Justin Tago-Su’e hit Alonzo Everett with a strike on the first play of overtime and Campbell’s defense held to give the Sabers a 7-0 win over Aiea in the OIA Red West opener for both teams at Campbell on Saturday.

Tago-Su’e was 8-for-24 for 35 yards in the game and spent a good stretch of the second half on the bench while backup Isaac Hurd tried to provide a spark. When it came time to score, though, Campbell coach Amosa Amosa had no doubt who would lead his team.

"We were kind of getting negative on the sideline, I told him that all it takes is one," Amosa said. "He is our leader, it had to be him."

Tago-Su’e tried to hit the play-action pass over the middle throughout regulation, and made most of the throws. But he was a victim of repeated drops by his receivers. That is, until the end, when Everett went down to get the ball and came up with it.

Aiea coach Wendell Say knew it was coming but couldn’t stop it.

"We talked about it," Say said. "We talked about the play-action in overtime, but these are kids. Probably got a little excited about overtime and went blank a little. It’s all right, just have to go home and regroup."

While Aiea’s defense suffered a breakdown in overtime, Campbell’s was up to the task. The Sabers sacked Aiea quarterback Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti on the first play of the extra period, forced an incomplete pass and allowed a completion but stopped it at the line. That gave Aiea one more play to go 25 yards.

Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti, who started the game at quarterback and played the majority of it, lofted his last chance pass into the corner of the end zone for favorite target Samate Talia, but Campbell cornerback Brannon Bantolina stepped in front of Talia and pulled down the interception.

"All of our leaders are on defense," Amosa said. "I’m grateful to my defensive staff, like I kept telling the offense, ‘All it takes is one.’ I can say that because of our defense. Aiea is a great team; to hold them down is an accomplishment."

Defense ruled the first half, with Campbell punting seven of the eight times it had the ball and fumbling it away the other time. The Sabers gained 10 yards in the entire half — 13 through the air and minus-3 on the ground. They finished the game with 42 in the air and 21 on the ground.

Aiea had more chances but wasn’t much better, coming up empty the two times it was not in a punt formation on fourth down. The first one was a fourth and 1 from midfield, but Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti went deep and couldn’t connect with his target in the end zone. Aiea’s next chance came on a 17-yard field goal, but Jae Won Huh’s attempt never had a chance, barely clearing the line and squirting under the crossbar.

Campbell began the second half by getting down to Aiea’s 10-yard line, but Tago-Su’e was sacked on fourth down to end the threat.

Hey came up short on another fourth-down play from the 35 later in the third quarter.

Aiea got inside the 20 twice in the fourth quarter, but fumbled it away once and had a 50-yard field goal blocked by Campbell’s Solomon Leaeno with 1:20 left. Leaeno’s name was called by the announcer after tackles more than 15 times, including four plays in a row in the third quarter.

"Solomon is everything to us," Amosa said. "He is the unquestioned leader of our defense and he had a great game."

OIA WHITE

Anuenue 46, Waialua 20

Kainalu Kaleo rushed 12 times for 266 yards and three touchdowns, Anuenue Tui had 19 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns, and Na Koa didn’t attempt a pass in a victory over the Bulldogs.

Waialua’s Taleon Lele connected with Thomas Pule for 25- and 10-yard touchdown passes.

INTERLEAGUE

No. 9 ‘Iolani 44, Hawaii Prep 6

Kody Mento rushed seven times for 89 yards and two touchdowns and the Raiders took a 30-0 halftime lead en route to a victory over Ka Makani. Three ‘Iolani QBs combined to go 16-for-22 for 196 yards.