Saturday, October 23, 1999

Kahuku
OIA Red champ

Latuselu rushes for 217 yards
with a 'grand' performance

More prep football

Star-Bulletin staff

Kahuku came through when it counted most.

Down 21-7 to Kailua in the second quarter of yesterday's Oahu Interscholastic League showdown between the Red Division's two first-place teams, Kahuku was watching its hopes for a division title slip away.

But Red Raider stalwart running back Kala Latuselu came through with three touchdowns as Kahuku scored 25 unanswered points to bury the Surfriders, 32-24.

"He answered the call," Kahuku head coach Siuaki Livai said. "We knew he was going to step it up."

Latuselu rushed 30 times for a season-high 217 yards yesterday, becoming the first in the OIA to surpass 1,000 yards this season. He has rushed for 1,023 yards in eight games.

Kahuku finished the regular season with a 7-1 record; Kailua dropped to 6-2.

The victory gives the Red Raiders home-field advantage throughout the OIA playoffs, which start next week. Next up for Kahuku is Radford, according to Livai.

John Kepa was Kailua's star.

The Surfriders' receiver caught three passes for 171 yards, including a 71-yard toss from Taleki Mailau for a TD.

Kahuku 32, Kailua 24:

Kailua	14 7 0  3 -- 24
Kahuku	0 13 12 7 -- 32

Kai -- Rocky Alo 5 run (Thomas Ho kick)
Kai -- Alo 55 run (81 kick)
Kah -- Vai Funaki 1 run (Simon Lee kick)
Kai -- John Kepa 70 pass from Taleki Mailau (Ho kick)
Kah -- Kala Latuselu 2 run (kick failed)
Kah -- Orlando Wong 39 run (kick failed)
Kah -- Latuselu 1 run (pass failed)
Kah -- Latuselu 7 run (Lee kick)
Kai -- Lee 22 field goal
RUSHING -- Kailua: Alo 14-71, John Kepa 1-7, Mailau 4-(-1), Billy Winchester 4-10, Keoni Brown 2-5. Kahuku: Orlando Wong 9-96, D.J. Nawahine 7-22, Destin Le'i 2-7, Kala Latuselu 30-217, Vai Funaki 3-(-2), A.J. Smith 1-1.
PASSING -- Kailua: Mailau 7-14-0, 210 yards. Kahuku: Wong 1-3-0, 15 yards.
RECEIVING -- Kailua: Kepa 3-171, Ryan Exstrom 2-45, Winchester 1-1, Keoni Brown 1-(-7). Kahuku: Earvin Atuaia 1-15.
Junior varsity -- Kahuku 27, Kailua 27