Campbell lands spot
in D-II title game
A late fourth-quarter surge highlighted by a safety helped Campbell beat Kauai 29-20 last night at Moanalua High School to lock up a spot in the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships Division II title game.
The Sabres took the lead with less than 4 minutes to go in the game after senior running back Anthony Shimizu pushed the ball across the goal line for the 1-yard touchdown. Capitalizing on a blocked point-after by Kauai in the third quarter, Campbell quarterback/place-kicker Shaye Asoau knocked the extra point through the uprights to give his team the one-point lead.
Asoau finished the game completing six of 12 passes for 79 yards.
A sack of Kauai quarterback Kekoa Crowell in the end zone by Kealii Basham gave the Sabres a safety, and a three-point cushion as the game clock wound down.
The safety gave the Sabres good field position to start a drive that ended with a 57-yard sprint up the middle by Kaneala Stanton to put Campbell up by nine points.
"It was beautiful," Campbell coach Tumoana Kenessey said of the safety. "The defense did it."
Stanton led the Sabres with 69 yards rushing on five carries. Shimizu ran for 37 yards on 10 carries in the game.
The turnaround by the Sabres occurred without Kenessey on the sidelines. With 2:13 left in the third quarter, Kenessey was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. The ejection came after he questioned a pass-interference no-call one play after a touchdown reception was called back when the receiver was called for pass interference. Kenessey had no comment on the matter.
"I knew our kids would come together," Kenessey said. "They fought all year long together. We're just going to enjoy this win."
Crowell had his way with the Campbell secondary in the first half, getting the ball to his receivers, who were able to get separation deep. Red Raider receiver Kevin Cadiente quickly became Crowell's favorite target, connecting with Crowell five times in the first half for 102 yards. Cadiente finished with nine catches for 147 yards.
Crowell passed for 289 yards on 19-for-37 passing, tossing his lone interception of the game on his last throw.
Tied at 7-7, Kauai took the lead in the second quarter when Crowell, rolling to the near side, threw a pass to Cadiente, who came down with the ball for the 15-yard score.
But the Sabres were able to get back into the game following a fourth-down conversion by Jacob Kaku, who pulled down a high Asoau pass for a 24-yard gain. That led to a 5-yard pass from Asoau to James Bannister to tie up the game going into halftime.
Campbell will play the winner of tonight's semifinal between Iolani and Hawaii Prep at 5 p.m. this Friday at Aloha Stadium for the Division II championship.
Campbell 29, Kauai 20
At Moanalua H.S. Field
Kauai (6-4) 0 14 6 0 -- 20 Campbell (9-2) 7 7 0 15 -- 29
Cam--Isaac Laupola 63 run (Shaye Asoau kick).
Kau--Lucky Andres 10 pass from Kekoa Crowell (Fran Speetjens kick).
Kau--Kevin Cadiente 15 pass from Crowell (Speetjens kick).
Cam--James Bannister 5 pass from Asoau (Asoau kick).
Kau--Cadiente 35 pass from Crowell (Speetjens kick).
Cam--Anthony Shimizu 1 run (Asoau kick).
Cam--Safety, quarterback sack in end zone.
Cam--Kaneala Stanton 57 run (Asoau kick).RUSHING--Kauai: Domini Elvenia 8-33, Jonathan Rellin 7-31, Andres 1-7, Crowell 5-(-3). Campbell: Stanton 5-69, Laupola 2-62, Asoau 8-46, Jesse Lee 2-38, Shimizu 10-37, Isiah Smith 1-30, Greg Frink 8-20, Evan Tanigawa 1-0, Jacob Kaku 1-(-5).
PASSING--Kauai: Crowell 19-37-1-289, Rellin 0-1-0-0. Campbell: Asoau 6-12-0-79, Smith 1-1-0-24.
RECEIVING--Kauai: Cadiente 9-147, Chadwyn Lopez 3-53, Andres 3-30, Jett Jasper 2-28, Elevenia 1-24, Duke Dasalia 1-7. Campbell: Laupola 3-39, Kaku 1-24, Lee 1-24, Kepa Basham 1-11, Bannister 1-5.
