Governors go forward
POSTED: Saturday, November 22, 2008
The Farrington Governors exercised all their veto power with a forceful ground attack in a 30-13 win over feisty Kealakehe last night in the opening round of the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships.
Farrington, the Division I runner-up from the OIA, relied on a 338-yard rushing output to stymie the upset-minded Waveriders. Apelu So'oalo rumbled for 150 yards on 19 carries to lead the Govs (9-3). Harry Tuimaseve (85 yards) and Siaosi Feleunga (65) bolstered the attack behind the formidable offensive line, aka the Bamboolas.
“;Our O-line stepped it up,”; So'oalo said. “;The bye week, we stepped up our conditioning. Kealakehe's defense was solid, quick.”;
Farrington will meet ILH champion Punahou in next week's semifinals.
Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Kealakehe (9-3) came out firing with Jordan Ursua in the run-and-shoot, but Farrington adjusted by the second quarter.
“;We had to fix our mistakes, stay in coverage and run the technique we were taught,”; safety James Smith said.
Drake Miller's two touchdown catches from Dayton Kealoha boosted the Govs into the lead for good.
“;I knew I'd have to stay focused. The opportunities can come any time,”; the senior receiver said.
Linebacker Sione Taufa led Kealakehe's defense with 14 tackles.
“;I played rugby against (So'oalo) last summer,”; Taufa said. “;Their O-line is good. I give them props.”;
The visiting Waveriders showed none of the first-half hesitation or jitters that plagued them in three previous losses at the state tourney. With Ursua hitting nine of his first 10 pass attempts, the 'Riders moved the ball with some success, but netted just seven points by halftime. By the second half, the speedy passer hit just three of 11 attempts in one stretch.
“;The key was to keep our defense off the field, but we had three three and outs,”; Ursua said. “;We came up short.”;
Farrington opened the scoring on So'oalo's 39-yard burst through the middle, breaking two tackles along the way. His PAT kick was wide right, but the Govs led 6-0 with 5:24 to go in the first quarter.
Kealakehe marched 80 yards in just seven plays on the next series. Ursua rolled right, eluded a blitzing linebacker and launched a 36-yard strike to Marcus Paishon for a touchdown. Rory Belanio's extra-point kick gave the Waveriders a 7-6 lead with 2:55 left in the first quarter.
So'oalo missed on a 22-yard field-goal try, but Kealakehe's offense went three and out on consecutive possessions, and Farrington capitalized with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Kealoha to Miller—off a tip by wide receiver Ani Isumu over the middle—to take a 12-7 lead with 1:42 remaining in the first half. That capped an eight-play, 64-yard march.
Alvin Faamausili's interception gave the Govs first down at their 49-yard line with 35 seconds remaining, but they got no deeper than the Kealakehe 41-yard line as the half ended.
The Govs opened the second half with a 6-minute drive. Kealoha's play-action toss to Miller for a 16-yard touchdown gave Farrington a 19-7 lead with 6:04 to go in the third quarter.
A snap over the head of Jerry Aipia, a defensive tackle who also punts, led to one of two second-half safeties. Aipia raced after the ball and tossed it out of the back of the end zone as Seth Ilae converged.
That led to a scoring toss from Kealoha to Isumu from 5 yards out as Farrington seized a 28-7 lead with 11 seconds left in the third.
Kealakehe's long-snapping woes resumed in the fourth quarter with a snap over the head of new punter Afaue Tualaulelei, who backtracked to his 2-yard line and kicked the ball off the ground and out of the end zone for a safety with 9:44 left.
After his hot start, Ursua went 3-for-11 until he found Clint Holdbrook for a 31-yard bomb to bring the 'Riders within 30-13 with 6:15 remaining.
At Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium
| Kealakehe (9-3) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | 13 |
| Farrington (9-3) | 6 | 6 | 16 | 2 | — | 30 |
Far—Apelu So'oalo 39 run (kick failed)
Kea—Marcus Paishon 36 pass from Jordan Ursua (Rory Belanio kick)
Far—Drake Miller 11 pass from Dayton Kealoha (run failed)
Far—Miller 16 pass from Kealoha (So'oalo kick)
Far—Safety, Jerry Aipia tosses ball out of end zone
Far—Ani Isumu 5 pass from Kealoha (So'oalo kick)
Far—Safety, Afaue Tualaulelei kicks ball out of end zone
Kea—Clint Holdbrook 31 pass from Jordan Ursua (pass failed)
RUSHING—Kealakehe: Jordan Ursua 12-58, Laki Taufa 2-5, team 2-(-43).
Farrington: So'oalo 19-150, Harry Tuimaseve 12-85, Siaosi Feleunga 8-65, Kealoha 1-12, Robert Molina 3-6, Tyrell Shipley-Lagmay 1-0, Scotland Smith 1-0.
PASSING—Kealakehe: Jordan Ursua 14-24-1-144. Farrington: Kealoha 8-22-0-115.
RECEIVING—Kealakehe: John Ursua 5-25, Paishon 4-61, Taufa 3-8, Clint Holdbrook 1-31, Ikaika Kua Nachor 1-19. Farrington: Miller 5-83, So'oalo 1-22, Tuimaseve 1-5, Isumu 1-5.
Divsion II
Radford 17, Kauai 7
Phil Hogan ran for 160 yards on 25 carries and scored the game's first touchdown as the visiting Rams defeated the Red Raiders.
Radford will travel to Maui to play second seed Lahainaluna in the Division II State Tournament semifinals next Friday.
At Vidihna Stadium
| Radford (9-3) | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 |
| Kauai (8-1) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 7 |
Rad—Phil Hogan 5 run (Cody Spraker kick)
Rad—Sean Ouchie 88 interception return (Spraker kick)
Rad—FG Spraker 22
Kauai—Canaan Bernard 4 pass from Trey Shimabukuro (Allianic kick)
RUSHING—Kauai: Paleku Yasay 14-21, Sheldon Sakai 1-0, Shimabukuro 4 (-34). Radford: Hogan 25-160, Mosiah Manuma 13-24, Tama Fiaseu 2-6.
PASSING—Kauai: Shimabukuro 9-24-2-145. Radford: Manuma 8-12-0-82, Pouesi Togiailua 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—Kauai: Sakai 3-82, Bernard 3-8, Scott Taylor 1-38, Christian Fort 1-11, Dayne Murata 1-6. Radford: Shawn Putman-Curry 3-29, DeshawnRobinson 2-22, Andrew Forester 1-23, Brad Osborne 1-8, Christopher Nichols 1-0.
Also
Campbell 25, Konawaena 15
