Farrington wasn’t about to get kicked around again, especially at home.
Despite a slow start this season, the unranked Governors showed just how much pride they’ve got by knocking off No. 5 Kapolei in dominant fashion, 28-7, Saturday night at Skippa Diaz Stadium.
The previously super-hot Hurricanes took a double whammy this week, first finding out their 41-7 win over Castle last week had turned into a forfeit loss due to an ineligible player and then getting outplayed all night by Farrington.
So, where did this burst of energy by the Govs come from after early-season losses to Kamehameha (34-15) at home and Campbell (26-20) on the road?
The answer is preparation, according to coach Randall Okimoto and defensive back Chasen Castilliano.
“In the Campbell loss, we gave up almost 400 passing yards,” Okimoto said. “And then to have a performance like we did tonight. Credit the coaches and the kids after the Campbell loss. Fifty guys showed up to practice on Saturday the day after the game and said, ‘I want to get better.’ That was the start of getting the defense back to where we know it can be.”
Yes, the defensive performance was the difference in the game Friday. Not only did Farrington sack Hurricanes quarterback Kanaiala Kalaola six times, but the defensive backs gave the receivers very little room. As a result, Castilliano picked off two passes and teammate Wendell Alob scored on a 60-yard interception return.
At halftime, Kapolei’s high-flying offense had just 45 yards. Farrington only had 53, but that didn’t matter to the ball-control, clock-killing Govs. In the final tally of yards from scrimmage, Farrington outgained Kapolei 156-150 — a defensive battle all the way.
“We took that strategy,” Okimoto said. “We wanted to milk the clock because we got the lead and we were in a position to do that.”
On almost every Farrington snap, there was no hurry. Quarterbacks Stephen Eter and Chris Afe-Alaivanu took their sweet time to call for the ball from center.
And holding the Hurricanes to 150 yards of total offense is not easy to do.
“This (the win) feels awesome, man,” the Govs’ Castilliano said. “We worked our butts off this week and it sure paid off. It was definitely the work we put in. And we had the boys from Connecticut come down and practice with us. They were our Kapolei this week and it helped a lot.”
The boys from Connecticut he was referring to are from Taft High School of Watertown, Conn., a team that originally had a game scheduled against No. 1 Saint Louis before that contest was canceled for unknown reasons.
Special teams was also a factor for the Governors (2-2, 2-1 OIA Red). Thane Tanuvasa broke a scoreless tie by blocking a punt and returning it 32 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Despite the loss, Kapolei’s defense played well, giving up two big plays that went for TDs — an Eter to Malik Lokeni 31-yard pass and a 43-yard, up-the-middle run by Samsen Tanuvasa with just two minutes left in the game.
Defensively, the Hurricanes (2-2, 1-2) have given up just three TDs all year, including those two against Farrington, in their four games. Except for that Tanuvasa rushing touchdown, Kapolei bottled up the Govs’ running game. Junior Tuia made three tackles for loss and Treven Ma’ae had two to go along with a sack. Aaron Faumui, Rocky Savea, Peni Naulu and Dylan Naehu continued to lead a tough front seven and Saige Mactagone-Kuhaulua came up with an interception.
But offensively, the westside boys continue to be one-dimensional. They finished with minus-25 yards rushing. Antoneo Filipo-Brown, a hulking running back who did major second-half damage against Castle last week, was met by Farrington’s Cameron Faletufaga for a crushing 4-yard loss on his only carry Friday night. Feletufaga was waiting for him, knowing the change of pace (running instead of passing) was coming when Filipo-Brown entered the game.
Faletufaga, Blessing Umaga, Sila Foi, Liki Toai, Joshua Matagi and TitanAlii Pesamino all had sacks for Farrington. Tanuvasa was a two-way standout with his coverage in the defensive backfield complementing his ball-carrying skills.
The rivalry between these two teams is becoming pretty intense. The Hurricanes beat Farrington 28-7 in Kapolei in a late-season game last season to clinch the OIA Red. But the Govs came back for a 33-27 win at Aloha Stadium in the OIA semifinals. Interestingly, though, Kapolei, which qualified for states as the OIAs third-place team, advanced further than Farrington in the first Open Division state tournament. The Hurricanes made it as far as the semifinals and the Govs bowed out in the first round.
Farrington plays at No. 8 Kailua (3-0, 2-0) in a crucial OIA Red showdown next Friday. Kapolei hosts Leilehua (1-2, 0-2) on Saturday.
Wow! what a surprise. I really thought this was the year that Kapolei would challenge Kahuku for OIA supremacy.
With that new kid that just transferred into Kapolei, Kalaola probably won’t be the starting qb for very much longer.
Oh please Leeboy. Nobody will ever challenge Kahuku for supremacy. Not even the HHSAA and the ILH agenda. Everyone can keep hating on Red Raider Nation. ILH can keep stealing our kids right from their homes for their football factory “schools.” Big red is still gonna keep rolling. RRFL!
Big Red will always win there Division, not competitive, and it doesn’t mean that Kahuku players going to the ILH will make the ILH stronger, not every player in the ILH Schools is all from Kahuku, what kind of division is Kahuku in, go ask the AD’S and Administration from the OIA.
@Anywaaays the ILH doesn’t steal your kids, they want a better opportunity. Big Red needs to worry about coming up with a spread offense or that Maiava kid will end up in the IHL soon.
There he goes again anywaays trying to start something with the ILH. I think you should just shaddup and worry about your own school. We not on here trying to talk shit about other schools but as always you gotta start it.
Anyone who watched the Waianae game knows this is not a surprise. Kapolei ain’t that good. Neither is Kamehameha or Mililani. Punahou will come out of the ILH and meet Kahuku for the State Title. And if Kahuku keeps trying to pass we will get our arses handed to us by the ILH. Kahuku’s front 7 is not even close to being in shape and cannot keep up if Punahou goes no huddle(like they always do). Our defense is built for quick 3 and outs and bennifts when our Offense runs the ball and eats up clock.
I was present at the Kapolei game and what I witness was a embarrassment put on by the mighty govs, they were the better team and more prepared. The exposure of the 1 dimensional offense lays solely on the responsibility of the OC. No excuses needed, the govs showed up kicked butt defended their field and wanted it more. Kapolei needs to regroup and refocus . Heal up canes and work hard next week. Again blessings to all teams for a injury free season.
88- did you watch the punahou game? If you think they coming out of the ILH you must be blind. They struggled against a mediocre team. Trust me when I say they will not win against Serra this coming week. I think kamehameha right now is better then them.
Damn…. If Kamehameha is better than Punahou than the ILH is hella weak this year.
Oia must weak too if they struggling against teams that ILH beat already. We should find out this weak how strong ILH is when St. Louis plays kamehameha.
Farrington surprised me with this one…Congratulations GovNation!
My copy cat poster up there ^^, everyone knows that I dont post in any other teams articles other then Kahuku and polls.I am also a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines and fly Thursdays-Saturdays so I miss all the weekend action and watch everything on Sunday delay so I dont post here Thu-Sat.
88 – I agree with you that Kahukus #1 weapon all these years was their slow tempo clock management, however you are delusional talking crap about my RR team because you have no idea the plan our coaches have in place, just because we been throwing 80% during the game doesnt mean we abandoned the run game and our TEs have terrible hands but you still prefer them as the first option? Also your caveman thinking of smash mouth clock management has gotten our RB and FB sidelined in the Moanalua game because of concussions. The coaches and players are doing an awesome job and come playoffs you will see an unstoppable balanced offense that compliments our shutdown defense.
Funny that Coach Hernandez kept saying Waianae offense was lethargic, and look what happened last night. Haha. Waianae didn’t have a QB the last two weeks 6 quarters to be exact, and one of those games were against Kahuku whose defense is always good.
I agree with @88 above saying Kapolei ain’t that good. I mean 7 points against Waianae and Farrington. There is no way they will contend with Kahuku (whose defense is more athletic the Waianae and a Farrington) this year.
Kapolei forfeiting and losing this week puts them in a weird situation in terms of OIA seeding. They might have lost a bye week or worst put in a bracket with Kahuku, a rematch with either Farrington or Waianae (who will most likely be improved)
Kapolei got a transfer QB from the mainland who will improve their offense starting next week.
I think my fake poster needs to lay off 88 and saying he’s talking about “delusional crap.” Nothing is more delusional than people refusing to admit that the ILH recruits but that’s neither here nor there. I also am not a pilot. Education First is really getting carried away with his fake accounts. RRFL!
the phony guy ^ only has one liners and has nothing to say about Kahuku football because he does not know anything about the north shore so he continues to post negative hateful comments toward his own ILH schools, lol, edufirst=closet hater.
and while you talking about recruits I assure you that of the 4 kids that transfered from Orem they all played Laie Park big boys and are all alumni kids. No recruits! Just born and bred to wear red!