By Stacy Kaneshiro
www.scoringlive.com
The ordeal is over.
Kahuku succeeded in all phases to knock off Punahou, 30-24, Friday night to capture the First Hawaiian Bank Division I state football crown, finally bringing closure to adversity of a year ago,.
An Aloha Stadium crowd of 20,058 – a sea of Kahuku red and amber waves of Punahou – watched the Red Raiders win their first ttile since 2006. But of their unprecedented six crowns, none might have been as sweet.
“This is amazing,” Kahuku senior defensive back Bronson Beatty said. “Everything we’ve been through, from last year being disqualified, our coach getting suspended. This just feels right. It’s like the cherry on the sundae.”
Kahuku suffered the worst turnaround last year when it had to forfeit games, including the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red championship, for using an ineligible player. Then its coach, Reggie Torres, was suspended the first three games of this season for an administrative issue.
“I’m so happy for these kids,” Torres said. “They worked so hard, they’ve been through so much. To finish this way is just exciting for them.”
Kahuku, ranked first in the ScoringLive/OC 16 Power Rankings, ends its season at 12-1, while No. 3 Punahou finished at 11-3).
“Kahuku just played a great game,” said Punahou senior defensive end Luke Kaumatule, whose outing ended about five minutes into the game when he felt a twinge in his knee that he injured in preseason that caused him to miss all of the regular season.
“I’m not disappointed at all,” Kaumatule added about the injury. “God had a plan for me; I guess I just wasn’t meant to play in this game. But I’ll be playing in the future.”
The Red Raiders found success on offense (303 yards), defense (three interceptions, two fumble recoveries) and special teams (a 38-yard field goal, a 48-yard kickoff return and recovery of a muffed punt).
Kahuku was able to control the ball with its vaunted ground attack, despite Punahou breaking away from its usual three-man front to five down linemen. Running back Aofaga Wily carried the load with 27 rushes for 180 yards and one touchdown. But Mahoniliai Fakatou’s 30-yard burst on third-and-1 midway in the fourth quarter made faded Punahou’s hope of a rally.
The defense gave up two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but for the most part was able to contain Punahou’s offense. Its secondary was extraordinary, limiting the yards-after-catch by receivers with its superb closing speed. Beatty, Evan Ramirez and Mason Kualii-Moe each had interceptions. Beatty’s set up Kahuku’s third TD of the first half.
“(Our coaches) said to break on the ball hard,” Kahuku safety Kawehena Johnson said.
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