Kahuku JV follows big brothers in 27-6 win over Waianae


MILILANI – On Halloween, there were no tricks, but just treats for the Kahuku football community.

The Red Raiders completed an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I sweep with a 27-7 win against Waianae, Saturday night for the JV championship at John Kauinana Stadium..

Running backs Wesley Maiava and Jean Paul Kefu combined for 199 yards and four rushing touchdowns for the Red Raiders (10-1), whose only blemish was a 14-6 loss to the Seariders (8-3).

It is the North Shore school's second football title within a 24-hour span. The varsity beat two-time defending champion Mililani, 20-7, Friday night for the D1 crown.

"It's big," Kahuku JV coach Sterling Carvalho said. "The varsity is our bigger brother, so we just follow suit. It's one program; their success is our success, so these kids fed off of that. They believed they could do it. They willed themselves just like the varsity did. It showed tonight, right from the get go."

The big difference from the regular-season loss to Waianae was the losses of Maiava and Kefu. Both were out with injuries. This time, the Seariders got to experience Kahuku's real strength.

"They didn't play that game," Carvalho said. "They were the difference makers. We relied on them and they came through for us."

Maiava was the workhorse, lead the way with 17 carries for 159 yards, including TD runs of 57, 47 and 12 yards. Kefu had 10 rushes for 40 yards, including a five-yard TD run.

"It's great," Maiava said. "I want to thank my big brothers (varsity), my O-linemen, coaches."

Maiava, a freshman, said he would like to join his big brothers on the varsity. Whether that materializes remains to be seen. After all, the varsity already has a full stable of running backs.

Waianae's only score came on an 83-yard run by Rico Rosario, who had 124 yards on 11 carries.

An interception by Nalu Emerson on Waianae's first series of the game set up the Red Raiders' first score, Maiava's 57-yard run. Arotoa Anderson's PAT put Kahuku ahead, 7-0, just one minute, 55 seconds into the game.

The Red Raiders added to their lead on their next series, a nine-play, 61-yard drive that ended with Kefu's five-yard TD to make it 14-0 with 1:23 left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, an interception by Charles Keaweehu at the Waianae 47 led to a Maiava's 47-yard TD run on first down to make it 21-0 with 3:30 in the half.

Waianae took the ensuing kickoff to its 17 and scored on first down on Rosario's 83-yard run to make it 21-7 at the half.

After a scoreless third, Kahuku cashed in on an eight-yard punt by Waianae to the Seariders' 22. Three plays later, Maiava scored from 12 yards to put the game away with 4:21 left.

 

 

 

 



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].