KAHUKU — One year after the Kahuku High School football team suffered a shocking playoff loss at home to end its season, the Red Raiders made good on their vow not to let history repeat itself in 2008.

The Red Raiders raced past Mililani, 42-13, last night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinal action before a home crowd of about 3,000 at Carleton E. Weimer Field. Kahuku, the OIA Eastern Division champion, improved to 8-1 overall and will face West runner-up Wai'anae in next week's semifinals.

Mililani, which started the season 0-3, finished it at 5-5.

The Red Raiders also won the East last year but lost to Kapolei in the quarterfinals, ending their season at 6-3.

Kahuku defensive back Irwin Ah-Hoy said one of the 2007 team captains, Shiloah Te'o, instructed last year's juniors not to allow their senior season to end the same way.

"Shi gave a good speech in the locker room after last year's loss, he said don't let it happen again," said Ah-Hoy, who forced a fumble and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter last night.

Ah-Hoy's play, on third-and-eight from the Red Raiders' 19-yard line, helped Kahuku stretch its lead to 35-13 with 7:41 remaining. Trojans quarterback Iosua Manuma ran an option left to the near sideline, but Ah-Hoy stuck out his hand to deflect the pitch to the trail man, then scooped up the ball and ran untouched down the right sideline.

"That was a tide-turner," Red Raiders coach Reggie Torres said. "It gave us more leeway."

Mililani showed it could move the ball on its opening drive, marching 85 yards in 12 plays, culminating in Taz Stevenson's 2-yard touchdown pass to Chad Bolibol. Kahuku tied it at 7-7 with 7:47 left in the second quarter on St. John Lessary's 6-yard TD run and extra point.

On the Trojans' next possession, a high punt snap over Manuma's head resulted in the Red Raiders taking over at the Mililani 12, and Lessary ran it in on the next play to give the Red Raiders a 14-7 lead.

On the very next series, Aulola Tonga blocked a Manuma punt and Kamalani Alo recovered in the end zone to make it 21-7.

"Our offense didn't hold up its end of the deal," Trojans coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "Our defense played a great game and gave us good field position, but we just made too many errors on offense and didn't execute plays."

MILILANI (5-5) 7 3 3 0—13

KAHUKU (8-1) 0 21 7 14—42

Mili — Chad Bolibol 2 pass from Taz Stevenson (Corey Nakagawa kick)

Kah — St. John Lessary 6 run (Lessary kick)

Kah — Lessary 12 run (Lessary kick)

Kahu — Kamalani Alo blocked punt recovery in end zone

Mili — FG Nakagawa 22

Mili — FG Nakagawa 25

Kah — Reupena Moors 18 pass from A.J. Kubota (Lessary kick)

Kah — Irwin Ah-Hoy 75 fumble return (Lessary kick)

Kah — Kalae Carr 35 interception return (Lessary kick)

RUSHING — Mililani: Kekai Trout 18-70, Iosua Manuma 6-15, Stevenson 4-13, Westin Alcover 1-(minus-10), Trevor Lee 2-(minus-2). Kahuku: Lessary 11-54, A.J. Kubota 3-11, Viliami Pasi 4-39, Blaze Kubota 1-0, Derek Aiwohi 1-(minus-1), Pololu Silva 6-5.

PASSING — Mililani: Manuma 10-24-1—45, Matt Milton 2-2-0—19, Stevenson 1-1-0—2. Kahuku: A.J. Kubota 1-2-0—18, Lessary 1-1-0—32, Jray Galeai 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING — Mililani: Fred Culp 5-46, Sean Lai 3-1, Bolibol 1-2, Kahi Perbera 1-0, Stevenson 1-(minus-2), Dean Shimokawa 1-9, Seth Iereneo 1-10. Kahuku: Moors 2-50.

JV SCORE: KAHUKU 21, WAIPAHU 7

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