Brandon Ching | ScoringLive
October 23, 2022, 12:41am
No. 1 Kahuku crushes No. 6 Kapolei to return to OIA title game
Greg Yamamoto | SLKAHUKU — Waika Crawford threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter as No. 1 Kahuku rolled past No. 6 Kapolei, 44-7 in the OIA Open Division semifinals at Carleton E. Weimer Field.
For the fifth time, the Red Raiders (9-2 overall, 7-0 OIA) will face No. 3 Mililani (7-3 overall, 6-1 OIA) in the Open Division championship game on Friday, Oct. 28 at Farrington's Edward ‘Skippa' Diaz Stadium at Kusunoki Field.
The Red Raiders and Trojans clinched spots in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships starting in November.
The Hurricanes dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in league play and will face Campbell (6-3 overall, 4-3 OIA) for the third and final state tournament berth.
Crawford finished with 213 passing yards on 15-of-29 passing and his three touchdowns went to three different receivers.
Kaimana Carvalho hauled in a 17-yard score but the kick was blocked for a 6-0 Kahuku lead.
After Kapolei went three-and-out, the Crawford finished a nine-play, 60-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brock Fonoimoana.
The Red Raiders forced another punt and went 72 yards and got another score as time expired. Liona Lefau, who plays mostly defense caught a touchdown pass from 5 yards out for a 20-0 lead going into halftime.
Vaaimalae Fonoti finished with 63 yards on nine carries and added a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
On the next play, Nitus Auelua knocked the ball out of Tuli Tagovailoa-Amosa's hand and Tryton Keliikipi recovered it in the end zone resulting in a safety.
The Red Raider defense got two takeaways in the third and fourth quarter.
Aiden Manta intercepted Tagovailoa-Amosa and Madden Soliai came up with another pick that led to points. Keona Poouahi-MacPherson rushed for a 23-yard score to make it, 36-0 to start running clock.
Tagovailoa-Amosa completed 14 of his 28 pass attempts for 100 yards.
Keliikipi had 12 carries for 67 yards and scored Kapolei's only points with an 11-yard touchdown.
Sitani Suguturaga threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carson Mariteragi for Kahuku's final points of the night.
Kahuku won the regular season matchup on Sept. 23, 35-0.
