Surprise: the quarterback for the No. 5 Campbell Sabers in their OIA Open Division third-place game against Farrington tonight was not senior Krenston Kaipo nor senior Kaniala Kalaola.
Instead, freshman Blaine Hipa got the call to start, and he led the Sabers to touchdowns on their first two drives. He connected with Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa for 27 yards before Sky Lactaoen scored on a 17-yard run.
Kaipo, a 5-foot-9, 220-pounder, has thrown for 1,287 yards and 13 TDs this season, but is battling a shoulder injury. Kalaola, who is 5-11 and 160 pounds, has thrown for 1,196 yards and 10 TDs. He started and played the whole game against Kahuku last week.
Hipa is 6 feet and 170 pounds and was called up to the varsity team this week after the end of the junior varsity season.
After the two drives, Hipa was 4-for-7 for 65 yards.
The winner of the game move on to the Open Division state tournament.
I thought Campbell forefit because of a ineligible player, I almost had a heart attack for a sec.
Terrific job for a young freshman QB against Farrington who also had a freshman QB. Just checking though, are these guys only 14 years old or were they held back like many of the other freshman phenoms throughout the state who are already 15 or 16 years old? It makes a difference bc some of these players will be 18 or 19 during the fall semester of their senior season when the majority of players will be only 16 or 17 years old. Cuz then I’m not as impressed???