No. 1 Kahuku is on its way toward the promised land after shutting out No. 5 Campbell 21-0 in the Open Division semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Championships on Saturday night at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium.
But there is one more game that the Red Raiders (9-0) want badly. And that will be held Thursday at Farrington against No. 2 and ILH champion Saint Louis (6-3), a slim 27-25 winner over No. 3 Mililani in Saturday’s other semifinal.
Two key players for Kahuku in Saturday’s 21-0 win over Campbell were Kainoa Carvalho and Nitus Aueloa.
That’s the show the whole state has been waiting for. The Crusaders are four-year reigning champions, and the OIA champion Red Raiders are eager to get a ninth state title and first since 2015.
Defense was the name of the game for the Red Raiders once again. They held the Sabers (5-4) to 133 scrimmage yards. That effort, as usual, was led by guys like linebackers Liona Lefau (five tackles) and Kruze Keanu (two sacks), defensive end Isaiah Tuliloa (four tackles and an interception), and an unheralded but solid interior defensive line also contributed in a big way. Inside lineman Nitus Auelua chipped in with four tackles, including two for losses and a quarterback hurry.
Campbell played solidly defensively, keeping the game close, but the Sabers didn’t have an answer for Red Raiders wideout Kainoa Carvalho, who broke free for 100 yards on 10 catches. Quarterback Jason Mariteragi also was a thorn in the Sabers’ side, completing 12 of 15 passes with two TD throws and a rushing touchdown.
“(Getting to the title game) is what we’ve been waiting for,” Carvalho said. “That’s what the community has been waiting for, especially with the pandemic. And you know, it’s going too to be a BIG game.”
Being limited to 21 points was not that big of a concern to the junior receiver.
“A win is a win,” he said. “So we’ve got to start off strong in the championship game and score more points of course.”
After a 49-23 loss to Kahuku in the regular season, it was a big achievement for the Sabers that they held the Red Raiders to three touchdowns.
“I feel everybody played 100 percent with everything on the line,” said Campbell defensive lineman Ezra Filo, who had six tackles. “Everybody knew this could be our last day, so we left it out on the field.”
Tysic Puni and Ezra Filo turned in solid performances for Campbell in the loss to Kahuku on Saturday.
Added Sabers linebacker Tysic Puni, who finished with nine tackles, including two for losses: “We were one game away from the state championship game. We knew that if we lost it was going to be our last game so we definitely worked hard out there. We gave it a shot.”
Kahuku’s Mariteragi is looking forward to the showdown with Saint Louis in the state final.
Kahuku QB Jason Mariteragi figured in all three of the Red Raiders’ TDs.
“We’re really excited to be back in a state championship after falling short the last time we were there,” the quarterback said. “We always know our defense is going to play very well, so it’s just up to the offense to score whenever we can.”
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ALSO AT BedrockSportsHawaii.com: Saint Louis’ Lason Napuunoa ‘Kicks the Damn Ball Through’ To Bat Mililani 27-25 And Set Up A Showdown Vs. Kahuku
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