You can’t fault Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho for trying.
Early on this season, the Red Raiders were a mixed bag on offense. At times they were able to ground and pound opponents, but they also weren’t afraid to put four wide receivers out on the field and try to throw the ball around a little bit.
After three straight years of losing to Saint Louis in the state tournament, including twice in the championship game, Kahuku felt the need to become more dynamic on offense to try to hang with the run-and-shoot Crusaders, who have dominated the state of Hawaii since losing to Kahuku in the 2015 state final.
The results were mixed. They had some impressive wins over Timpview in Utah and Campbell at home, but in the showdown games against Mililani and Saint Louis, the end result was two losses by a combined score of 60-0.
Zero points in six quarters played against the defending OIA champion Trojans and state champion Crusaders.
That’s when the passing attempts dropped dramatically, all the way to the five Kahuku attempted in Saturday night’s 7-3 victory over Mililani in the OIA Open Division final at Aloha Stadium.
>> CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME
No Kahuku victory is complete without a haka. Here are the Red Raiders after their 7-3 win over Mililani in the OIA Open Division championship game. pic.twitter.com/d8A2gkYeeA
— Christian Shimabuku (@c_shimabuku) October 27, 2019
Kahuku (8-3) won its 27th OIA championship, and fourth in the last five years in the most Kahuku of ways. A dominant defense, a power running game that wore out the opposing defense, and that one big play they can usually count on from special teams.
It happened midway through the fourth quarter.
The game was scoreless for 42 minutes before Mililani’s Kaulana Navares booted a 24-yard field goal with 5:55 remaining.
That lead didn’t last 20 seconds as sophomore Kelsyn Tangaro-Kanoa, who broke off a 99-yard touchdown run on his first carry against Campbell last week, broke seven tackles on the ensuing kickoff to go 93 yards for a score to give Kahuku (8-3) a win over Mililani two months after getting blown by the Trojans on Kahuku’s home field, 32-0.
“I’m just so happy and proud for our boys. Mililani’s a great team,” Carvalho said. “Our kids were resilient. They hung in the game and they just finished the game. I’m so proud of them, from start to finish.”
Kahuku and Mililani have won every upper-tier OIA championship since 2007, when Leilehua took the prize.
After Kahuku’s touchdown, the defense forced Mililani to go three-and-out for the sixth time in the game.
Kahuku’s Zealand Matagi then ran out the final five minutes, picking up first downs on two long runs as the Trojans’ defense finally wore down.
Mililani had one last chance to stop Kahuku on fourth-and-2, but jumped early for a penalty to give up the final first down.
“We had the kick return to the house and we knew we had it from there,” Kahuku defensive lineman Zion Ah You said.
The teams combined for one first down on the first seven drives of the game. Kahuku had 98 total yards in the game to Mililani’s 100.
Trojans quarterback Brendyn Agbayani finished 11-for-27 for 70 yards with one interception by Kahuku’s Kaonohi Kaniho.
Matagi finished with 78 yards on 21 carries. Kahuku completed three passes in the game for 9 yards.
Just the way Kahuku likes it.
In the OIA, we still the team to beat. GO BIG RED!!!
OGRRFL, they finally came to their senses, We Breed Runners ….But DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! Congratulations BIG RED!! Now put Reggie back at the Helm!!!!!!
Mililani dominated the game but couldn’t score points , and Kahuku scored on a special teams play. Mililani man handled Kahuku , but the Trojans offense is just not good at all. Play calling sucks, Game management sucks , lucky for mililani D , otherwise the Trojans would have a loosing record . This is the worst mililani offense I’ve ever seen. I guess when u have the talent it’s that much easier , but now coaching up a QB is a different story , it shows mililani was spoiled for 6 years with Milton and Gabriel. No matter what though saint Louis is going demolish whoever faces them.
Defense wins you championships when you effectively run the ball. Kahuku always has had a good defense, but when your offense isn’t moving, your defense suffers from it. If your team can consistently get first downs by running, let them run. Carvalho finally accepted that after getting shut out by Mililani midseason.
Finally coach! We all know how frustrating it is to not have a passing game, we know how much you wanted to expand it, and you caught a lot of heat for it. What you get from these kids at Kahuku is what you always gonna get. Hands down Kahuku produces well disciplined kids, kids with heart, with a good attitude. With that alone you gonna win championships! Yes, we lack when it comes to skills wise, but I’m happy you stuck with what works. And to come out and win it the “Kahuku” way! That was awesome. Lets go boys! The season ain’t done yet! Let’s bring some #9 baby!! #RR4L
Mililani the new Kahuku of the OIA! Pfffff! Stick that where the sun don’t shine! We all that new “transfers” still no can!
Reading all the comments..Lol!🍿🍿
And fact check HPW! Kahuku didn’t lose 32-0 on Kahuku home field. Was At Mililani.
Great win for Kahuku!
7-3 or 42-0, either way it’s a championship.
Didn’t realize Kahuku had so many fair weather fans. Not too long ago, supporters were complaining and wanted a new HC.
Carvalho and his staff did a great job.
Good luck in the playoffs but if kahuku doesn’t get to the final game, I’m sure the haters will be out again…..
Kahuku gotta find answers at qb! They won with less before. Adolpho is to pretty and can’t hold on to the ball, steps up into every sack and can’t make people miss in the pocket. Terrible pocket awareness. Just go back to wild cat like they did with kesi ah Hoy and Richard Torres days.
Sad is so sad at 3. Aaaahhhh. Poor little baby. Haha. Too funny!
Yah it is embarrassing to mililani to lose this game. Mililani did dominate the game. The trojans lost to a pop warner offense who literally had 50 yards of offense going into fourth quarter. Did Kahuku actually outcoach the Trojans? I think so . How can mililani go into the 5 yard line twice and not score? Mililani offensive staff better look at what they are doing, it’s a shame. Mililani season will end next game, I see the game between the crusaders and Trojans not even being close. With said , Kahuku will have an extra game but also will not be a close one with the crusaders.
Congrats Big Red…Way to do it with what we got…27 Community Based Championships..That’s more than ANY school in the State…Rooted and NOT Recruited…Its in Our DNA…RR4L..
And to think York “hand picked” this new defensive team of his to try and dominate this year. PSHHHHH!! Proves once again that Mililani can only coach talent and can’t coach what’s already there. Oh well….NEXT PLEASE.
Great win Red Raiders. Mililani, back to the drawing board. The offense does need to evolve or you need to take a page out of Kahuku and use those big boys to try and pound the ball. York always trying to stick a square peg in a round hole. You don’t have Dillon or Milton.
Will just have to see. Fan who lied about being at the stadium.
Mililani had great QBs, but the x factor during all these years was a potent running game. That’s what kept defenses honest. Mililani has been under the radar when it comes to being a power running team. They’ve held their own on the ground with teams like Kahuku and Farrington in the past. It’s just they’ve had talented qbs to complete the offense .
You people from millilani and St. Louis just don’t get it. Kahuku is a team full of community boys. Boys that grew up in one community. Millilani 90% of the starters aren’t from millilani! And St. Louis is from all over the island. It means more to us! It’s bigger than football!
I wonder who York was texting on the side line? Vae Tata again? Hahahaha
Red raider fan it means so much to you guys that after just a 2 loss season only 15 of you guys come out to the games to support your “community” lmao
No way that post-game haka gonna compare with the pre-game haka against St Lulu in the 2015 state championship game. Still gives me chicken skin watching that haka on YouTube. Manaia Atuaia and Hirkley Latu not able to stand still at the coin toss when the haka was going on, Pesa Lefau breaking ranks to stare down St Lulu, Kanongataa and the throat slit…..
Obviously it means more to you since you went out of your way to go to the game and take roll… Can’t win on the field so now it’s time to win at hating… lol.
Robocop, fans won’t come out to see their team -play unless they feel they have a chance to see them win. St Lulu has ruined the competitive balance of Hawaii state high school football with their excessive recruiting.
Exactly Fahuku fans don’t come out unless they think they can win. The single most fair weather fan base we have in Hawaii. Where’s all the construction workers that was flipping off the St Louis sideline in 2016? They thought they beat Tua once they could do it again lol. Same with 2017 when Fahuku thought they could win the title since Tua was gone. Then Fahuku doesn’t win anything in 2018, 15 Fahuku fans show up lol. Imagine a player like Kaniho who saw the mythical “red sea” to now the small red stain.
Go watch the Timpview game on YouTube. Then tell me that was fair weather fans. But thanks for your concern. Well make sure we show up when we play your beloved St. Louis. Oh and are crowd will be bigger than yours.
Hau’ula Boy, it does not matter your crowd bigger then Saint Louis, the final score counts not count of the crowd, where were you born, some where you don’t understand High School football in Hawaii, private schools students comes from all over the state, can’t be from only in the community, everyone in the community can’t afford the tuition, wake up and take a dive of the rocks of Hau’ula , cheeeuuuuu
Why gotta watch film on an out of state game when you cannot even support you own team in its own state ahahahah. I bet the red stain will grow now that they actually have some sort of title again. What’s what happens when you don’t win one. But I do give credit to the hard core 15-20 fans that show up even when there’s no title. Those aren’t fair weather fans. Tgey probably buy at least 5 hotdogs and 10 drinks also so they doing their part
First of all, congratulations to Kahuku on a game won against the highly recruited Mililani team and the REFEREES! Let’s all be honest how many kids that went to a MILILANI ELEMENTARY OR INTERMEDIATE ARE ACTUALLY ON THE TEAM???? The Mililani team is made up of kids from all over the island and I believe there is at least one transfer from BISHOP GORMAN… ALSO, most “star players” on the team have played for an ILH team so Kahuku technically just won a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP lol. And we all see things for what it is, Robert Victor and his crew are NOT FAIR in their calls. They are clearly PRO-MILILANI. I would love to watch the game back with the REFEREES so they could explain the calls. But, It is what it is gang MILILANI GOT OUT COACHED… Rod York couldn’t bring home the WIN even with THE REFEREES IN HIS POCKET and his HAND PICKED team full of TALENT and DIVISION 1 COLLEGE OFFERS. Let’s all do the #mililanirosterchallenge… Pull up the roster and see where each player went to elementary and intermediate. I guarantee you it will be an eye opener.
@ Mallcop
Sorry not all of us can make it to games at the stadium. But come to a Kahuku game at Kahuku. Wear your mallcop outfit so we can know who you are.
Where were you born ILH? Somewhere run on sentences keeeeeep going. No need period. I went learn at St. Louis. We just keep typing even if no make sense.
Why waste my gas? You guys gonna ask for autograph? Ahahahahah. How come you cannot make it to the stadium when you not winning titles but the even the foodland employees come out when you guys winning . Tell me if I’m wrong, I could just be so blind that it looks like you guys only show up when you winning. Am I wrong? You guys talk so much about being the 12th man, best fan base etc but only takes 2-3 losses then suddenly no one can make it
Oh sorry ah, I thought this was Hawai’i Prep World not Hawai’i grammar world. Lil Fahuku boy runs out of points so tries to make grammar jokes. Noted.
Sole come dive off Laie point. We go. I bet my suicide more bettah then yours.
Again. Go look at Timpview game. That was after lopsided loss to Mililani. So keep trying. St. Louis fans leaving before game even done. So don’t even try challenging fan base.
Robocop with a ck instead of a p: That’s all you got same ol same old bs. Saw you on here hating with your repetitive bs. Noted.Haha haha.
Maybe tempview fans better than the ones here then. Must be just me then. The same number of fans been showing up all these years
You are a robot. I get it now.
Same old repetitive bs just like you guys not being able to score on offense
How did the reCAPTCHA not catch you. With your robot repetitive bs that you post on every Kahuku article.
We didn’t have to. And still won.
Aloha! When you have private schools “drafting” players from all over the islands, it’s a wonder that other schools can compete at all? Kahuku doesn’t need to draft players. We support our backyards and create community in the process. “RR4L”
Isn’t Timpview in Utah?
Maybe that had a reason why it wass crowded.
Would the crowd be the same if they traveled to another state this year?
I’ve been at the stadium in past years on the Kahuku side (and had to sit on the 5 yd line because it was packed) and I have to say that this season the attendance does not appear to be the same…..
To Da Fale:
Now I know you full of it. Kahuku never travels well to the stadium. Guarantee you look at the attendance the last ten years and it’s been down. To expensive for gas, $8 parking, concessions. It’s ridiculous. We rather watch on Television. But look at when we play at other schools hosting and nobody can say we don’t show up.
Robocop and ILH you guys are sad! Eh your some of the top talent Saint Louis has ever had has come from the red raider nation. Our fan base is still alive and well, yes lately their has been a disagreement with the AD and coaching stuff, but best believe. Our community and families are always RR4L
So you think Kahuku and St.Louis going make the Hawaii Self Storage commercial this year? Or the sponsor going bail. Lol.
Listen up. Here’s the truth. St.Louis really don’t want to play Kahuku. Of all the years in this century, Kahuku was that thorn in their side. The team that stuns them. Not Mililani,or Punahou, but Kahuku. How can a bumpkin school, with no money, run down facility, local talent, beat a vaulted million dollar program like St.Louis? Heart. This is what Hawaii wanted. You know what, **asterik** game 28-0 , means as much as Mililani’s 32-0, nothing.
@ HaunasBoy
Been to the OIA championship games in 14,15,16,17 & 15,16,17 for the state championships (if I recall correctly).
We usually sit in the sea of red except for one state championship I got there late and had to sit in the blue/endzone (I recall it was raining that night, but I could see all the white towels waiving in the air).
My parents sent me to an ILH school to get a good education. I got in. Studied hard. Graduated. Went on to college. Today I can afford expensive gas, $8 parking and concessions. LOL. And guess what? I no live in town you know.
That’s good for you. As for me I went public school. Got married. Bought my house. Had plenty kids and am happy. But good for you and your life story.
Haunas, good one. But why you sitting on our side? You obviously are not a fan. Guess you just want to act like you is one. Haunas. Haha. Too funny.