Radford pose for a picture after defeating Kapaa to win the schools's first ever Division II football title. CJ Caraang | SL

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Fri, Nov 20, 2015 @ Aloha Stadium [ 4:30 pm ]

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Radford

30

Kapaa

16

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Radford (13-0-0)	0	14	3	13	30
Kapaa (9-1-0)	7	9	0	0	16

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Teili Fonua 76 yd

Quintin Iriarte 195 yd 2 TD

Kekoa Kaluahine-Cacal 12 yd 1 TD

Ace Faumui 60 yd 1 TD

Justin DeForge 47 yd

Thomas Reid 102 yd 1 TD

HALAWA — Radford scored 16 unanswered points in the second half to rally past Kapaa, 30-16, for its first state title in school history on a rainy Friday night.

The Rams (13-0) bounced back from four first half turnovers to beat the Warriors (9-1) in a battle of unbeatens in the title game of the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II Football Championships at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

It is Radford's major title since winning the 1981 Oahu Prep Bowl. 

At 13-0, the Rams become the eighth Oahu Interscholastic Association team to finish a season unbeaten and untied. Radford also went undefeated during the Prep Bowl championship, also 13-0.

"It feels so good to prove people and all the doubters wrong," said Radford coach Fred Salanoa, whose team is ranked No. 1 in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division II Football Power Rankings. "Our young men, they worked so hard. They deserved this limelight and they deserve all the recognition that they get. We're just appreciative to have this opportunity and grateful to bring the championship home to Radford high school after 34 years."

Radford also became the first team to post an offensive touchdown against second-ranked Kapaa this season. The 30 points allowed by Kapaa was the most since 2011, when the Warriors lost to Canada's Mount Douglas, 34-31.

On a rain-soaked evening, it was the Radford defense that shone the brightest. Kapaa was held to minus 47 yards rushing and finished with 39 yards of total offense in the first meeting between the two teams since a preseason meeting in 1966.

"Our defense is the reason why we won the state championship and the reason why we are 13-0," said Salanoa. "Defensive coordinator Matt Manuma did such a great job with his schemes and getting our kids ready. We knew if they ran the ball, they were running right into our trap. We feel we are one of the top run defenses in the state because of the pressure we bring. Hats off to our young men and coaching staff."

The Rams also racked up five sacks and had 11 total tackles for loss. Kapaa was 4 of 15 on third down attempts and turned it over on downs four times.

"They physically outplayed us, especially their defensive line," said Kapaa coach Philip Rapozo. "We couldn't block them. Congratulations to coach Salanoa and his Radford Rams. It was an awesome job, they deserved what they got tonight."

Kapaa saw its 16-14 halftime lead slip away after a pair of miscues on special teams. The Warriors failed to field the second half opening kickoff and Radford's Patric Diamond was able to recover it at the Kapaa 15-yard line. Four plays later Roman Gennero booted a 30-yard field goal to put the Rams ahead for good, 17-16.

Early in the fourth quarter linebacker Jordan Walker came off the edge untouched on a Kapaa punt attempt and forced a fumble on Kurt Napoleon. The loose ball was scooped up by Dillon Sunday for a 26-yard return to put Radford up 23-16 with 9:21 left in regulation.

"We struggled on special teams tonight," said Rapozo. "We usually win that area of the game. Tonight we lost it."

Napoleon, who is also the starting quarterback, went down with an ankle injury on the play and never reentered the game. His backup, Telii Fonua, went 7-for-17 passing for 76 yards and an interception.

Both teams could not find any success on offense to start the game until Kapaa's Jayson Hawthorne recovered an Ace Faumui fumble at the Kapaa 45-yard line. The Warriors were able to score off the turnover with a 10-play drive that was capped on Kekoa Kaluahine-Cacal's 1-yard TD run.

The Warriors were able to put together another scoring drive after Jonathan Bilyeu recovered a Radford fumble on the Rams' very next play from scrimmage. Clifton Oliver had enough leg on a 45-yard attempt to give Kapaa a 10-0 lead six seconds into the second quarter.

Radford broke through offensively on its next series when Thomas Reid caught a slant pattern in stride for a 78-yard touchdown from Quintin Iriarte. Gennero's PAT made it a 10-7 game with 11:12 to go before the break.

Kapaa's final score of the night came after Napoleon did a quick punt on 3rd-and-25. Napoleon's punt was downed at Radford 10-yard line and Bilyeu was able to return a mishandled snap on the ensuing play for an 8-yard return with 6:56 remaining in the second quarter.

The Rams responded with a 19-play, 80-yard drive that left one tick on the first half game clock. Iriarte's 8-yard touchdown pass to Faumui capped the drive to make it a two-point game at the break.

Faumui also had the final score of the game on a 45-yard scamper with 8:49 remaining in regulation.

Kapaa defensive lineman Trestin Alfiler had a game-high 17 tackles, 13 solo, in the loss.