Kahuku running back Kesi Ah Hoy looks for running room against Kapolei. The sophomore tailback rushed for a TD, passed for another and scored on a kickoff return in the Red Raiders' win over the Hurricanes. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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081614_KahuKap_0077.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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KAHUKU - Sophomore Kesi Ah Hoy had a hand in three touchdowns to lead Kahuku over Kapolei, 33-19, Friday night at Carleton E. Weimer Field.

The debut of Kahuku's new coach Lee Leslie was highlighted by Ah Hoy, a tailback who threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Tuli Wily-Matagi; returned the second-half kickoff 94 yards for a TD; and ran for a 38-yard TD. He accounted for 166 yards of offense.

"Kesi's only a sophomore so you're going to hear his name a lot," senior QB Wily-Matagi said. "He's somebody the whole state's going to have to watch out for."

Leslie was mixed about winning his coaching debut for Kahuku (1-0), ranked fifth in the ScoringLive/OC 16 Division I Power Rankings.

"I'm happy with the win, but I'm not happy about all the (penalty) flags," Leslie said. "I've never seen that in all my life."

Kahuku was penalized 18 times for 165 yards. Linebacker Reupena Fitisemanu was ejected late in the game after a personal foul penalty. His helmet came loose and he swung it at a Kapolei player in the process. Leslie said a Kapolei player caused the helmet to come off; the coach said he will appeal the ejection, which includes a suspension from the team's next game.

"He had his helmet pulled off his head," Leslie said. "Sadly, I'm the only one who saw it. We'll put that film in and let the people who make that decision make that decision."

Tuli-Matagi, the starting QB, added one TD pass, a 20-yarder to Chance Maghanoy, to tie the game at 7 early in the second quarter.

Linebacker Manaia Atuaia returned a fumble seven yards before the half to give Kahuku a 20-7 lead at the half.

After having their non-league games canceled last week because of the threat of Hurricane Iselle, the Red Raiders (1-0) and the No. 8 Hurricanes (0-1) opened the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I season with a cross-over game that will count in the regular-season standings. Kahuku is in the Division I Red, while Kapolei is in the Division I Blue.

The game was marred by tragedy, as a player's parent in the Kapolei cheering section sustained a medical emergency early in the game. Kapolei's athletic trainer Alex Lo tended to the man after the public address announcer requested a medical aide. The man passed away.

"It was a big blow to our guys, the family," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "We're a family and that pretty much hit home when something like that happens. It was surreal. Great man, family man. Our guys were super bummed and rattled, but you can't blame that (for the loss). You have to play. We tried to rally, but it was tough...It was the toughest night of my coaching career in terms of trying to get the boys focused on the game. They were really distraught."

The incident occurred after Kapolei cashed in on a first-quarter fumble by Kahuku that led to an Alton Julius 2-yard sneak for a TD to put Kapolei ahead, 7-0, with 8:11 in the first quarter.

Kahuku put up 26 unanswered points with Wily-Matagi's 20-yard TD pass, Ah Hoy's 4-yard TD pass; Atuaia's fumble return; and Ah Hoy's kickoff return.

Wily-Matagi, who played tight end as a sophomore, said it was his first TD catch since then. On the previous play, Ah Hoy lined up as a wildcat and rushed for four yards to the Kapolei 4. He lined up the same way the next play, but hit Wily-Matagi for the score.

"It's fun sometimes when I throw," Ah Hoy said.

Kapolei got a 5-yard TD run from Ronald Matautia midway through the third quarter, but Kahuku answered with Ah Hoy's 38-yard TD run.

The Hurricanes scored early in the fourth on Julius' 17-yard TD pass to Randon Ruiz to pull Kapolei to 33-19.