The Kapolei Hurricanes were on the verge of a breakthrough after a season of extreme ups and downs.
No. 2 Kahuku wasn’t willing to budge. The Red Raiders are in a metamorphosis, a power-running team for decades on end that can turn to sophomore quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava for the quick third-down conversion by air. That happened again and again as the patient Red Raiders patiently imposed their will with sheer force and precise finesse en route to a 35-7 victory over No. 10 Kapolei on Friday night at Carleton Weimer Field.
For Maiava, it was fun to throw the ball a career-high 24 times in the first half. None of it felt forced, and it was all under control, mostly built on play-action. The effective ground attack meant productive carries for Enoch Nawahine (96 yards, one TD), who had a modest 12 carries. Big, 220-pound running back Toalei Lefau barreled through for three TDs as Kahuku rushed for 155 yards on 32 carries without a lost fumble. Maiava finished was 15-for-24 in the first half and finished 17-for-32, some of the second-half inefficiency caused by drops. But all in all, Kahuku handled Kapolei’s tenacious front seven by relying on that perfect blend of ground-and-pound, and Maiava’s increasing patience and vision from sideline to sideline.
Nine different Red Raiders caught at least one pass from Maiava.
The capper came on the final play of the first half when he circled out of trouble, then rifled a 21-yard touchdown pass to Duke Heffernan, a converted defensive back who is also an accurate placekicker. Heffernan (six receptions, 76 yards) never gave up on the play, zigging and zagging until he got loose.
“It’s funny, that last play of the half, I thought we were going to get a field goal, then he started scrambling and the clock ran out. Somehow, he found someone wide open in the end zone,” Red Raiders coach Makoa Freitas said. “He has a unique ability to see the field.”
For Maiava, it was a “fun” effort, he said, though he never seemed overly excited at any point.
“We started off kind of slow offensively, but defensively, they were banging,” Maiava said. “Our offense picked it up in the end with the passing game and the running game. It was a good win,” Maiava said. “After the Campbell game, second half, after I opened up, Coach gave me the reins. This game, he pretty much told me, ‘Hey, we’re going to put it all on you.’ “
That gameplan, in a playoff setting, is a world and a universe away from where Kahuku’s offense had been in recent years. By necessity, the Red Raiders were an ultimate smashmouth team when they won the state crown in 2015. Now, they have the balance that Freitas likes.
“We just studied their film, pretty much,” Maiava added. “We knew what they were doing. Film helps us prepare a lot, and we reacted off of them.”
For what it’s worth, Kapolei is one of the few teams in recent years that was able to limit Kahuku to less than 5 yards per carry. It still wasn’t enough, largely because the Red Raiders are committed to balance.
“We knew that Kapolei coming in, they have a good D-line,” Freitas said. “There’s a reason all those guys have all those offers. They’re really good. We thought, we’d get some short completions that could soften them up a little bit. That was the gameplan going in, to try and pass because we knew it would be tough to run the ball on these guys. Looking at the film, it’s been so hard to run on these guys the entire season.”
Kahuku enters the semifinals with momentum, still unbeaten against Hawaii teams. No local team has scored more than seven points on Big Red this season.
“Hat goes off to our defensive coaches, Coach Sola (Soliai) and his staff. They’ve been able to play well every game. I’m really proud of our players,” Freitas said. “We played well as a team. I’m happy for our fans. We have some of the best fans in the state. I’m happy for our coaching staff and I’m happy for our players.”
Kahuku’s final run-pass count: 32 rushes, 35 passes.
Still learning and growing into a well balance team. Fewer mistakes and penalties. Still young and high ranked. I give them an A last night. Their confidence and Coaches are jelling. RRLF all the way.
The winners moved on and the losers season ended. One game at a time Big Red. You got this. Your fans are behind you.
Congradulations, half your team is not on grade check like they were at the beginning of the season, who paid off the teachers?
What a comment…”who paid off the teachers”…lmao!!!
Pure ignorance.
@ Educationfirst, what eff is wrong with you? U bashing kids! KIDS! U need to find a forum that talks about education! If your goal is to convince people,that are making these comment, that education should be a first– Then you are not doing it positively. I suggest someone from prep world to block him. Yes, debate what happen in the game. But leave your comments about kids (all high school football) to yourself. This is an island, everyone has family playing other high school. I can suggest a couple of Ivy League schools that REALLY debate about education. This is about football. KEEP IT AT THAT!
Mr Education First, I’m sure your parents taught you well that “if you don’t have anything good to say then don’t say anything at all”. I will add that you are what you speak.
From your posts you seem like a highly intelligent person but your comments reflects otherwise.
There’s a saying in Samoan that goes like this, o le poto ae le faautauta o le vale lea, “intelligence without common sense is an idiot which I know you’re not because didn’t create idiots
Problem is sometimes we think we too smart.
Heed your parents teachings and you’ll have knowledge with good wisdom.
I also heard Kahuku recruits all their players from Samoa. Now we paying off the teachers. Lmao
Congratulations, Big Red!
Education First? His Mom didn’t have any kids that lived, so sorry!
What’s bad is now Hernandez will be working the booth and scouting talent to transfer there. Hahaha
Hurricanes rarely hit oahu now a days, once every 20 years or so…Kapolei has to wait another ten or so until then, it’s been downgraded to Kona winds. Slightly uncomfortable to be in but will pass and nothing a good swim or the air conditioner cannot fix. Go BIG RED.
Education First….the day (in this life of the next) when all is revealed, I’m coming for you. Piece of crap life hating on kids. Keep hiding behind your keyboard. No lifer.
I must say people just can’t stop hating the red raiders 🙌🏽 must be doing something right. Not our fault we train hard in practice and it shows on the field. We may have kids come to our school from far and wide but it’s because they come for the program to win and be seen by college recruits. Most of these kids have families who’ve grown up and around the north shore community which is why they come. Same as st.louis they have a great coach and program to get kids further into a great college and future as an adult. People can hate all they want but that’s why both programs are consistent. The kids who are on the field practice hard from when their children to become the best they can. #RR4L
Kina winds buahahahaha!!
Education 1st should take education first because how do you spell congratulations again? Bahahahah so who paid your teachers? “congraDulations” HAHAHAHAHA
Education first, no YOU “congradulations” on being a dumb ass! Can’t even spell fool! RR4L
So much for defenses putting nine in the box. No can anymore. Too bad for them we can still run like da heo.
Gooooooooooood night.
Too meke until we start throwing the deep ball when there is no safety help other teams going keep 9 in the box. Our kids are very fortunate to come away from this game with no major injuries. Our QB looks a lot more confident. Let’s go BigRed!
Aristotle said to avoid criticism be nothing, do nothing, say nothing. Go get em boys. RRFL
That young secondary, that looked like a weakness, has just grown up and matches the front seven as the best in the state. RR4L._.
So many people at the beginning of the season had Kapolei’s D as best in the state. They looked really good in the scrimmage against big red. But it was a scrimmage. We talking about practice. Ha ha ha. RR4L._.
I was expecting a little bit more production from Kapolei. Maybe I overestimated the hurricanes.
Back to our second home field. Aloha Stadium.
Going all the Way!!! Go Big Red ⛑
RRFL
Hahahahahahaha I can sense a sigh of relief from ALL the RRFL peeps. Actually winning a game vs talent. Yeah only Farrington, Leilehua, and Mililani accomplished the same outcome vs Kapolei. But it’s ok, feel it and pass on the humble pie, for DOOMSDAY is comin!
Education first can’t even spell “Congratulations!” Even his spell check on phone or computer is illiterate!!! Los money! RR4L!
Sigh of relief? You actually thought Kapolei stood a chance? Hate to burst your bubble buddy but there is NO high school football team in this State that has a chance against BigRed….
You guys are so dumb.
“anywaaays” the infamous, self-proclaimed “hip-hop dancer” is pretending to be me again.
So before you accuse me of anythjng please learn who’s writing.
Now anyone can use any ol username. But choice of words, style of writing, easily fingerprints the author.
Please do not categorize me with someone who’s in love with me and wants to be me.
88 spoken like a true Kahuku supporter, sorry but Crusaders will win it all again! Dream on!
I tried to get documentation from Kahuku in effort to verify that grade checks were performed as required and I was DENIED!! Is the office trying to hide something??!!
To add insult to injury I was escorted off the campus by some rent-a-cops who were probably some flunky ex-players who couldn’t make it in the real world. Those bozos made me drop my bus pass sometime during the fracas and I intend to get reimbursed.
As noted, don’t mistake me for some wannabes using my name. I use facts, statistics and generally accepted information to formulate my arguments. Use your brains and don’t believe that everyone using the Ed 1st username is me (aka “the one and only original”).
PS I was only kidding about knowing that anywaaays lives in Wailalua. A little research by you halfwits would uncover the fact that IP addresses are accessible by site administrators only which I’m obviously not.
Not really surprised you RRFLifers didn’t call me out on it since most of you can barely read. LOL!!!!
TECH FACT #2: if you’re in your home an IP address ping locator might show a location several miles away, or even 25 miles away which in Hawaii is the distance from Honolulu to Kapolei. So claiming that I knew what street anywaaays lived on….even if I did have his IP address….was something you geniuses should have figured out was impossible. 😞
I’m tired of winning all the time.
The only good thing about kapolei last night was their d line. It began and ended at that. And somehow Kahuku struggled with them. This should of been a blowout guys. Kapolei is not very good when compared to St. Louis, Punahou, Kahuku, or Mililani
The ex Stl. quarterback was replaced by the ex Bishop Gorman quarteback. The big ex Damien offensive and ex Waimea running back played pretty good. The ex Stl. DB and ex Utah d.end also played pretty good. The ex Campbell players did suit up. Oh,sorry, I was talking about Kapolei football,my bad.
Coach C maybe the ex Utah d end caught the same flight as the other Utah players heading to Kahuku. Then they all had a big meet up at the arrival gates with the kids from Samoa and Tonga before driving to the north shore. But not to Waialua because they not good. It’s kahuku or bust or stay at Orem or Fagaitua
RR4Ever October 14, 2017 10:45 am
Education First….the day (in this life of the next) when all is revealed, I’m coming for you. Piece of crap life hating on kids. Keep hiding behind your keyboard. No lifer.
————–
First of all, anywaays continues to use my screen name and pretends to be me. It just adds to my street or in this case, my internet cred!
As for coming for me? Coming for what? You going to loan me your last nickel? Finally, you accuse me (or actually the fake person pretending to be me) of hiding behind a keyboard. But you use the screen name RR4Ever. Did your mom name you that? Or are you a hypocrite using a fake name and hiding behind your keyboard.
I am actually shaking now. Please don’t hurt me internet tough guy! I have seen the light. You have made me change!
Nah, I am just playing. #dumbass
Education Last: It’s not me impersonating you. You always impersonate me. But you know what? It doesn’t matter what you or the ILH recruiting agenda says or does. All we do is win win win. Kapolei recruits so much they might as well be in the ILH, and we still DESTROYED them. You can take your fancy diplomas and college degrees and education and “opportunities.” Ignorant people like you are always harping on grades, as if that matters in life. Those of us up in red raider country know that some things are worth more than that, especially the opportunity to play for your hometown and community.
RRFL!
anywaaaays!! October 14, 2017 10:14 pm
Education Last: It’s not me impersonating you. You always impersonate me. But you know what? It doesn’t matter what you or the ILH recruiting agenda says or does. All we do is win win win. Kapolei recruits so much they might as well be in the ILH, and we still DESTROYED them. You can take your fancy diplomas and college degrees and education and “opportunities.” Ignorant people like you are always harping on grades, as if that matters in life. Those of us up in red raider country know that some things are worth more than that, especially the opportunity to play for your hometown and community.
RRFL!
———————-
SURE BUDDY! You have no credibility.
1) You are from Waialua. But you pretend to be from Kahuku.
2) There are certain nuances in your writing and the fake Education First that fingerprints you.
3) You do idolize me
It’s okay. I get that you sucked in sports. I get that your high school (Waialua) sucked in football. But at least be proud of where you are from.
Let me guess, Waialua Football sucks cuz the ILH stole all your kids?
anywaaaays!! October 14, 2017 10:14 pm
Education Last: It’s not me impersonating you. You always impersonate me. But you know what? It doesn’t matter what you or the ILH recruiting agenda says or does. All we do is win win win. Kapolei recruits so much they might as well be in the ILH, and we still DESTROYED them. You can take your fancy diplomas and college degrees and education and “opportunities.” Ignorant people like you are always harping on grades, as if that matters in life. Those of us up in red raider country know that some things are worth more than that, especially the opportunity to play for your hometown and community.
RRFL!
—————————-
Man, you keep coming dumber and dumber. Please stop. Or please tell us that you are playing around just to arouse the audience. If you are really this stupid, I do feel sorry for you.
You write, “Ignorant people like you are always harping on grades, as if that matters in life.”
If that doesn’t matter, why do kids need to go to school? Why are their checks and balances with schools to make sure that kids are testing properly? If grades do not matter, why do colleges use grades of one of the criteria for admissions? And why do many families send their kids to college?
I get it, I get it. I know at Waialua where you are from, maybe they didn’t take grades seriously in the 70’s and due to that you are now a moron.
But most people do value grades. And in Waialua where you are from, what is more important than grades? Please tell us Al Bundy.
Don’t buy in to this education person. We have given him enough attention. RRFL!!!
I beg to differ with Coach Freitas. I went to both Kamehameha and Mililani, so I my allegiance is not necessarily with Kahuku unless they’re playing a mainland team. When that happens, we all should be Red Raiders for one game. Or for that matter, we should be Trojans or Buffanblu or Rams whenever a local team plays a mainland team.
But I missy disagree with Coach Freitas when he says that Kahuku has “some of” the best fans in the state.
I’m sorry but this is not true.
I’m sure Coach was just being humble when he said it, but being from outside the Kahuku community, I can say this.
KAHUKU HAS THE VERY BEST FANS IN THE STATE !!
They support the team win or lose and no one leaves the game early.. whether ahead or behind. The Bingham game is a perfect example.. over 2000 fans on Kahuku’s compared to roughly 300 for Bingham.. In a hard fought loss, the fans stayed and sang the Alma Mater after the game.
No other high does this.. unless they’re winning.. Not even UH has fans like Kahuku ..
Ok I’m done.
Aloha
That should say “must disagree”
That should also say “no other high school does this”
@C-pop! St. Louis does look unstoppable this year. They been clicking from the start of the season. Sad to say but i think the Red Raider offense is just a little to far behind at this point in the season.defense gonna have to come up really big in order to have a chance. Anyways i just call it like i see it.. Go Big Red!
Did that anywaaaays genius just say the opportunity to play for your community is more important than grades???? How many of those D1 schools sending offers will accept a student that can’t make the minimum grades? Typical washed up selfish high school football fan that doesn’t care about the kids. They just want the kids to play for YOU and your neighborhood. Who cares if there’s an oppertunity at a college prep education AND playing football, rooted not recruited! I bet all the kids on the team work hard every day. I bet they are proud to put that Kahuku jersey on. Sad that they represent people like you who care more about “the community” than the kids success.
Pono October 15, 2017 6:23 am
Don’t buy in to this education person. We have given him enough attention. RRFL!!!
—————
And yet, you are giving me more.
#RRFL
Education First admitted that he is a Punahou alum way back 2 years ago on these forums. It also appears that Education First is masquerading as “Anywaaaaays!!” to make trouble in order to make Kahuku look bad.
If you all remember the real Anywaaaysss! from last year he was always long winded and very insightful of anything Kahuku, thats how you know who the real Anywaaaaays! is but I havent seen him post this season yet. This fake imposter has nothing insightful about Kahukus program and only talks crap about other schools to make Kahuku look bad.
Brother got some bipolar issues.
Education First is on timeout for a bit. Anybody who tries to post as him will also be banned. Enough is enough already.
Thank you Billy Hull! Keep Hawaii Prep World a fun and respectful place to talk about high school sports and the accomplishments of student athletes. This is not a platform to be bashing and verbally abusing the youth of Hawaii. It’s a very cowardly and shameful thing to do. Especially if you’re gonna hide behind a fake screen name.
@ Education First
Bye Girl 😂 #hiphopdancer 💃