Kahuku's Nalu Emerson comes down with an interception on Waianae's Justin Tacgere in the first half. Sylvia Lee | SL

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Kahuku's Nalu Emerson comes down with an interception on Waianae's Justin Tacgere in the first half. Sylvia Lee | SL

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HALAWA — Despite struggling all night finding his touch, sophomore quarterbsck Sol-Jay Maiava could not have picked a better time to be on target as his go-ahead touchdown pass with 58 seconds left rallied No. 2 Kahuku by No. 6 Waianae, 10-7, in a nail-biting thriller Friday night to send the Red Raiders to next Saturday's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I-Open title game for the third consecutive year.

The Red Raiders (11-1), who were shut out in the first half for the first time by a Hawaii team since a 2014 first round game against Hilo, will play Saint Louis Louis in the two teams' third straight title game matchup.

On second-and-goal at the Waianae 8, Maiava scrambled to his right to avoid pressure, cut back and found Duke Heffernan open in the middle of the end zone for an 8-yard scoring play, sending Red Raider Nation into a frenzy.

"It was great," said Maiava, whose 10-of-37 passing was his worst this season. "The beginning was a real humbling experience for me. I had to really bite down and get that play off. I just wanted to win the game."

That play was not luck. The Red Raiders have a scrambling drill at practice. Of course, they can do it because of Maiava's athletic ability.

"We work on scramble drills all week," said Heffernan, who accouted for all of Kahuku's scoring with a TD, PAT and field goal. "We just trust the process. When he starts scrambling, we just have to get open no matter what the situation is. We have to be sure we're looking (at the QB) at all times. Once we get to the top of our route, we look at him."

All night, the Seariders' secondary covered the Red Raider receivers, forcing Maiava to scramble.

"(The front) did their job for corralling (Maiava) in the pocket," Waianae linebacker Kanai Mauga said. "But our DBs couldn't hold them long enough."

Trailing 7-3, Kahuku was driving into Waianae territory. On third-and-9 from the Waianae 23, Maiava hit Wes Alo-Maiava, who fumbled after a hit by Tony Cabral, who also recovered the ball at the Seariders' 10 with 2:58 left.

But the Red Raiders' defense stiffened and used their final two timeouts with 2:05 and 1:58 left before the Seariders' punted. Kaonohi Kaniho's 15-yard return put the ball at Waianae's 45 with 1:47 left.

"We were fired up and ready to go," Maiava said.

Maiava completed his first two passes in the drive for a first down to the Waianae 32. After an incomplete pass, Maiava scrambled for a 16-yard gain and a facemask penalty set the ball the 8. On first down, Maiava, as he had done all night, overthrew a pass to Enoch Nawahine in the end zone. But on second down, Maiava evaded pressure and patiently waited for a receiver to get open before finding Heffernan.

"His ability to create plays and see down the field to hit the open receiver is uncanny," Kahuku first-year coach Makoa Freitas said. "He's just showing what type of an athlete he is."

The Seariders comeback attempt started at their 21. After a 7-yard loss on first down and two incomplete passes, Nalu Emerson intercepted Justin Tacgere's pass on fourth down to seal the deal for Kahuku.

As breathtaking a win it was for the Red Raiders, it was a heartbreaker for the Seariders, who played significantly better than their 37-0 loss to Kahuku during the regular season.

"My kids played a hell of a game," Waianae coach Walter Young said. "They held their head high. I'm proud of them. They make me proud and I wouldn't change it for the world."