Farrington prepared for the 2011 season with scrimmages against Punahou and Saint Louis.

Tyler Taumua rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown and No. 9 Farrington overcame a two-touchdown deficit to beat eighth-ranked Kamehameha 26-21 at Kaiser Stadium.

Travis Tamapua threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Toma Barrett and Farrington held Kamehameha’s rushing offense in check, limiting the Warriors to 67 yards on 28 carries.

"We enjoy the challenge of playing the best in the ILH," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "It just so happened the ball bounced our way tonight."

The Governors were able to overcome an early 14-0 deficit with two huge special teams plays in the second half.

Defensive lineman Keanu Foki recovered a punt blocked by Semo Sila and rumbled 9 yards for a touchdown to pull the Govs within one at 21-20 after a missed extra point.

After a three and out by Kamehameha on its next drive, Stefano Lavatai came up with the eventual game-winning score, returning a punt off the bounce 81 yards for a touchdown and a 26-21 lead late in the third quarter.

"I was going to let it go, but I saw my blockers and the left side opened and I seen grass," Lavatai said. "I’m a junior, was nervous in the beginning, but got a couple cracks in and felt good."

Both teams failed to score in the final 12 minutes, but the Governors had to come up with big plays on defense to keep Kamehameha out of the end zone.

Starting running back Tyler Meditz was held to only 10 yards on nine carries, but Bronson Barretto provided a glimpse of hope midway through the fourth quarter.

Down five with 8 minutes remaining, Barretto carved up 46 yards on four carries as Kamehameha moved the ball from its own 21 inside the Farrington 20.

The Warriors had second and 1 at the Farrington 12 when 260-pound senior Shaikyla Manuo-Timu shot through the line to stop Meditz for a 3-yard loss.

Facing third down, the Warriors tried two fade routes into the corner of the end zone, but senior Leland Mitchell swatted Makoa Camanse-Stevens’ pass away on fourth down to give the Govs back the ball.

Kamehameha had one last chance, but Nephi Stevens, who rotated plays with Camanse-Stevens at quarterback, couldn’t complete a pass on fourth and 7 with 54 seconds left that stalled another Kamehameha drive in Farrington territory.

Camanse-Stevens finished 14-for-21 for 124 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Stevens finished 4-for-12 for 23 yards and had 18 rushing yards on seven carries.

"I think both of them have good strengths and both of them are leaders," Kamehameha coach David Stant said. "I’ve got them for two years, and if I can get them all the reps and we are successful at that it’ll make it easier for us to run our offense."