Campbell runs over Radford for title
POSTED: Saturday, November 08, 2008
Lalo Respicio connected with Daniel Masifilo for three touchdowns last night, leading Campbell to a 28-14 win over Radford at Aloha Stadium in the OIA White football championship game.
Respicio also ran for a score as he overcame three first-half interceptions to carried the Sabers to their second Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference title in the past five years.
“;Never once did anyone doubt what our offense could do,”; Campbell coach Amosa Amosa said. “;It's a blessing that we've got such awesome players. When (the Sabers) won the White in 2004, they went on to win the (Division II) states, too. That is what we want to do—follow in their footsteps.”;
The three picks were uncharacteristic for Respicio, who threw only three in 10 previous games. He finished 23-for-37 for 334 yards.
“;It's not all about stats,”; Respicio said. “;I felt kind of bummed about the three interceptions, but I knew that with our offense we'd come back from that. Me and (Masifilo) and the receivers and the line started clicking. We kept going with the vertical routes and it worked. We're excited about the championship, but it's not over. We want to win states.”;
The Sabers (10-1) relied all night on big gainers, including Respicio's 51-yard TD heave to Masifilo to open the scoring for a 7-0 first-quarter lead. Campbell went on to score one touchdown in each of the next three quarters, all set up by a big play.
“;Our defense got them to third and deep and fourth and deep, but they always came up with the big plays,”; said Radford coach Fred Salanoa, whose Rams (8-3) beat Campbell (minus Respicio) in the regular season. “;I thought a couple of times there should have been help with coverage over the top, and there were a few misunderstandings and miscommunications there.
“;On offense, we didn't capitalize on what we should have capitalized on—those interceptions.”;
The Rams missed a golden chance to tie it, with the ball at the Sabers 4 after the second of two Tony Reid interceptions, but Tama Fiaseu fumbled on a hit by the Sabers' Kevin Faller and Campbell's Jonah Hamada recovered.
“;We couldn't push it in, and that really hurt us,”; Salanoa said. “;There was a big change in momentum after that.”;
Respicio's 36-yard pass to Samson Anguay set up Respicio's 1-yard TD sneak for a 14-0 lead with 1:10 left in the half. Early in the third, Respicio's 35-yard connection to Arthur Aiwohi led to a 1-yard Respicio to Masifilo TD for a 21-0 score.
“;We made a lot of mistakes, a lot of broken coverages,”; said Rams safety Mosiah Manuma, who had 11 tackles and an interception.
Radford's comeback came up short. Quarterback Douglas Brown hit Brad Osborne for a 7-yard score and then led the Rams on an 83-yard drive capped by Pouesi Togiailau's 4-yard TD run to cut the gap to 21-14.
But Campbell all but clinched it with 4:25 left in the game when Respicio found Masifilo for 39 yards and came right back two plays later and hit him with an 18-yard TD strike to make it 28-14.
Isaac Torres led the Sabers with 11 tackles, and Cypress Avilla Brewer had a late fumble recovery to help seal the win.
At Aloha Stadium
| Campbell (10-1) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | 28 |
| Radford (8-3) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | — | 14 |
Camp—Daniel Masifilo 51 pass from Lalo Respicio (Robert Regpala kick)
Camp—Respicio 1 run (Regpala kick)
Camp—Masifilo 1 pass from Respicio (Regpala kick)
Rad—Brad Osborne 7 pass from Douglas Brown (Cody Spraker kick)
Rad—Pouesi Togiailua 5 run (Spraker kick)
Camp—Masifilo 18 pass from Respicio (Regpala kick)
RUSHING—Campbell: Brandon Ahuna 12-56, Respicio 7-20, Derrick Santiago 1-3, Samson Anguay 6-(-4). Radford: Tama Fiaseu 8-27, James Jennings 5-23, Mosiah Manuma 3-21, Brown 4-7, Togiailua 2-7, Shawn Putman-Curry 1-6.
PASSING—Campbell: Respicio 23-37-3-334. Radford: Brown 15-27-1-139, Manuma 1-4-0-0.
RECEIVING—Campbell: Masifilo 6-134, Arthur Aiwohi 6-119, Derrick Santiago 5-16, Anguay 4-47, Jumar Gonzales 1-11, Ahuna 1-7. Radford: Deshawn Robinson 5-39, Osborne 4-43, Putman-Curry 4-22, Andrew Forester 1-26, Christopher Nichols 1-5, Jared Victorino 1-4.
