KAHUKU – The Red Raider's Tuli Wily-Matagi's 55 yard touchdown run and Sioele Naupoto's tackle for loss were the only scores of the game as the Red Raiders grind out a 9-0 victory over Kapolei in the quarterfinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs Friday night at Carlton E. Weimer Field.

Kahuku's first play from scrimmage was a designed quarterback run to the right side. Wily-Matagi, cut back to his left to the open field and sprinted to the end zone to give Big Red a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. The 55-yard touchdown run turned out to be the only offensive score of the game.

"A win is a win we're definitely happy," said Wily-Matagi. "Defense comes through again. Just goes to show how good our defense is." Wily-Matagi led the way rushing with 16 carries for 86 yards and the one touchdown.

Wily-Matagi gifted Kapolei an interception to senior defensive back Keoni Taylor that was returned to the Red Raiders' three yard line. But on the next play, the Hurricane's starting sophomore quarterback Leonard Lee fumbled the snap, whichwas recovered by Kahuku's senior defensive back Sonny Meridith late in the second stanza.

The two teams exchanged interceptions to end the half, and neither team seemed to want to take hold of the ball game in the third quarter either.

After a Kahuku punt to the eight-yard line and two false start penalties the Hurricanes found themselves with a third and 15 at their own three-yard line. Kapolei's two way player Ronald Mautatia got the ball and was tackled for a safety by sophomore linebacker Naupoto for the only score of the second half to make the lead nine.

"I just saw my gap open up, I hit it, and made the stop," Naupoto said "It was big, our offense was struggling and our defense needed to step up."  Naupoto finshed with three tackles and a forced fumble.

"I knew this was going to be a defensive game coming in," said Coach Lee Leslie. "We didn't help ourselves offensively, but Kesi (Ah Hoy) did such a great job punting we won the field position and the defense came right in after that. We're so hot defensively. My defensive coaches are doing such a good job."

The Red Raiders defense closed out the game with a shutout and forced one more turnover courtesy of John Ofahengaue who finished with two tackles and two interceptions.

Eighteen penalties for 167 yards hindered Big Red, including a touchdown that was called back due to a holding penalty.

"We got to improve up front and cut down on the penalties before next week or we're not going to be in too many ball games," said Leslie.

Kahuku will take on a familiar foe in Farrington next week Thursday at Aloha Stadium. The game will be part of a double header for the OIA division I semifinals.