With Kahuku’s backs firmly against the wall, Diezel Kamoku returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown to give the Red Raiders a 21-19 victory over Mililani for their third straight state Open Division championship on Friday night at the T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
That play happened with 2:59 left. For Kahuku fans, it was reminiscent of Toriano Taulogo’s 62-yard punt return with 23 seconds left that led to the Red Raiders’ 2003 27-26 state title win over Saint Louis.
The win also avenged a 28-21 loss to the Trojans in the OIA title game earlier this month.
Kahuku (12-2), whose only other loss this season came against Mater Dei (nationally No. 1 at the time), now has 11 state championships since the tournament began in 1999. Mililani (11-2) was going for its second top-tier state title.
The Red Raiders held leads of 8-0, 8-6, 15-6 and 15-12 before the Trojans went ahead 19-15 on Davyn Joseph’s 89-yard touchdown reception of a Treston McMillan pass.
For further reading of Friday night’s game:
Two more state championship games (Division I and II) will be held Saturday night, as noted in the accompanying graphic.
