Before next week’s matchup with national powerhouse Bishop Gorman, No. 1 Kahuku knew full well not to look ahead on Friday night.
The Red Raiders (5-0, 5-0 OIA Blue) were simply too much for Radford (0-5, 0-4) in matchup of last year’s two state champions. The Division I titlists raced to a 42-point lead in the first quarter and almost doubled that in an 83-0 romp over the holders of the D-II crown.
“Our ultimate goal is to be 1-0 at the end of the week,” Kahuku coach Vavae Tata said. “We accomplished that and now we move on. Put it to bed, put it to rest and look at the tape and make some corrections if need be.”
Kahuku racked up 270 yards on offense and held Radford to just two.
The Red Raiders also scored on three interception returns. Senior Stokes Nihipali-Botelho had one of them and also brought a 62-yard punt return to the house. Additionally, he was 11-for-12 on PATs.
”We had a couple mistakes here and there, but we did pretty good,” Nihipali-Botelho said. “We just have to come back on Monday, go back at it and work on our plays and execute everything.”
This marks Radford’s worst loss in school history. The previous record was a 52-0 loss to Leilehua in 2011.
Kahuku’s scoring outburst marks the 11th time a team on Oahu has scored 80 points or more in a game. Waianae’s 90-0 victory over McKinley on Sept. 5, 2015 is the last time a team had done so before Friday.
Next up for the Rams is a road game at Waianae next Friday. For Kahuku, ranked 17th in the USA Today Super 25, a visit to Las Vegas looms.
“We’re excited,” Nihipali-Botelho said. “It’s a big opportunity to take on the No. 1 team in the nation.”
The Gaels (3-0) are coming off of a 35-20 win over St. John Bosco (Calif.) on Friday night and are arguably the nation’s top team.
“I gotta look at their tape,” Tata said when asked about the matchup.
