An OIA three-peat is now within sight for Kahuku.
The No. 2 Red Raiders secured their place in the OIA championship game after a convincing 42-7 win over No. 7 Campbell on Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
Holding a relatively slim 21-7 lead at halftime, Kahuku coach Makoa Freitas wanted his team to loosen up and stick to the basics in the second half.
“I just told the kids to refocus and come out and focus on having fun, and doing their assignments,” Freitas said.
Freitas’ team took those words to heart and broke the game wide open after intermission with a versatile running game and suffocating defense — two trademark characteristics of the team’s run to consecutive OIA titles.
Senior Enoch Nawahine led all rushers with 111 yards on 18 carries with a pair of 44-yard touchdowns. Five other rushers gained yardage for the Red Raiders, including Sione Mahe’s 55-yard rushing score to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.
“Playing them the first time, we knew what they were capable of, we knew their tendencies,” Nawahine said. “Coming out this game and playing them again, we just had to battle. Just do what we do best, just buckling down and focusing in.”
On the other side of the ball, the Red Raiders shut out Campbell in the second half despite two opportunities for the Sabers inside of the red zone early in the third quarter.
Campbell quarterbacks were intercepted four times. Sophomore defensive back Alex Fonoimoana-Vaomu had two interceptions for Kahuku, including a 90-yard pick-six that was called back.
“We just wanted to create turnovers and get the ball back for the offense to score more points and that’s what we did,” Fonoimoana-Vaomu said.
The Red Raiders now have two weeks to prepare for their third OIA championship in as many seasons. It’ll be Freitas’ first go at it as the head coach after previously serving on Vavae Tata’s staff as an assistant.
“Our players and our coaches put us in a position to win another title,” Freitas said. “It’s not gonna be easy. We’ll see what we can do.”
For Nawahine, it’ll be his first and only opportunity to win an OIA title with Kahuku, since the senior spent the first three years of his prep career at Punahou.
He didn’t hesitate to express how a win on Nov. 4 would feel.
“It means a lot for this whole community, and for me and my family,” he said. “Winning is expected here. We expect nothing less than success.”
Nawahine did the right move. At Punahou they are floundering under “teetai” offense. He would have been lost. Now as the State rushing leader, he may have some looks by teams. Do you think Vae Malepeai would be at USC if he stayed at StL.? No. Good game Raiders. Clean up those penalties. Good luck on the Championship and the States.
This was a very dominating performance by the Red Raiders this evening. As tough as Campbell has been all season long, it was very evident from the get-go that they were no match for Kahuku. If Mililani can hold on to beat Waianae (35-0 at the half), it will be an epic showdown.
mil o is unbeliebagood but d is suspectacle gon b good game kahu got b reddy
All mill did was stack the box. Do that and solj will kill ya.
this next game against Mililani we’ll find out how good this Kahuku team really is, All the Hawaii teams that played Kahuku was no match for Kahuku, but there next game will be there big test, Mililani should beat Kakuku.
Should is very subjective. By most statistics and criteria used to grade athletics in high school Mililani should demolish Kahuku but Should no matter to the Red Raiders. It’s do or die, put up or shut up. It should be a good game but we shall see. Good luck and play safe.
Go get um No scade um Big Red!!! Great game last night and now rest up for Nov 4th. Like HBoy said, its time to put up or shut up!
@ILH your another kahuku hater. You always talk about kahuku has an easy schedule. Mililani goes through the same teams as kahuku. You even think Damien is the best in the state. one thing for sure the OIA looks more powerful than the ILH
ILH has one really good team this year. OIA? Two.
All that talk about ILH superiority is pure garbage.
I don’t think it will be close. Big Red by at least 2 touchdowns.
Mil hasn’t faced a defense like ours…not even close. They will be one-dimensional pass-happy by the 2nd quarter…and that’s all Big Red needs.
And, as previously stated, they will not be able to stack the box as they have been in the past.
But that’s why they play the game, and we get to talk about it…looking forward to it.
RRFL.
See this is why they should’ve let another ILH team instead of the 3rd place oia team. The 3rd place team is gonna get mercy ruled again in states. What a waste of time. Put oia and ILH pride aside, Kamehameha is way better then cambell and Waianae and if you all don’t agree you don’t know nothing about football.
Kamehameha is only better than campbell and Waianae because they steal children from our homes and force them to pay against their own family. Punahou is just a football factory school that just pumps money into their football program and recruiting at the expense of their academics. Homegrown schools like Kahuku has just as good academics and we have community pride. So what if our kids don’t go to college. There are things bigger than just some fancy school and diploma. WE have community and always playing in front of your family.
All the corrupt ILH schools should be kicked out of the state tournament and just play with each other in their pathetic four team league. We don’t need them. Kahuku can just dominate every year like we always do.
the fake anywaaaaays guy again try make kahu look bad but its educa1st d pun alum haha
Both Puns and Kam would get mercy-ruled by Milz and Big Red. Same smell. Go whine in your corner. ILH is weak this year. Plain and simple.
you guys are retarded. you’re telling me kam and punahou are on the level of waianae and campbell? come on guys. be real. that’s why you only want one ILH team in instead of 2 because you guys have 3 OIA teams and obviously one of them sucks. it’ll be either waianae or campbell getting blown out by St. Louis in states
Toomeke…. C’mon this coming from the guy who said punahou was going to smash St. Louis twice. Yeah you know about football. Kam would give both of them way better competition then cambell or Waianae. Who ever plays the winner of that game should just have a bye because that’s what it is.
yeah i feel that it isnt fair that ILH only gets one team. Why does OIA get 3? I can understand 2 but seriously??? 3??? the 3rd team is going to get blown out by the ILH. what chance will they ever have?
Because you guys only get three teams in D1. Two teams cant come out of a three team league. Maybe if some of your D2 schools would man up and play D1 you wouldnt have this problem. ILH people complain about OIA but should look at their own league.