Kapolei QB Lonenoa Faoa (left) and OL Tanoa Vitale (right) celebrate following a score in the fourth quarter. Spencer Honda | SL

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_17093011_IMG_0185.jpg - Spencer Honda | SL

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NANAKULI — The Hurricanes' path continues on.

With both teams' backs against the wall in a winner goes on, loser goes home scenario, it was the No. 10 Kapolei Hurricanes wiping out the Nanakuli Golden Hawks, 36-0, in a Friday night battle at Nanakuli High School for the sixth and final Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division I Playoffs berth.

Sophomore quarterback Lonenoa Faoa threw four touchdowns on 24-of-29 passing for 228 yards in his third game as the starting signal caller, and the Hurricanes defense pitched its third shutout on the year while adding two points of its own from a forced safety.

"The defense always performs at a high level," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "We got a bunch of guys out with injuries, but we're going to be preparing for the playoffs."

Offensively, the 'Canes were balanced not only in passing (278 yards) and running the ball (136 yards), but also in the types of scoring drives.

Faoa hardly threw any pass attempts that traveled further than 15 yards as most passes were quick, short routes accumulating in sustained, patient drives.

In the second quarter on fourth and nine with under two minutes left, Faoa completed a short in-route over the middle to Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala who was able to break free for a 40-yard score — similar to two of their three touchdowns in a loss against Mililani on Sept. 15.

"That's the key, we want to be able to do both," Hernandez said.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Hurricanes scored on three consecutive drives to finish out the rest of the first half before putting up 15 more points before the end of the game.

Kapolei — who was ranked as high as No. 3 in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Football Power Rankings through week three — finishes the OIA regular season at 3-4 and will play either third-seeded Campbell (5-2), fourth-seeded Moanalua (3-4) or fifth-seeded Aiea (2-5) from the Blue division.

The OIA Playoffs seedings and schedule will be finalized with the conclusion of Saturday night's game between Mililani (6-0) and Kailua (3-3).

The Hurricanes will have either the fourth, fifth or sixth OIA Red seed pending tiebreakers with Castle (3-4) and possibly Kailua.

Kapolei started the season 3-0 with wins over Campbell, Waianae and Castle, but the use of an illegible player against the Knights resulted in the game being ruled a loss via forfeit. The Hurricanes would go on to lose three of their next four games to cause a do-or-die situation against Nanakuli. It also now factors in the seedings for the OIA Playoffs.

"It was disappointing, but for our guys it's just a matter of being resilient and bouncing back," Hernandez said. "We never thought or dreamed we'd be in this situation where we're fighting just to get into the playoffs, but once you get in the playoffs, you're 0-0. It's a new season."

Nanakuli finishes its season 1-6 in the OIA and 1-7 overall.