Riding its fierce defense and relentless running game, Farrington stuffed Kapolei, 26-7, last night in the O 'ahu Interscholastic Association football quarterfinals.

An early-evening crowd of about 1,500 at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium watched the Governors improve to 8-1 overall and advance to Friday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal vs. defending state-runner-up Leilehua (7-2) at Aloha Stadium.

Kapolei's up-and-down season ends at 5-4.

"We were trying to set the tone early," said Farrington junior linebacker Mo Tauaefa, who returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown to put the Govs up, 20-0, with 10:34 remaining in the game. "We wanted to show that we came to play and win."

Farrington came up with three interceptions and three lost fumbles, and in between swarmed to Hurricanes ball carriers, quarterbacks and receivers at every opportunity. Kapolei reached the red zone only once in the first three quarters, and even after gaining first-and-goal from the 6 in the first half, the Hurricanes were pushed back to the 32 and missed a field goal.

"We just ran into a defensive juggernaut," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "Their defense ruled the day. We knew what they were going to do, how they would line up ... but they just executed. And when their defense also scores a touchdown, that just opens up the game even more."

The Governors' offense did its part steadily, if not spectacularly.

They marched 66 yards in six plays on their second possession, capped by Harry Tuimaseve's 8-yard TD run with 3:08 left in the first quarter. Ekolu Kaina's extra point made it 7-0.

The score stayed that way until 10 seconds remained in the third quarter, when Tuimaseve's 4-yard touchdown run and Kaina's PAT made it 14-0. Tuimaseve finished the game with 155 yards rushing on 27 carries.

Kapolei closed to 20-7 with 4:17 remaining in the game after Noah Pascua's 42-yard TD pass to Elijah Tagura and Eric Morales' extra point, but the ensuing onside kick skirted out of bounds after a high hop, giving Farrington possession at its own 42.

The Govs then closed out the game with a nine-play drive culminating in Tuimaseve's 2-yard scoring run with 45 seconds left.

"I'm very happy with the defense, very happy overall," said Farrington coach Randall Okimoto. "The team practiced hard this week, it was serious practice."

KAPOLEI (5-4) 0 0 0 7— 7

FARRINGTON (8-1) 7 0 7 12—26

Farr — Harry Tuimaseve 8 run (Ekolu Kaina kick)

Farr — Tuimaseve 4 run (Kaina kick)

Farr — Mo Tauaefa 45 fumble return (kick blocked)

Kap — Elijah Tagura 42 pass from Noah Pascua (Eric Morales kick)

Farr — Tuimaseve 2 run (run failed)

RUSHING — Kapolei: Onosai Faumuina 3-8; Shaydon Akuna 7-5; Keaka Fernandez 7-62; Pascua 5-12; Kainoa Pakele 2-6; Tagura 1-1; Keaka Napuelua Ah Yee 1-(minus-15). Farrington: Tuimaseve 27-155; Scotland Smith 4-21; Siaosi Feleunga 5-13; Jared Hakuole 1-(minus-5).

PASSING — Kapolei: Akuna 2-2-0—5; Pakele 0-1-0—0; Pascua 10-14-2—124; Tu 'u Lolohea 0-1-1—0; Tagura 1-2-0—9; Ah Yee 2-4-0—14. Farrington: Hakuole 6-13-2—77.

RECEIVING — Kapolei: Pakele 4-10; Fernandez 1-5; Donnie King 3-34; Mihael Filio 1-15; Christian Estabilio 2-18; Tagura 3-67; Lolohea 1-3. Farrington: Feleunga 1-8; Sammy Park 2-21; Benjamin Malufau 1-29; Ranold Williams 1-7; Alvin Fa 'amausili 1-12.

LAHAINALUNA 21, KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI 13

KAME.-MAUI (1-6, 1-5) 0 7 6 0—13

LAHAINALUNA (5-3, 5-2) 7 7 7 0—21

LAHAINALUNA — Todd Rickard 67 run (Rickard kick)

KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI — Chase Bell 11 run (Nicholas Lopes kick)

LAHAINALUNA — Zachary Corpuel 17 pass from Rickard (Rickard kick)

LAHAINALUNA — Rickard 37 run (Rickard kick)

KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI — Michael Lacno III 36 pass from Eli Ferreira (kick blocked)

RUSHING — Kamehameha-Maui: Ferreira 14-20, Lacno III 19-65, Bell 4-15. Lahainaluna: Rickard 10-102, George Chihara 4-26, Joseph Hildago 1-3, Imihana Ampong 1-2, Sheldon Akina 4-42, Daven Kaina 2-4, Jostin Carbajal 2-4.

PASSING — Kamehameha-Maui: Ferreira 15-26-2–203. Lahainaluna: Rickard 7-10-0–44, Chihara 0-1-0–0.

RECEIVING — Kamehameha-Maui: 2 1-21, Lacno III 2-32, Cameron Yip 3-9, Jonah Aruda 1-18, Arthur-Chris Saupaia 1-14, Louis Tuberville 4-61, Terani Richmond 2-42, Kawika Kong 1-6. Lahainaluna: Chihara 2-8, Toa Pauu 2-21, Akina 1-(minus 5), Corpuel 2-20.

JV score — Lahainaluna 39, Kamehameha-Maui 6

Reported by Rodney Higa