Sabers looked like a new team against Kaiser

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Many would say a 1-6 team doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. Campbell begs to defer.

The Sabers proved their doubters wrong and put their regular season woes behind them to stun host Kaiser, 27-21, in the first round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I playoffs Saturday night.

"This adds a lot of confidence to this team," said Campbell linebacker Nicholas Kernaghan, who had seven tackles and a 49-yard pick-six. "We had a negative season. Nobody believed in us coming into this game so we just proved to them that we can do this."

Campbell held a 21-7 second-quarter lead before giving up two Kaiser scores within eight seconds of each other to make the score a 21-all deadlock at the half. The Sabers pieced together a 13-play, 80-yard drive that took seven minutes and 26 seconds off the clock in the fourth quarter to take the lead for good on Kawika Ulufale's quarterback sneak.

"I'm so proud of how our boys reacted today," said Campbell coach Amosa Amosa. "We went up, they came back to tie things up and we just played four quarters and finished the game tonight."

The success of the Sabers' clock-miking, game-winning drive can be attributed to the offensive play-calling in the first half. Campbell opened up the running game with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Noah Esprecion on Ulufale's second pass attempt of the night, and a handful of bubble and jail break screens.

"They were pretty stout in the middle with some of the big linemen they had," said Amosa. "We mixed it up and got them moving on screens."

Ulufale, the backup quarterback to start the year, thrived behind the offensive play-calling to have his best game of the season. The junior gunslinger tossed for a season-high 240 yards and had two touchdowns against one interception on 21-of-28 passing.

"I'm so proud of Kawika," said Amosa. "He's doing a lot of good things and it seems like every game he's doing better and better."

With more attention paid to the receivers, running back Terrell Johnson had a breakout game after a injury-plagued season and finished with 100 yards on 20 carries.

"TJ (Johnson) has been hurt all year and we just tried to get him going," said Amosa. "It was a nice night to see him break out and get to see the old TJ again."

Although it seems like the Sabers are recently turning a corner, Amosa says that the hard work has been there all season long.

"I'm most proud of how the boys come every Monday," he said. "I'm inspired by their commitment and the sacrifices they make. They told me ‘coach, 0-8 or 8-0, we'll do the same thing every time.'"

Campbell will take on Farrington in the quarterfinals Saturday at Roosevelt. The Governors won the regular season meeting between the two teams, 21-14. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].