Breaking open a close game in the second half despite not running an offensive play in the third quarter, 'Iolani repeated as First Hawaiian Bank Division II Football State Champion last night with a 35-20 victory over Radford.

It was the third DII state title in four years for the Raiders, who finished the season at 11-3.

"Our coaches did a hell of a job preparing us, getting us in shape," said 'Iolani junior defensive tackle Seali'i Epenesa, who finished with a game-high 10 tackles, including four for a loss. "I give them all the credit."

The Raiders defense needed to be in tip-top condition, considering the Rams (10-4) dominated the time-of-possession, 31 minutes and 44 seconds to 16:15. That included holding the ball for all but 16 seconds in the third quarter, which Radford opened with a nine-play, 56-yard drive culminating in Doug Brown's halfback option touchdown pass to Brad Osborne to tie the game at 14-14.

But 'Iolani's Breland Almadova returned the ensuing kickoff 67 yards for a TD, and Andrew Skalman's extra point made it 21-14 with 6:46 remaining in the quarter. The Rams did not score again until the game's final play, a 9-yard touchdown pass from Mosiah Manuma to Osborne.

"That kickoff return was a momentum-turner," Rams coach Fred Salanoa said. "We came out in the second half and tied up the game, but that kick return kind of shifted the momentum back to them."

After Almadova's TD, Radford assembled a 14-play, 42-yard drive that advanced the ball to the Raiders' 27, but a fourth-and-11 pass play from Manuma to Andrew Forester came up three yards short. Four plays later, 'Iolani receiver Kela Marciel appeared to be trapped on a fly sweep play to the left, but he shed a couple tackles, reversed field and then found a seam, dashing 70 yards for a touchdown that put the Raiders up 28-14 with 9:44 left in the game.

On the Rams' next play from scrimmage, 'Iolani linebacker Carl Gibson picked off a Manuma pass near midfield, and the Raiders converted two plays later on Kellen Imada's 49-yard TD run. Skalman's PAT made it 35-14 with 8:52 remaining.

"Those plays were just hard to swallow," Salanoa said. "We had Marciel in the backfield, but we couldn't finish the play. Our guys have to understand that you need sound tackling and sound fundamentals against a team as good as 'Iolani, because they will capitalize on your mistakes."

Radford opened the game by capitalizing on a Raiders mistake, when Sean Ouchie returned a pooch kick 38 yards to the 'Iolani 22. On the next play, Manuma threw a play-action touchdown strike to Forester, and Cody Spraker's extra point gave the Rams a 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the game.

"That woke us up," Epenesa said. "We came out relaxed, but we were a little too relaxed. But we knew we could bounce back."

The Raiders did, going 65 yards in seven plays, capped by Imada's 34-yard TD run on a burst up the middle.

Imada finished with 119 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

"I saw an opening and hit it fast," Imada said of his two scoring plays. "The O-line did awesome, the timing was perfect and everybody blocked."

'Iolani took a 14-7 lead 35 seconds before halftime on Jarrett Arakawa's 27-yard TD pass to Trevyn Tulonghari. The short drive was set up by Almadova's 26-yard punt return to the Radford 38.

The Rams got a break to start the second half when a squib kick ricocheted off a Raider and Radford recovered, setting up the clock-crunching opening drive.

But 'Iolani immediately responded with Almadova's kick return back to the house, and the Raiders' defense held strong after that.

"Our players know that it's a long game, and they know our defense is solid," 'Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "Our defense has been playing well all year, and we just needed them to come through for us one more time."

RADFORD (10-4) 7 0 7 6—20

'IOLANI (11-3) 7 7 7 14—35

FIRST QUARTER

Rad — Andrew Forester 22 pass from Mosiah Manuma (Cody Spraker kick), 11:46

'Iol — Kellen Imada 34 run (Andrew Skalman kick), 9:02

SECOND QUARTER

'Iol — Treyn Tulonghari 27 pass from Jarrett Arakawa (Skalman kick), 00:35

THIRD QUARTER

Rad — Brad Osborne 18 pass from Doug Brown (Spraker kick), 7:01

'Iol — Breland Almadova 67 kickoff return (Skalman kick), 6:46

FOURTH QUARTER

'Iol — Kela Marciel 70 run (Skalman kick), 9:44

'Iol — Imada 49 run (Skalman kick), 8:52

Rad — Osborne 9 pass from Manuma, 0:00

RADFORD 'IOLANI

First downs 19 10

Total Net Yards 274 259

Rushes-yards 33-67 24-194

Passing 207 65

Punt Returns 4-44 3-64

Kickoff Returns 5-46 2-67

Interception Returns 1-0 2-37

Comp-Att-Int 25-39-2 6-11-1

Sacks-Yards Lost 1-1 4-21

Punts 6-38.0 5-38.6

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1

Penalties-Yards 2-15 4-44

Time of Possession 31:44 16:15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Radford: Phil Hogan 10-35, Brown 3--26, Pouesi Togiailua 4-12, Shawn Putman-Curry 1-5, Tama Fiaseu 2-0, Manuma 12-(minus 1), Team 1-(minus 10). 'Iolani: Imada 17-119, Marciel 4-70, Arakawa 2-6, Ammon Baldomero 1-(minus 1).

PASSING — Radford: Manuma 21-33-0-167, Brown 4-6-2-40. 'Iolani: Arakawa 6-11-1-65.

RECEIVING — Radford: Putman-Curry 8-59, Forester 4-49, Osborne 4-38, Hogan 3-20, Jared Victorino 2-16, Deshawn Robinson 2-11, Robert Limos 1-15, Togiailua 1-(minus 1). 'Iolani: Tulonghart 2-39, Kevin Barayuga 2-15, Keenan Hoohuli 1-7, Imada 1-4.

LEADING TACKLES — Radford: Amo Se'ei 4, Tevita Baravilala 4, Tuulauena Lolohea 4. 'Iolani: Sealii Epenesa 10, Carl Gibson 9, Cody Petro-Sakuma 9

Reported by HHSAA

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