Kahuku shuts out Punahou to win a record 10th state football championship
Kahuku quarterback Waika Crawford threw for a touchdown and ran for another and his defense did the rest in a 20-0 shutout of Punahou in the Open Division final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships tonight at Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium.
Reigning Star-Advertiser Defensive Player of the Year Liona Lefau made six tackles and forced one of three fumbles recovered by the Red Raiders defense to help Kahuku finish the season 12-2 with a 22-game winning streak against Hawaii opponents. The state championship is Kahuku’s 10th, a record.
>> RELATED STORY: GAME DAY BLOG: Kahuku and Punahou play for Open Division state title
Kahuku’s only two losses were to St. John Bosco (Calif.) and Saint Frances (Md.), who were ranked in the Top 3 in the nation when those games were played.
The Red Raiders are back-to-back state champions for the first time since 2011-12. Sterling Carvalho joins Reggie Torres and Siuaki Livai as the only coaches to lead Kahuku to a state championship in consecutive seasons.
The shutout was Kahuku’s fourth this season and the first in the top-tier division state final in 23 years.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
Kahuku senior Kainoa Carvalho, who missed most of the season with a fractured foot, kicked field goals of 21 and 40 yards and had a game-high nine receptions for 79 yards. Kahuku outgained Punahou 437 to 197 in total yards.
Crawford capped a 12-play drive on Kahuku’s first possession of the game with a 1-yard TD run and hurt Punahou with 69 rushing yards on nine carries, converting multiple third downs with his legs to keep drives alive.
His 13-yard touchdown pass to Kaimana Carvalho with 27 seconds left in the first half put Kahuku ahead 17-0 at intermission.
>> PHOTOS: Kahuku vs. Punahou
Kahuku has won all four state-final meetings against Punahou (9-2) and its 30 victories in the state tournament are a record.
Punahou quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele finished 16-for-33 for 129 yards and did not commit a turnover.
Kahuku held Punahou junior running back Ala’i Williams, who had an Open Division record 237 rushing yards in a semifinal win over Mililani a week earlier, to 5 yards on three carries.
Crawford finished 15-for-27 for 177 yards.
Punahou did not possess the ball inside the Kahuku 35-yard line until 10:21 remained in the fourth quarter. The Buffanblu drove the ball to the Kahuku 2 on that drive when Kahuku senior Leonard Ah You forced and recovered a fumble.
Freshman Madden Soliai intercepted a Ty McCutcheon pass with 2:42 remaining for Kahuku’s fourth takeaway of the game.