Campbell WR BJ Halmos had 5 receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown against Wai'anae. Sherwin Acidera | Special to SL

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Wai'anae QB Kekoa Kaluhiokalani passed for a game-high 245 yards in the loss. Sherwin Acidera | Special to SL

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Campbell QB Justin Tago passed for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 21-14 upset of Wai'anae. Sherwin Acidera | Special to SL

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Fri, Aug 19, 2011 @ Campbell [ 7:00 pm ]

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Waianae

14

Campbell

21

Final/OT	1	2	3	4	OT	T
Waianae (4-6-0)	7	0	0	7	7	14
Campbell (8-3-0)	6	0	0	8	7	21

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Justin Tago-Su'e 163 yd 2 TD

Kekoa Kaluhiokalani 245 yd 1 TD

Triston Pebria 53 yd

Sean Stevens-Sadamaru 25 yd

BJ Halmos 75 yd 1 TD

Jason Towne 144 yd 1 TD

EWA BEACH - Experience made the difference for Campbell.

Second-year starting quarterback Justin Tago, a junior, threw a perfect fade to slotback Keoni Piceno to complete an eight-yard touchdown play in overtime to lift the Sabers over No. 8 Waianae, 21-14, Friday night at the Sabers' field.

It was the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West season opener for both teams.

A year ago, Tago started for the Sabers as a sophomore and endured some growing pains. But Friday, he was poised for the challenge provided by the Seariders (0-2 overall, 0-1 Red West).

"He threw that ball with somebody in his face," Campbell coach Amosa Amosa said. "I think that's the play that makes him come of age. Last year, he just would've heaved the ball. He just threw where he knew Keoni was going to be and Keoni made a spectacular catch near the sidelines."

In overtime, each team starts from the defense's 20-yard line to try to score. The Sabers took the ball first, faced third-and-4 at the 16 and made a first down on a eight-yard run by RB Triston Bega-Pebria. On first down, Piceno ran an out pattern to the right side of the end zone. Tago put a perfect arc in the air that only the 5-foot-7 Piceno could make the catch.

"When the drives on that late, we have to pull through," Tago said. "The offense struggled at the beginning, but we knew we were going to pull through at the end."

"That's our bread-and-butter play," Piceno said. "We do that everyday in practice. More than 20 times in practice."

Tago completed 18 of 28 passes for 163 yards and two TDs. Sophomore Isaac Hurd also took some snaps, completing 3 of 9 for 16 yards.

The Seariders lost a yard after four plays in OT on their ensuing series, ending the game.

Meanwhile, the Seariders were breaking in a new QB in sophomore Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, son of the Seariders' baseball coach and an all-star QB himself at Waianae. The younger Kaluhiokalani was 17 of 27 for 245 yards, including a 30-yard TD pass to Jason Towne late in the game that forced the overtime.

It was the second season in a row the Sabers beat the Seariders. Campbell won 13-6 last year at Waianae.

"They're always up there in the top five, top 10 in the state," Amosa said. "For us to beat them is a testament to our team, to our coaches. It's hard to beat Waianae. They showed a nice passing attack for a team known for power. I know they'll bounce back from this. We're just fortunate to make enough plays to win tonight."

But the Sabers got off to an inauspicious start, as the Seariders motored their way downfield on their first series after taking the opening kickoff. Kaluhiokalani's 45-yard pass to Towne put Waianae to the Sabers' 8. Two plays later, RB Lyman Peeples plunged in from the 1 and Shaughn Spencer's PAT gave Waianae a 7-0 lead.

The Sabers scored later in the quarter on Tago's 35-yard TD pass to BJ Halmos, but Jaelen Subia-Etrata's PAT try hit the left upright and bounced back, allowing the Seariders to hold a 7-6 lead.

The game stayed scoreless the next two quarters. The Seariders lost a muffed punt and a fumble in the second quarter, but the Sabers were unable to cash in. Each team lost muffed punts in the third quarter.

Campbell was finally able to take the lead in the fourth quarter. A 58-yard drive, aided by a personal foul horse-collar tackle, was capped on a 28-yard TD run by Aries Pihi on a draw with 5:01 left in the game. Having missed the earlier PAT, the Sabers went for 2 and got on a run by Tago.

Waianae didn't miss a beat, converting on two third-down situations, scoring on a Kaluhioklani's 30-yard TD pass to Towne. Spencer's PAT tied it at 14 with 2:14 left.

Subia-Etrata missed a 42-yard field goal attempt with 30 seconds left and Waianae just downed the ball to drain the remaining time in regulation.

"I'm so happy, so proud of our players," Amosa said."We knew had a chance. It was just a matter of putting it together."