No. 5 Campbell can feel pretty good about its team knowing it has a potent one-two punch in receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala and running back Jonan Aina-Chaves.
On Saturday, the pair took turns delivering blows in a 35-28 victory over Kamehameha at Kunuiakea Stadium.
>> CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME
Mokiao-Atimalala, a junior, finished with five catches for 151 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half. The score came on the Sabers’ second play from scrimmage on a 62-yard pass.
Mokiao-Atimalala also made an electrifying 64-yard reception, which set up his brother Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala’s 1-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7 Campbell with 4:28 left in the first quarter.
This season, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala has 58 catches and leads the state with 1,082 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns for Campbell, which is ranked No. 5 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Football Top 10.
“Good things, exciting things happen (when he gets the ball),” Campbell coach Darren Johnson said of Titus Mokiao-Atimalala.
Aina-Chaves, a senior, didn’t play in the first half, but finished with 16 carries for 87 yards as Campbell dominated the clock after halftime. He left with a leg injury in the fourth quarter.
“In the second half, they bring in ‘Bubba’ Aina-Chaves,” said Kamehameha coach Abu Maafala. “All week we were trying to game plan to stop these guys and our guys were locked in and they did everything that they had to do.”
Aina-Chaves has 147 carries for 804 yards this season.for the Sabers (5-4, 3-2), who will play at Kahuku on Saturday in the OIA Open semifinals.
“He runs it hard and stuff,” said Johnson, who added “no comment” when asked why Aina-Chaves didn’t play prior to halftime.
The two Saber stars were the only effective offensive players in a game where 30 points were scored by the defense.
Campbell linebacker Titan Jarra had a 13-yard pick-6 and a game-sealing 40-yard fumble return for a score.
The Warriors (3-6, 2-6 ILH Open) scored on a 30-yard pick-6 by Evan Rau, a safety when Kuao Peihopa tackled a Sabers running back in the end zone and a 12-yard fumble return by Dayne Maeva.
Kamehameha will play Punahou on Oct. 25 in the ILH Open playoffs with the winner advancing to play No. 1 Saint Louis.
COMMENTS