Football coaches often stress the importance of a strong start coming out of halftime and that indeed proved to be essential in Kahuku's 28-15 win over Waianae Saturday night.

The Red Raiders held a 14-3 lead at the intermission, but ultimately took over in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, when they scored a pair of touchdowns to stretch their lead to 28-3.

Kahuku received the kickoff to start the second half and started its drive at its own 24-yard line following a 14-yard return by Alohi Gilman. After a quarterback keeper by Tuli Wily-Matagi for two yards, he found Jrue Williams for a 17-yard gain and a first down. Two plays later, Wily-Matagi hit Kesi Ah Hoy for a 14-yard pick-up and another first down.

On a third down later in the drive, Wily-Matagi faked the handoff and rolled out to his right before finding Pua Falemalu for a 24-yard pass, which gave the Red Raiders first-and-goal from the Seariders' 6-yard line. Two plays later, Wily-Matagi rolled to his left and lofted a pass to Chance Maghanoy in the back of the end zone for his third touchdown pass of the night.

"That was big," said Wily-Matagi, who was a perfect 4-of-4 passing for 61 yards on the nine-play, 76-yard drive. "In the locker room we talked about how important it was coming out and scoring so we wanted to do that and we did just that. The offensive line did a great job on that series."

Kahuku coach Lee Leslie said the drive, which consumed four minutes and 12 seconds off the clock, was just what the doctor ordered.

"It was the perfect drive," Leslie said. "To come out in the second half and to have that is what we want more than anything, so I was happy about that."

Waianae coach Dan Matsumoto also noted the importance of the Red Raiders' march.

"They had an awesome drive," Matsumoto said. "That's tough. What can you say? I mean, Kahuku is a great team."

Kahuku's defense rode the momentum, forcing Waianae to go three-and-out on its ensuing drive, which ended with a punt. The punt was a short one — just 19 yards — and netted just eight yards after an 11-yard return by the Red Raiders' John Ofahengaue to the Seariders' 33-yard line.

The Red Raiders needed just two plays to find the end zone this time. After a Wily-Matagi incompletion on first down, he hit Maghanoy for on a post route for an easy touchdown.

Maghanoy, a senior receiver, said Kahuku had to regroup after struggling offensively in its past two games — a 21-14 win over Leilehua and a 20-19 loss to Kaiser.

"We take a lot of pride in this win," Maghanoy said. "We worked hard this week with the chance to get that first seed and we're glad we got it."

The Red Raiders clinched the top seed out of the OIA D1 Red and earned a bye in the first-round of the upcoming league tournament.