Dwayne Mitchell made a series of big plays, the last of which kept Kalaheo's undefeated record intact.

Mitchell intercepted a pass with 1:25 left in the game, helping the Mustangs beat Radford, 13-10, on Saturday in a key O'ahu Interscholastic Association White game.

"Someone needs to step up and you never know who that someone is going to be out there stepping it up," Kalaheo coach Chris Mellor said. "It was Dwayne's chance to shine."

Mitchell had another interception earlier in the game and scored a touchdown in the third quarter. He caught a 30-yard pass from Phil Tauai to put the Mustangs up 13-3.

Radford's touchdown in the fourth quarter cut the deficit to 13-10, and the Rams got the ball back with less than two minutes remaining. After Mitchell's interception, the Mustangs (6-0 overall, 5-0 OIA White) were able to run out the clock.

It's been a big group effort for the Mustangs this season, who have fewer than 30 players on the team. Yet, the addition of Mitchell to the squad, who joined the team one week before practices started, has been a big boost.

Mitchell, a transfer from California's Fallbrook High, walked into the middle of the team's meeting and told Mellor, 'I'm here to play football for you.'

"He's a key catalyst for our chemistry and that's huge in high school sports," Mellor said.

Before Mitchell stepped onto campus, he contacted Kalaheo players he found online and introduced himself to them.

"He didn't come with an attitude, he embraced the new culture," Mellor said. "Coming to a whole new team far away from home, things are different. He came with open arms."

Mitchell has created some friendly competitions in practices, and his effect on the team's chemistry is huge — perhaps more so after Saturday's win. Mellor said teams that have really good chemistry are "tough to beat."

"We got that group, and it's also a continuing thing from last year's team," he said.