Kahuku’s second-half rally stops Farrington

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Top-ranked Kahuku cashed in on second-half opportunities to rally past No. 4 Farrington, 16-14, last night at Roosevelt’s Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

An overflow crowd of 3,000 — including Gov. Linda Lingle — watched the Red Raiders stay unbeaten at 7-0 and clinch at least a share of the O’ahu Interscholastic Association Red East title at 5-0. They also clinched the East’s top seed for the 10-team OIA tournament.

Cameron Mercado’s 32-yard field goal with six minutes, 41 seconds left in the game capped the Red Raiders’ rally from a 14-0 halftime deficit. He had missed a 47-yarder on the series before; his first miss of the season (another was blocked). He also missed on his second PAT attempt of the game, snapping his streak at 33. Moreover, he kicked-off four touchbacks.

The Governors (6-1, 4-1), who were celebrating homecoming, dropped their 10th consecutive to Kahuku since 2003.

“Second half, we didn’t really think about the score,” Kahuku defensive end Kona Schwenke said. “We came in like it was 0-0 and played them hard.”

The Governors took a 14-0 lead into halftime, scoring on two of their first five series that had an average starting field position at the Farrington 45. That was the result of a stellar defensive effort by Farrington, which yielded 62 yards of offense in the first half.

Farrington scored on its first series starting from the Kahuku 39 after Kahuku punted from deep in its territory.The seven-play drive ended with Siaosi Feleunga powering in from the 1 with 7:55 left in the first quarter. Ekolu Kaina’s PAT made it 7-0.

Following an interception by Vaughn Tomas at the Govs’ 30, Farrington added to its lead just before the half. Harry Tuimaseve’s 1-yard TD plunge with 20 seconds left in the half capped a 13-play drive that consumed 4:23 and gave Farrington a 14-0 lead at the break.

After surrendering 143 yards rushing in the first half, the Red Raiders allowed just 43 in the second.

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KAHUKU (7-0, 5-0) 0 0 13 3 — 16

FARRINGTON (6-1, 4-1) 7 7 0 0 — 14

Farr—Siaosi Feleunga 1 run (Ekolu Kaina kick)

Farr—Harry Tuimaseve 1 run (Kaina kick)

Kah—Kaipo Pearl 15 pass from Evan Moe (Cameron Mercado kick)

Kah—Tyrone Brown 34 run (kick failed)

Kah—FG Mercado 32

RUSHING—Kahuku: Evan Moe 2-2,Viliami Pasi 21-50, Fonovasa Mata’afa 6-25, Tyrone Brown 12-60, Team 2-(minus 4). Farrington: Jared Hakuole 1-8, Tuimaseve 26-96, Felenunga 13-79, Alvin Faamausili 1-3.

PASSING—Kahuku: Moe 6-15-2—88.Farrington: Hakuole 6-17-0—24.

RECEIVING—Kahuku: Jackson Kaka 1-6, Punga Vea 1-8, Mata’afa 2-27, Pearl 1-15, Shairone Thompson 1-32. Farrington: Benjamin Malufau 1-7, Feleunga 2-3, Sammy Park 2-8, Faumaasili 1-6.