Kingsley Ah You- Owner
HawaiiDigitalSports.com
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Aloha
and Welcome to Hawaii Digital Sports video and photo presentation of the First
Hawaiian Bank HHSAA State DI Football Championship between
Kamehameha-Kapalama Warriors and Kahuku Red Raiders.
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Kamehameha steps up
The Warriors race out to a big lead, then pull away after a Kahuku rally for their first state title in five years
By Paul Honda
Honolulu Star Bulletin
Kahuku was the top seed, but the Kamehameha Warriors were top flight.
The Warriors ruled the first half with a 20-point lead before fighting off the Red Raiders for a 34-21 win in the Division I final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships last night before 22,661 at Aloha Stadium.
Kamehameha won its first state crown since 2004 by using a dominant defense and a balanced offense. The Warriors also got the edge in the kicking game by blocking a Kahuku punt.
Kahuku’s dynamic kicker, Cameron Mercado, delivered two kickoffs for touchbacks but never materialized as a key weapon late in the game as the Red Raiders lost for the first time after 12 wins.
Second-seeded Kamehameha (12-1), the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, relied on a consistent, smart offensive line and running back Ryan Ho (121 yards on 24 carries). Quarterback T.C. Campbell was sharp for most of the game, throwing for 183 yards (15-for-25) and three touchdowns. He tossed two picks, though one was on a bomb in the final seconds of the first half.
Kahuku’s offense came to life with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter and it seemed another amazing comeback was in store. However, Kamehameha’s defense regrouped, and the Red Raiders gave up more points than they had in any of their previous games.
Kamehameha’s O-line defused Kahuku’s explosive tandem of Hauoli Jamora (one sack) and Kona Schwenke (none).