The Kahuku Red Raiders were so dominant defensively Saturday they didn’t allow Campbell to even reach the red zone.
Kahuku allowed 133 total yards and 2.9 yards per play in a 21-0 victory over Campbell in the Open Division semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium.
“Our defense played very sound, fundamental football tonight,” said Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho. “That’s what we wanted to do. If anything, it was a bend-but-don’t-break mentality. We gave up no big plays. They had maybe a couple but they weren’t able to finish.”
Campbell’s deepest penetration of the game was the Kahuku 21 midway through the fourth quarter.
“Defensively, it was good,” said Kahuku junior defensive lineman Nitus Auelua, who finished with 2.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. “We kept them to zero and it was a team effort. We’re all like brothers. We all grew up together and we all know each other and played together a long time.”
The Red Raiders (9-0) will play the winner of the Saint Louis/Mililani game in the final at 7 p.m. Thursday at Farrington.
“The camaraderie and chemistry between this group is different from other teams that came from Kahuku because we’ve been working out together and grown up together since elementary,” said junior linebacker Leonard Ah You. “We’re all just best friends and it’s going to be a great story come next week.”
The Red Raiders’ defense allowed 71 yards and three first downs against the Sabers in the first half.
The Sabers (5-4) went three-and-out on their first two possessions. Campbell got as far as the Kahuku 39 on its third possession, but a false start penalty and 4-yard sack by Ah You led to another punt.
Meanwhile, the Red Raiders used an efficient offense to hold a 17:05-to-6:55 advantage in time of possession. Kahuku ran 36 first-half plays, while Campbell had 17.
The Sabers’ offense started the second half at its 31 and advanced the ball to the Red Raiders’ 43. On second down, Chayne Kuboyama-Hayashi’s pass over the middle was deflected by Liona Lefau and intercepted by Isaiah Tuliloa, who made the pick at the 17 while falling on his backside.
“It was a tip from Liona,” said Tuliloa, a senior defensive lineman. “I give it all to him. I had a chance to get it after the tip.”
Kahuku’s defense had allowed 10.5 points per game over its first eight contests.
On Nov. 27, Kahuku beat Campbell 49-23, which was the highest point total allowed by the Red Raiders this season.
As I’m writing this…it’s half time and Mililani is up 14-10. 7 points came off a blocked punt. I thought the ILH was untouchable???
Why do people post stupid crap like that. You understand anyone can lose on any given day?
You must be a newcomer. Shaddap and stand in line.
Oh you are so cool you been talking crap behind a screen name longer than me. Congrats big man. By the way “as I’m writing this” mililani lost, despite winning the offseason.
Robocop wow bro take it down a notch it’s called banter nothing we write is going to stop the sun from rising tomorrow if you read something offensive you do have the option to leave or write a rebuttal without making sound personal but let give Mililani credit they gave st lulu a run for there money next week game should be epic RRFL
Bruh. How’s da FJB chant in the Mililani-St.Louis game? 😂 most popular president my eye. Anyway, congrats Big red. Solid win. Can’t wait to see you take the field against st lulu. Hoped it was against milville for an all OIA final, but it is what it is. See you at the ship.
RR4L
Hats off too Mililani coach York and staff good game. So much for a level playing field. The battle of attrition is slighted towards the ILH. The league was headed in right direction. Whether it be an all OIA or ILH is immaterial. St Louis/Iolani not playing all this time??? Ha!! More ILH teams should be in the playoffs. But don’t have a chance because?? One league open division let the chips fall where they may. All OIA/ILH let the cream rise too the top. This levels the playing field. The battle of attrition is spread equally. Sometimes you lose more than a game in a loss. No alibis you play the best throughout the season right into the playoffs up too states.
The FJB chant should also include FGI
Lol, FJB?? Then those in the stand needs to vote. No democrat, no public housing or food. Nice thing is at Diaz FHS stadium, the families of Mil and St.L, can walk to the game.
FJB & FGI go hand in hand. 2 clueless politicians!!
But at least we playing football in full stadiums unlike The Idiotic Iolani Classic..
gotta agree with Josiah. combine the best of the oia and ilh into one league and just play and see how what happens. same for the d2. eliminate the woulda, shoulda, coulda comments. just let the kids play and last team standing gets the prize. eliminate all this bad political bad vibes that has brewed since ilh broke up that had the 5 public schools go oia. let the results play out where they should be, that is, between the lines . let the kids play. keep it simple. just saying
Anyone know why the game can’t be played at UH new field??more seats, better parking newer field and overall a more exciting place for the kids to get up for the game…. anybody???
They probably don’t want to play at Ching field on UH cause if there is a chance that the China virus finds its way to the game and it spreads, it will happen in Kalihi and not Manoa.
RRFL!!
SHUX, because it takes St.L 2 minutes to get there and Kahuku 2 hrs. Plus I like the windy conditions for a passing team.