Once Moanalua crept within a score in the third quarter, Kahuku and the Red Raiders’ new weapon responded with force.

A new option at running back, Sione Mahe, ran for three of the Red Raiders’ six rushing touchdowns as the state’s No. 2 ranked team dispatched Na Menehune 40-6 on Friday night on the North Shore.

Mahe transferred in from Herriman (Utah) High and just became academically eligible to play this week.

It was one of a few personnel surprises from the Red Raiders, who started Thorton Alapa at quarterback over Sol-Jay Maiava.

“I was expecting myself to play defense, but Coach (Makoa Freitas) gave me the option to play offense. I took that role as soon as I heard that,” Mahe said. “(I want to) be a well-known running back just like my uncle Reno. It was a good opportunity to show them what I have, and I guess I did well tonight.”

Reno Mahe was a BYU product who went on to the NFL.

Despite two first-half scores from Mahe — who helped make up for the absence of Enoch Nawahine (concussion) — it was close for a while, even with Maiava checking in before halftime.

“We gotta start faster,” said Freitas, who declined to elaborate on the starting QB change. “We can’t be slow out of the gates.”

Moanalua had the home sideline quiet when Chad Mann Jr. took a shovel pass from quarterback Nick Au and took it 22 yards to the house, drawing Na Menehune within 12-6 with 5:59 left in the third. They were the first points yielded by Kahuku this season.

But Maiava guided his team swiftly into the red zone and Mahe plunged in from 15 yards to extend it back to two scores.

JL Lavea scored twice in less than two minutes and suddenly Kahuku was on the way to putting up 28 unanswered points, aided by two Moanalua backfield fumbles in its own territory.

Moanalua was held to minus-4 yards rushing en route to its first 0-3 start since 2013.