Kahuku arguably played its best defensive game against a quality opponent in its 45-20 OIA Red quarterfinal win over Waianae Friday. The Red Raiders were impressive in shutting down the Seariders' rushing attack, but they were certainly aided by a number of costly mistakes by the visitors.

Waianae quarterback Kekoa Kaluhiokalani threw an interception just six plays into the game — on his third pass attempt — to Kahuku's Laakea Graycochea, who returned it 10 yards to the Red Raiders' 30-yard line. On the very next play, the Kahuku offense appeared to score on a 70-yard touchdown pass off a flea flicker, but the played was negated and called back due to an illegal procedure. The Seariders made the most of the second chance and eventually forced a punt to end the 9-play drive.

One play after the change of possession, Kaluhiokalani fumbled near the goal line and the Red Raiders' Roman Salanoa fell on the loose ball in the end zone for the game's first touchdown.

Waianae had a chance to answer on its ensuing possession, but instead gained six yards on its first three plays (which included a dropped pass) before a special teams' snafu ultimately led to two Kahuku scores. On fourth-and-four from his own 26-yard line, punter Stanton Spencer tried to field a low snap, but with pressure coming, was forced to toss the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety. And just like that — off a defensive touchdown and a special teams score — Kahuku was up, 9-0.

Whatsmore, the Red Raiders started their ensuing drive with a short field at the Seariders' 44-yard line and six plays later — on a fourth-and-1 — tailback Soli Afalava scored on a 13-yard option pitch to the right side. That score (plus a successful two-point conversion pass) extended the Kahuku lead to 17-0 before the first quarter was even over.

To Kaluhiokalani's defense, his receivers dropped at least four passes over the course of the game, but he also missed a few open ones as well.

Then there was Waianae's (lack of) pass protection. The Seariders put Kaluhiokalani in some tough spots by having to throw the ball downfield on third downs while trying to evade a relentless Kahuku pass rush. Seven different players recorded a sack for the Red Raiders. Three of the sacks came on third down and another on a fourth down.

Waianae was never really able to find a rhythm offensively. The Seariders, who like to control the clock via a punishing ground game that averaged over 200 yards per game, was shutdown for minus-18 yards and 12 of their 25 designed-run plays (sacks not withstanding) went for no gain or a loss of yardage. Waianae's average drive length was just five plays and 23.4 yards. Of its 13 offensive possessions, the Seariders committed two turnovers, punted three times and turned it over on downs four times.

The defense had its own share of problems defending the Kahuku run game, which averaged 5.3 yards per rush and amassed 248 rushing yards for the game. Kahuku gashed the Seariders for 12 plays of 10 yards or longer and recorded 18 first downs. The Red Raiders converted on 7 of 12 third downs, including 4 of 6 in the second half.

Even when Kahuku made mistakes, Waianae was unable to capitalize on those opportunities. Late in the second quarter, Kahuku quarterback Tuli Wily-Matagi threw an errant pass to the right flat. Waianae defensive back Chade Wong was in a perfect position to make a play — he had nothing but 30 yards of grass between him and the end zone — but couldn't find the handle and dropped a sure-fire pick-6. With the Red Raiders leading 24-7 at that point, a Searider score there would have potentially made it a 10-point game. Instead, Waianae got the ball back only to turn it over on downs in four plays and four plays later Wily-Matagi hit Huleia Naeole for a 35-yard touchdown pass to make the score, 31-7.

It was heartbreak on the North Shore for the third consecutive year for Waianae, whose season has ended at the hands of Kahuku in the OIA quarterfinal each season. Seariders' coach Dan Matsumoto was quick to credit Kahuku in a postgame interview, but his team certainly didn't do much to help itself Friday night.