhile, envisioned a change in his team's offensive potential the first time he saw Mercado practicing field goals before spring practice.

"He was out there on the field, just him and his dad," Torres said. "He was booming 'em."

Mercado's booming kickoffs have helped Kahuku with field position all season, and his 32-yard, fourth-quarter field goal capped a 16-14 comeback victory over Farrington in a regular season showdown.

Last night at Aloha Stadium, Mercado hit a 49-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to cut the Governors' lead to 6-3.

It probably had the distance to clear the crossbar from 55, maybe more.

"I had been waiting for a long one like that for awhile," said Mercado, whose previous best this season was from 44 yards. "The second it left my foot, I felt good about it."

On the Red Raiders' first possession of the second half, they faced fourth-and-21 from the Farrington 33, so Mercado was sent out to try a 50-yard attempt. It fell way short.

"I thought the snap was coming sooner, so I jumped out too early," Mercado said. "But the life of a kicker — you have to have a short memory."

Mercado got another chance with 4:32 remaining in regulation, and this time nailed a 37-yarder to tie the game at 6-6.

Then in overtime, he ended it with a 28-yarder on fourth-and-1.

Mercado, 6-feet and 170 pounds, said he is being recruited by the University of Hawai'i and "a few other schools," but is still weighing his options.

"I'm trying to get the word out," he said. "I'm looking for the best offer I can get."

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com