Farrington hangs on to edge Kahuku, 14-13

Farrington DL Viane Vaina celebrates a 14-13 win over Kahuku. Eugene Tanner | SL

Farrington intercepted three passes - including one with 15 seconds remaining - en route to a thrilling 14-13 victory over Kahuku last night in a huge O'ahu Interscholastic Association showdown.

An overflow crowd of about 4,000 at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium watched the Governors, No. 2 in the ScoringLive/OC16 Power Rankings, improve to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the OIA's Red Conference Eastern Division. The top-ranked Red Raiders fell to 6-1, 4-1.

Kawe Johnson scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:36 remaining to close Kahuku to 14-13, but the extra-point attempt snap went astray and the Red Raiders failed to convert.

Farrington appeared to have the game locked up after two key third-down conversions on the ensuing series, but linebacker Benneton Fonua recovered a fumble at his own 30-yard line to give Kahuku one final possession with 1:13 left.

Govs defensive back Setefano Lavatai then intercepted a pass near midfield four plays later to finally seal the victory.

"We just said, 'Calm down, keep cool, the game ain't over,' " Lavatai said of the final minute. "We knew we just had to not let the deepest (receiver) get behind us."

Lavatai's pick was the game's sixth turnover, ending 48 minutes of constantly shifting momentum.

Farrington outgained Kahuku 156 yards to 77 in the first half, but two interceptions and a lost fumble stalled three drives, and Kawe Johnson's 92-yard interception return for a TD put the Red Raiders up 7-0 with 58 seconds remaining before halftime.

Tavale Masalosalo's 1-yard touchdown plunge with 7:13 remaining in the third quarter and Keanu Foki's PAT tied it at 7-7, and Toma Barrett hauled in a 28-yard TD strike from Travis Tamapua on the first play of the fourth quarter with Foki's extra point giving the Governors a 14-7 lead.

Farrington had some PAT issues earlier this season and both of Foki's rainbow extra points last night sailed just inside the uprights, but Govs coach Randall Okimoto said he felt comfortable sending Foki out there.

"We always have confidence in him to make it," Okimoto said.

Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said he knew special teams play could be crucial to the outcome.

"We practiced PATs all week, but we screwed up twice tonight," he said, referring to another bad snap that thwarted a 32-yard field goal attempt late in the second quarter. "That was disappointing."

In a matchup of two of the state's top running backs, Kahuku's Aofaga Wily rushed for 135 yards on 25 carries, and Farrington's Tyler Taumua finished with 91 yards on 22 carries after being limited to 34 yards on 11 rushes in the first half.