MILILANI, Hawaii — A protracted, four-team slugfest at John Kauinana Stadium carried into early Saturday morning and finally ended with top-ranked Campbell and three-time defending state champion Kahuku advancing to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Open Division championship game next week.
They will meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Farrington. Both teams clinched HHSAA Open Division berths by virtue of their wins; the undefeated Sabers and dynastic Red Raiders got there through decidedly different means.
Campbell, perhaps thrown off by a shift in offensive posture from Kapolei, fell behind by 26 points in the second quarter and spent the rest of the shootout clawing back. The Sabers finally overcame the Hurricanes, 49-43, on Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s sixth touchdown pass of the night to Shaison Kupukaa, a 13-yarder over the middle with 2 minutes, 8 seconds to play.
Kapolei decided to move its own dynamic quarterback, Tama Amisone, all over the field while largely turning over passing responsibilities to sophomore Leysen Rodrigues. It worked for a while as the Hurricanes built an eye-popping 33-7 lead.
But Sagapolutele was too composed and too efficient as he eclipsed 10,000 career passing yards and passed Mililani alumnus and current Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel for the Hawaii high school record. Sagapolutele was 32-for-47 for 473 yards and one interception.
Campbell rallied to within 36-14 at halftime and kept coming from there, outscoring Kapolei 35-7 in the second half. Sagapolutele, a Cal commit, supplied a key 2-yard rushing score on fourth and goal in the third quarter.
Amisone was sidelined with ice on his hip and unavailable for Kapolei’s last possession in the final two minutes. The Hurricanes appeared flustered and could not move the ball.
The nightcap, meanwhile, was a lopsided affair. Kahuku, looking poised in all three phases at the right time of year, spoiled the return of Mililani quarterback Kini McMillan from injury in a 35-6 rout of the home team and defending OIA champions.
Two-way standout Aiden Manutai broke the game open for Kahuku in the second quarter with a 34-yard touchdown catch from recently imported quarterback Matai Fuiava, followed by his 34-yard pick-six of McMillan with 19 seconds left in the half. Kahuku needed only 176 yards of total offense with its effective play on defense and special teams.
Mililani also had a freshly imported weapon from the continent in receiver Brandon Gaea, a University of Hawaii commit who caught three balls for 23 yards.
Kapolei and Mililani will meet next weekend in the OIA third-place game for the league’s final state berth.
Note: This story will be updated.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.