Kahuku wins East opener against Kailua, 23-7

Kahuku's Mekeli Fiso elevates to make a touchdown grab against Kailua. Greg Yamamoto | SL

KAILUA -- Viliami Livai threw two first-half touchdown passes as Kahuku capitalized on a pair of fumble recoveries and then held on to defeat Kailua, 23-7, in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference Eastern Division football action last night.

The Red Raiders, No. 1 in the ScoringLive power rankings, improved to 3-0 overall while the Surfriders dropped to 0-3.

Kahuku marched 80 yards on 10 plays after the opening kickoff, with Livai connecting with Mekeli Fiso on a 30-yard pass for the first TD. Four plays after the ensuing kickoff, defensive lineman Toiva Tufaga recovered a bad shotgun snap at the Kailua 34 and the Red Raiders cashed in six plays later on a 1-yard plunge by Mahonilai Fakatou to make the score 13-0 with 1:53 remaining in the first quarter.

The extra point attempt failed.

The Surfriders fumbled the ball away again two plays after the ensuing kickoff, with Mark Sauvao recovering at the Kailua 26. Kahuku immediately converted the turnover into another score with Spencer Nagy's 26-yard touchdown catch on a play-action post pattern. Kekahu Aluli's PAT made it 20-0.

"We knew they might give up some stuff outside, and we were able to open up the pass with our running game," said Walter Santiago, the Red Raiders' acting head coach. "That gave us the opportunity to throw."

Aluli's 24-yard field goal with 58 seconds left in the half put Kahuku up, 23-0.

The Surfriders finally broke through midway through the fourth quarter on Jarrin Young's 4-yard TD run, on which he outraced three defenders to the right side on fourth-and-goal. Jeremiah Teleni's fumble recovery on the Kahuku 7 set up the score, which was followed by Sierra Kadooka's extra point.

The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Fiso, however, and the Red Raiders advanced the ball to the Kailua 9 before losing it on a fumble.

But the Surfriders were only able to manage one first down and Kahuku regained possession with 58 seconds remaining.

Livai, a 6-foot, 170-pound junior, finished with 14 completions in 26 attempts for 180 yards.

Santiago, who has served as acting head coach since Reggie Torres was suspended on Aug. 6, said he does not know if or when Torres will be reinstated.

"We haven't heard anything," Santiago said. "Everything is hush-hush."