[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kailua defenders tried to bring down Kahuku quarterback Waika Carvalho during last night's OIA championship game at Aloha Stadium. The Red Raiders won 6-0.
Kahuku wins
OIA titleThe Red Raiders will face
Kauai after edging Kailua 6-0
on a TD with 20 seconds left
Kahuku broke a scoreless tie with 20 seconds left on Waika Carvalho's 6-yard touchdown pass to Tevita Finau to defeat Kailua 6-0 and capture the Oahu Interscholastic Association football championship last night in front of 5,644 at Aloha Stadium.
Finau tipped Carvalho's pass in a crowd and bobbled the ball for a second before grabbing it and running through two defenders into the end zone. The pass was Carvalho's third completion of an off-night.
"It was surprising," Finau said. "I wasn't really expecting it. I ran the wrong route, but the backers were so far back, that I just took a quick slant inside. I saw the opening and went in."
Hyrum Moors made two crucial first downs, including one on a second-effort, 2-yard gain on fourth-and-1 from the Kailua 18 to set up the winning score.
Previously, a stiff Kailua defense kept Kahuku out of the end zone on two deep fourth-quarter thrusts into Surfriders territory.
The Red Raiders (11-0) play Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Kauai (5-3) in the first round of the state tournament Nov. 21 at Aloha Stadium. That same night, the Surfriders (8-2-1) visit Baldwin, the Maui Interscholastic League champion, at War Memorial Stadium.
Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai was proud of his team's effort in what he called an "ugly" game.
"Jeez it was ugly," Livai said. "I learned more about my guys tonight than I have all year long. The harder it comes, the sweeter it is. I was relaxed and was ready to accept whatever happened, but the kids were all really tight. I almost had to keep repeating myself so they would understand the basic plays. They're not used to being in this situation."
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kailua's Damien Torres tried to slip by Kahuku defenders in last night's OIA title game. Torres rushed for 77 yards in a loss.
Kahuku adjusted from a dismal and scoreless first half in which the Red Raiders gained just 73 yards against the fierce Surfriders' defense.
Kailua failed to take advantage of choice field position in the first half. The Surfriders had the ball in Red Raiders territory six times, but didn't score.
A costly mistake kept Kailua from capitalizing on a golden chance. The Surfriders got all the way to the Red Raiders 3 after Derek Mailau's interception and 47-yard return, but Kahuku's Al Afalava recovered a fumbled snap to end the threat.
"The defense was ready and disciplined," Afalava said. "The coaches and the leaders worked really hard this week and the coaches told us they thought it was going to be a defensive game. And we pulled it out."
Kahuku had the first big chance to score in the second half, forcing Kailua to punt from its own 2. After a short boot, the Red Raiders took over on the 19, but sacks by the Surfriders' Bronson Kamaka and Zach Meredith pushed them back and thwarted the danger.
On its next possession, Kahuku drove to the Surfriders 1, but met a brick wall and couldn't score on four downs. Sione Tuifua hit Dustin Huddy at the 1 on fourth down to finish the goal-line stand.
At Aloha Stadium
Kah -- Tevita Finau 6 pass from Waika Carvalho (kick failed)
Kailua (8-2-1) 0 0 0 0 -- 0 Kahuku (11-0) 0 0 0 6 -- 6 RUSHING: Kailua, Damien Torres 13-77, Kekoa Su'a 12-46, Kelroy Kohatsu 2-(-7). Kahuku, Waika Carvalho 18-71, Hyrum Moors 6-31, Cy Naki 3-10, Simote Vea 3-9, Dustin Huddy 10-9,Paea Vaimoui 3-7, Darren Magalogo 2-4.
PASSING: Kailua, Kohatsu 7-24-2-61. Kahuku, Carvalho 3-14-1-25.
RECEIVING: Kailua, Jeremy Wicker 2-23, Dylan Linkner 2-21, Su'a 3-17. Kahuku, Spencer Hafoka 2-19, Finau 1-6.
