Farrington rode the fleet feet of Ranan Mamiya to get itself out of a jam in Saturday night’s 29-27 victory over Campbell at Aloha Stadium.
Mamiya turned on the jets repeatedly for 168 rushing yards, but most importantly, he bounced to the outside for a 36-yard third-quarter touchdown to give the Governors a 23-20 lead and a big bear hug of a hold on the momentum.
With the victory in the OIA Blue season finale, Farrington — which trailed 20-10 at halftime — sewed up a first-round bye in the playoffs that start next week.
"I really like the way we came out in the second half, especially coming off of what happened last week," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. (Quarterback Montana Liana was ejected for a late hit in a loss to Mililani and also sat out this game.) "It took us a while to get warmed up and for the defense to settle down. After that, we did OK."
The Govs (6-1, 6-1) came up with a huge stop with 4:01 left in the game, allowing Campbell to get no farther than the Farrington 35.
From there, Farrington controlled the ball the rest of the way and ran out the clock.
Mamiya scored three times and also had a 72-yard punt return to set up Farrington’s first touchdown.
"I’m speechless," Governors 420-pound guard Jonathan Leusogi-Leae said in the handshake line after the game. "Coaches told us to bite down and fight the next two quarters (after the break). They’re (the Sabers) a tough team."
Late in the third, the Govs got a huge break when Ansen-Joe Faamasino tipped a pass, intercepted it and returned it to the Sabers’ 2. Mamiya punched it into the end zone on the next play to boost the score to 29-20.
Originally, the officials ruled that Farrington tackle Breiden Fehoko roughed Campbell quarterback Anthony Pablo, but after Okimoto complained, the call was overturned.
"It was a tipped pass," Okimoto said. "So the officials ruled that (Fehoko) was a blocker and it was legal."
Campbell cut the gap to 29-27 on Terell Johnson’s 2-yard run early in the final quarter.
Pablo, a senior, boldly stepped into the starting quarterback job for sophomore Ezra Savea and completed 14 of his passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns to Jayce Bantolina. He almost led the Sabers (5-2, 5-2) to victory.
"We have to learn how to win and how to lose," Amosa said to his team. "We don’t want to be crybabies out here. It’s embarrassing the way some of you are acting. Give them (the Governors) credit. They won the game. You need to leave it on the field."
The Sabers host Waipahu next week in the first round of the OIA playoffs.
Trailing 10-0, Campbell got on the board early in the second quarter when Bantolina took a short pass from Pablo and took it home for a 35-yard score.
The Sabers took the lead at 14-10 with 3:02 left in the half on Austin May’s 4-yard TD run to cap a 50-yard drive.
And then, Campbell made Farrington pay for a three-and-out by marching 49 yards to make it 20-10 on Pablo’s 11-yard deep fade to Bantolina in the right corner of the end zone with just 12 seconds before the half.
Bantolina finished with nine receptions for 107 receiving yards.
Earlier, Mamiya’s razzle-dazzle 72-yard punt return on the last play of the first quarter set up his own 6-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second to give the Govs a 10-0 lead.
At Aloha Stadium
| CAMPBELL (5-2, 5-2) |
0 |
20 |
0 |
7 |
— |
27 |
| FARRINGTON (6-1, 6-1) |
3 |
7 |
19 |
0 |
— |
29 |
Farr—FG Kekoa Sasaoka 35
Farr—Ranan Mamiya 6 run (Sasaoka kick)
Camp—Jayce Bantolina 35 pass from Anthony Pablo (Kona Reiny-Aloy kick)
Camp—Austin May 4 run (Reiny-Aloy kick)
Camp—Bantolina 11 pass from Pablo (kick failed)
Farr—Challen Faamatu 1 run (Sasaoka kick)
Farr—Mamiya 36 run (run failed)
Farr—Mamiya 2 run (pass failed)
Camp—Terell Johnson 2 run (Reiny-Aloy kick)
RUSHING—Campbell: Terell Johnson 14-81, May 15-53, Pablo 4-2, Tyson Tafai 1-(minus-13). Farrington: Mamiya 24-168, Challen Faamatu 16-79, Freedom Alualu 3-13, Bugsy Tui 1-1, Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo 1-0, TEAM 1-(minus-2), Joziah Anakalea 1-(minus-4).
PASSING—Campbell: Pablo 14-21-1-145. Farrington: Mamiya 0-1-0-0, Anakalea 1-2-0-8.
RECEIVING—Campbell: Bantolina 9-107, Reiny-Aloy 2-24, Noah Esprecion 1-11, Jenesus Tago 2-3. Farrington: Tui 1-8.
