Here it is, everyone.
Double tight end, two fullbacks, one halfback and a quarterback behind a massive offensive line.
Stop it if you can, or dare.
No. 2 Kahuku ran every play in the first three quarters out of the same no-receiver set and matched its biggest win over No. 7 Farrington in 14 years with a 43-0 blowout in the first game of the OIA semifinals on Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
Quarterback Kesi Ah-Hoy carried the ball on Kahuku’s first 21 plays from scrimmage and rolled up 174 yards on 23 attempts before tweaking his ankle late in the first half.
Harmon Brown and Sefa Ameperosa were the next men up and ran for two scores each as Kahuku (10-0) matched the largest margin of victory against the Govs (7-3) since a 47-0 win on Sept. 1, 2001.
"It feels good to be back in the championship game," said linebacker Hirkley Latu, who had two sacks.
The Red Raiders recorded their fifth shutout and will play in the OIA title game for the seventh time in the past eight years, missing out only in 2013.
Kahuku rushed for 298 yards on 48 carries and attempted its only pass in the fourth quarter with the game well out of hand.
Senior Keala Santiago had the big play of the game, spinning out of a pile of defenders to return a punt 87 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
"That was not even close to a complete game, but we got one to the house (on special teams)," Kahuku coach Vavae Tata said.
Santiago added an interception on a deflected pass on the next drive that led to Brown’s second touchdown run to give Kahuku 40 points in a game for the sixth time in its past seven.
Kahuku was held to 28 points or fewer in its last eight games played last year before Tata was hired in the offseason.
"We studied their tendencies every day, watched video before practice, after practice just to better ourselves every day," Santiago said. "They like the deep post, so we tried to take that away."
Farrington (7-3), which has beaten Kahuku (10-0) twice in the past five seasons, was held to 128 total yards. Its only legitimate chance at scoring came on the final play of the game when receiver Kingston Moses-Sanchez dropped a long touchdown pass over the middle from backup quarterback Justin Uahinui, who was 4-for-12 for 22 yards and a pick.
Starter Bishop Rapoza was 10-for-20 for 65 yards and running back Challen Faamatau was held to a season-low 30 yards on 12 carries.
"We just wanted to contain him and keep him inside the trenches," Latu said of Faamatau.
The shutout was Kahuku’s third in the past four games. Opponents have scored a total of 32 points in 10 games against the Red Raiders.
Tata said he expects Ah-Hoy to be "OK" for next week.
Santiago’s punt return wasn’t the only big play on special teams for Kahuku. Kicker Kekoa Sasaoka was a perfect 3-for-3 on field-goal tries, booting a 45-yarder in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
Farrington will play in the OIA third-place game next and needs a win to extend its streak of state tournament appearances to five.
KAHUKU
| Record: 10-0 overall, 10-0 OIA |
| Date |
Opponent |
Result |
| 8/7 |
Campbell |
W, 50-0 |
| 8/14 |
@ Kapolei |
W, 27-7 |
| 8/21 |
Kaiser |
W, 34-3 |
| 8/28 |
McKinley |
W, 78-0 |
| 9/12 |
Castle |
W, 42-6 |
| 9/19 |
@ Leilehua |
W, 41-6 |
| 9/25 |
@ Waipahu |
W, 63-0 |
| 10/3 |
Waianae |
W, 30-0 |
| OIA Playoffs |
|
|
| 10/17 |
Kapolei |
W, 56-10 |
| 10/23 |
Farrington |
W, 43-0 |
| OIA Championship |
| 10/30 |
Mililani |
7:30 p.m. |
Kahuku 43, Farrington 0
| At Aloha Stadium |
| Farrington (7-3) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
| Kahuku (10-0) |
3 |
21 |
16 |
3 |
— |
43 |
RUSHING–Farrington: Challen Faamatau 12-30, Freedom Alualu 3-12, T.J. Taumua 1-7, Bishop Rapoza 2-(minus 1), Ryota Kony 1-(minus 7). Kahuku: Kesi Ah-Hoy 23-174, Ameperosa 9-63, Brown 12-46, Ted Kenese 3-15, Kekona Neumann 1-0.
PASSING–Farrington: Rapoza 10-20-0-65, Justin Uahinui 4-12-1-22. Kahuku: Neumann 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING–Farrington: Jathen Chaffin 6-62, Kingston Moses-Sanchez 4-25, Faamatau 2-0, Kingsley Moses-Sanchez 1-1, Faasisina Masalosalo 1-(minus 1). Kahuku: none.
