Farrington in OIA Red’s final 4

In the span of 27 seconds, Campbell's fateful end materialized and Farrington's dream of a championship stayed alive.

A scoreless battle ceased when the Governors sandwiched two touchdowns around a safety in the final 2 minutes of the first half as Farrington overwhelmed the Sabers 30-7 last night at dusty Roosevelt High School field.

Ninth-ranked Farrington (5-2-2, 5-1-1) advanced to the suddenly exotic semifinal round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference playoffs. Campbell ended the season 3-4 in league play (3-4-1 overall).

"We fought to the end," Campbell coach Tumoana Kennessy said.

Farrington coach Randall Okimoto was satisfied with his team's overall mental preparation. "Before the game, we said, we gotta be patient and take opportunities as they come. Teenagers can be edgy, but they executed the game plan. We were fortunate to get scores on defense."

Sturdy Dayton Kealoha led Farrington's offense with 71 hard-earned yards, while Isaac Iuta led an inspired defensive unit. Campbell's prolific Wing-T attack tallied just 118 total yards.

"We didn't give up the long one. That's what Coach wanted us to do," defensive back Kalei Stevens said.

The defensive stalemate ended with 1:38 to go in the first half when Stevens returned a punt 46 yards through the middle of the field for a touchdown.

"My teammates got me five perfect blocks," the defensive back and returner said.

Three plays later, Campbell running back Derrick Santiago ran right and was hit by a Farrington defender. The football popped out of Santiago's hands and went airborne to the Sabers' 15-yard line, where it was kicked and chased down by a horde of players from both teams. Campbell recovered the ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety that gave Farrington a 9-0 lead with 1:19 to go in the first half.

ILH Shutter leads Punahou over Damien Caymen Shutter threw for 297 yards and accounted for six touchdowns as No. 3 Punahou beat Damien 55-38 yesterday at Punahou. Shutter tossed five TD passes -- including four to Robert Toma -- and ran for another in the shootout. Kama Bailey was the workhorse for the Monarchs, rushing for 313 yards and five touchdowns on 30 carries. Bailey, who has rushed for 1,688 yards this season, broke off a pair of 40-yard scoring runs and another 60-yard TD. The single-season state rushing record is held by Kahuku's Mark Atuaia, who ran for 2,025 yards in 1990. Star-Bulletin staff

On Farrington's ensuing play from scrimmage, Alefesio Iu fired a bomb to Drake Miller, who hauled in the pass and beat his defender for the final 10 yards of a 40-yard touchdown play. The Govs led 15-0 with 1:11 left in the half.

The Sabers came to life after recovering an onside kick to start the second half. Samson Anguay scored on a 6-yard toss sweep, and Campbell was within 15-7 with 7:37 to play in the third quarter.

Campbell got another golden opportunity moments later when Kealoha fumbled at midfield. Kaleikaumaka Fuller recovered for the Sabers at the 41-yard line, but the drive sputtered and the Sabers never threatened again.

Iuta opened the fourth quarter by receiving a short snap on a fake punt, running for first-down yardage, and then fumbling after a hit. Campbell recovered on its 45-yard line.

However, on the next play, the Sabers lined up in a quad receivers set, and Iuta read the play. He knocked down the long lateral from Kevin Newcomb to a Campbell receiver, then picked up the ball and sprinted 41 yards for Farrington's third touchdown. The Govs led 21-7 with 11:44 to play.

Farrington added another safety midway through the fourth quarter when Newcomb faced a pass rush and flipped the ball back to running back Bronson Ellis-Riveria, who was tackled in the end zone for two more Farrington points.

After a 58-yard kick return by Jimmy Robinson on the ensuing play, Kealoha punched the pigskin over the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown, and Farrington had a 30-7 lead with 5:45 left.

Farrington will meet Leilehua next weekend in a semifinal matchup at Aloha Stadium. Kapolei and Waianae will meet in the other semifinal.

It was the final game played on Roosevelt's desert-like field. More than half of the field is caked dirt, with patches of grass here and there. On Thursday, the project to replace the field with synthetic turf begins.