Twenty-four carries.

Eleven pass attempts.

When the 'Iolani Raiders successfully defended their Division II title at the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships on Friday, they continued a season-long trend. Once known for their aerial attack, the Raiders (11-3) ran the ball a lot this season, to the tune of nearly 52 percent of their plays.

A 35-20 win over Radford accentuated their ground-first resolve. 'Iolani's offensive line overcame a first-quarter injury to right tackle Daniel Mitchell. The solution? Ryo Chow moved from guard to tackle, and backup guard Chris Geiger filled in. Geiger and the other guard, Grant Yonemoto, were effective against Radford's fast, physical defensive line. Kellen Imada rushed for 119 yards, almost exclusively between the tackles.

“;We ended up with four first-year starters on O-line,”; running back Kellen Imada said. “;The timing worked perfectly. They (Yonemoto and Geiger) pulled at the exact same time.”;

Radford's tough defensive ends, Marcus Malepeai and Tuulauena Lolohea, combined for just seven tackles.

“;They did what they do on film. They ran up the middle,”; Malepeai said. “;We had a hard time squeezing down in time. Their size doesn't show the way they play. They play bigger than they look.”;

Radford had hopes of running with success between the tackles and on the perimeter. However, 'Iolani's inside stoppers—Kaena Moose and Sealii Epenesa, clogged the lanes. Raider linebackers contained the rest, and Radford finished with only 67 rushing yards (2 yards per carry).

“;We stopped them,”; Moose said. “;It's just what the coaches said, to finish. We were just faster than them.”;

The strength of Epenesa and Moose made life easier for 'Iolani's secondary. Kela Marciel covered Radford's dangerous go-to receiver, Shawn Putman-Curry, most of the night. Putman-Curry finished with eight catches for 59 yards.

Safety Breland Almadova capped a superb senior season with four tackles, one pick and 120 yards in return yardage. One of his many skills, stripping receivers of the football, wasn't on display Friday night.

Imagine if Marciel and Almadova, who is 6-foot-1, had played at receiver. 'Iolani's aerial show might have been sky high, but coach Wendell Look's desire for an athletic defensive unit would have been compromised.

Who would've thought it? 'Iolani wins its third Division II state title while grounding its potent passing game, which finished with 65 yards.

“;At the beginning of the year, it was unexpected, but we give the senior group credit,”; said Look, who completed his 18th season at the helm. “;They believed in the young kids, and they brought it together.”;