Leading by two scores early in the second quarter, Kahuku decided to gamble with an onside kick.
Given the way the Red Raiders defense played Friday night, why not?
Kahuku’s defense helped ensure the Red Raiders would have the opportunity to defend its state championship next week with a stifling performance against Farrington in a semifinal game at Aloha Stadium.
The Red Raiders limited the Governors to 122 yards in total offense — just 35 through three quarters — in a 47-14 victory that sent them back to the Division I final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championship and a rematch with Punahou.
"They knew our game plan and we just had to execute everything," Kahuku linebacker Johnny Tapusoa said. "We knew what they could do and we just had to execute perfectly and we couldn’t make any mistakes."
Tapusoa led the Red Raiders with seven tackles, including two of Kahuku’s nine tackles for loss. Six Kahuku defenders recorded sacks for losses totaling 40 yards.
As in the regular-season meeting between the OIA Red East rivals, Kahuku contained Farrington’s explosive running back duo of Tyler Taumua and Abraham Silva for most of the night.
Taumua finished with 104 rushing yards, 78 coming on his second touchdown run of the second half after being held to just 24 entering the fourth quarter.
"They’re one tough D," Taumua said. "Every time we play they’re tough."
Silva entered the game with 1,601 rushing yards, with Taumua running for 1,343 and each had scored 17 touchdowns. But neither could find much room against a ferocious Kahuku defensive front.
"They’re really great running backs," Tapusoa said. "(It was a) collective effort, everybody does the 1/11th and we’ll be good."
Kahuku held Taumua to 49 yards on 12 carries and Silva managed just 19 yards in a 31-6 win on Sept. 29 and arrived at Aloha Stadium allowing an average of 8.4 points per game this season.
Tapusoa said the Red Raiders altered the game plan during their bye week to give the Governors different looks to contend with.
Silva covered 11 yards on Farrington’s first play of the game on Friday and went for 16 later in the first quarter. But the Red Raiders didn’t allow a gain longer than 4 yards on any of the Governors’ other 24 plays in the first half. They recorded four tackles for loss totalling 15 yards while holding Farrington to 5 yards in total offense going into halftime.
The defense also set up Kahuku’s first touchdown when Rashaan Falemalu forced a fumble by Taumua and Clifford Ramseyer recovered at the Farrington 20. The Red Raiders took the lead three plays later.
"It wasn’t just me, it was the whole defense," Falemalu said. "We swarm and we get to the ball and make plays."
As for the onside kick after the second of Aofaga Wily’s (four) touchdowns, Farrington recovered near midfield, lost 14 yards in the possession and the Kahuku offense needed two plays to add to the lead.
