FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: Shaun Niu Grabs The Momentum, Madden Soliai Adds 3 Exclamation Points And Kahuku Clutches 29th OIA Title

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What can aptly be described as a vast array of supernova Kahuku football players lit up the rainy skies at Farrington High’s field in mighty fashion yet again on Friday night.

This time, it was a slow burn in the first half in the OIA Open championship game against Mililani before the door the Red Raiders had been knocking on finally opened and, once that happened, there was no looking back.

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It was senior Shaun Niu’s interception that finally got things rolling, and then after the North Shore squad fully took over the proceedings in the second half, it was freshman Madden Soliai’s three (allow me the liberty of using a boxing reference here) devastating body blows that put the lid on Kahuku’s 35-0 convincing dumping of their main league rival.

Neither Niu, a transfer from Utah, nor Soliai, who was in eighth grade a year ago, were part of the Red Raiders’ march to the 2021 state championship.

And before we go into what those two did, let’s quickly give you a rundown of others who contributed largely to this latest of Kahuku OIA title game wins — No. 29 in school history:

>> Senior quarterback Waika Crawford. He woke up the Red Raiders’ struggling offense by taking carries of 19 and 3 yards to the house for leads of 7-0 early in the second quarter and 14-0 midway through the third.

>> Junior running back Vaaimalae Fonoti. Up from the 2021 JV team, his low center of gravity and quick bursts through the line added up to 14 time-consuming carries, 87 yards and a TD.

>> Senior linebacker Liona Lefau. The Texas commit came up with an ultra important interception in Kahuku’s end zone in one-on-one coverage against Mililani’s Gavin Hunter on the Trojans’ best drive of the night (to the Kahuku 16) with 2:09 left in the half and the Red Raiders leading only 7-0.

>> Sophomore receiver Kaimana Carvalho. His 35-yard catch and run of a Crawford pass — on a crucial fourth down and 6 situation — led to Crawford’s second TD and a 14-0 lead on the next play.

Niu’s Pick That Got Things Going

Niu, one of the many in the galaxy of talent at defensive back, was the main reason the Red Raiders (10-2) broke a 0-0 tie.

Just like his teammate, sophomore Aiden Manutai, did two weeks ago in the two teams’ regular-season finale (a 29-17 Kahuku win), Niu jumped a Trojans receiver’s short route to get the tide-turning interception.

One play later, Crawford was in the end zone around left end with a 19-yard touchdown and a 7-0 edge.

“We’ve been pushing that comeback (jumping the route) all week,” Niu said. “Right when I saw him (Trojans quarterback Emana Tarape) drop his shoulder, I came off the edge and picked that.”

Soliai Busts Through Twice For Punt Blocks Before A Late-Game Interception

Soliai, the son of defensive coordinator Sola Soliai, may look back one day on this season and remind himself that he has three punt blocks in two important games against Mililani (7-4).

Yes indeed, the kid blocked not one, but two Trojans punts on Friday after blocking one two weeks ago.

Both came in the second half after the momentum was already on Kahuku’s side. But those two plays, along with his fourth quarter interception, put a nice cap on things.

“I try to be an athlete and I just balled out,” Soliai said, who added a plug for many of his teammates: “Laie boys!”

Soliai added that he continues to get inspiration from Matt Faga, the highly regarded former Red Raiders defensive coach who died last year.

“He was a big part of my life and I dedicate my football season to him every year now,” he said. “His favorite saying was ‘never scared’ so I just always lay it out on the line — never scared. It just sticks with me and it sticks with all of us, too. At practice, if somebody doesn’t want to do something, we say, “Ahh, scared?”

Commenting on Soliai’s performance, Red Raiders coach Sterling Carvalho said, “You would think they would say, ‘Hey, let’s block No. 21.’ He keeps doing what he’s doing and that’s what our team is, unselfish heroes. That’s what we have on our team.”

Two More Wins Would Mean A Second Straight Open State Championship

Kahuku is two wins away from repeating as Open state champ. Matchups aren’t set yet, but the Red Raiders’ semifinal game on Nov. 18 at the Mililani High field will likely be against Campbell.

The Sabers (7-3) squeezed past Kapolei 49-42 in the OIA Open third place game Friday at the Nanakuli High field to qualify for a state spot.

In the first meeting of the season between Kahuku and Campbell on a muddy field in Ewa Beach on Sept. 10, the Red Raiders prevailed 16-6.

In the other Open state semifinal on Nov. 18 at Mililani, the Trojans will play the winner of the ILH championship, either Punahou (7-1) or Saint Louis (4-4). Those two ILH teams play Saturday night for the league title and Punahou can get it done with a win. If the Buff ‘N Blue lose, another game will be played for all the marbles next weekend

So far, the Red Raiders are 4-0 against Mililani, Campbell and Punahou (a 27-20 win 0n Sept. 3) combined.

“We were clicking on all cylinders in the second half,” coach Carvalho said. “Don’t let us get going. We feed off of momentum. We’re a very opportunistic team. When we see these things, we take advantage and there’s no stopping us. Everybody believes that we just need one play, whether it be a block, an interception or a nice run, and we’ll carry the momentum together. Once we make that play, there’s no stopping the big red machine.”

The Trojans, with Tarape in the lineup due to starting QB Treston McMillan’s season-ending knee injury, aren’t giving up the ship.

“Sometimes you have a bad night,” coach Rod York said. “We’ll be back. We gotta learn from this. Definitely, our confidence is still there. Look who we’re playing. We credit Kahuku and all that. Now, it’s time to put the smackdown on the ILH team.”

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Note: This article has been clarified to correctly note that Vaaimalae Fonoti played for the Kahuku JV team in 2021.

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