Kapolei tops Kahuku to reach title game for first time

This time, the Kapolei Hurricanes left no doubt.

A month after staving off a late Kahuku rally for a close win, top-seeded Kapolei eliminated Kahuku from state-title contention with a 28-10 semifinal win on Friday night at John Kauinana Stadium.

Chazz-Michael Kapahu rushed for 103 hard-earned yards and touchdowns of 4 and 2 yards on 25 carries. Then, he put Kapolei’s logo sticker on the bracket board for the final, the first time the ’Canes are playing for the Open Division crown in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships.

Kapolei’s defense did another yeoman’s job until the offensive line wore Kahuku down in the trenches after halftime. Nose tackle Brock Lawler, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound junior, took all the punishment Kahuku’s talented offensive line had to give.

“It’s really the standards at our practice,” Lawler said. “We try to set standards instead of expectations. You have many missions that help you get to those goals. After practice, we say win conference, win OIA, win state. We have two of those three right now.”

Kahuku running backs Blazyn-Brave Nunuha and Blake Alo combined for 29 yards on 16 carries.

Kapolei (10-1) plays No. 2 seed Kamehameha for the title next week.

When the teams met on Sept. 11, Kapolei escaped with a 20-14 win, stopping a Kahuku drive that reached the red zone in the final minute.

“We had a chip on our shoulder. A lot of our guys, the last time we played Kahuku, had fevers and they were sick,” Lawler added.

Kapolei was stellar in the trenches despite the absence of injured offensive linemen Shyzen Akiona (LT) and Thor Palimo‘ø-Savea (LG).

“We have eight guys that can play, so we were able to weather the storm and play. We’re hoping they can come back,” Darren Hernandez said. “Kahuku matches up the best with us of any team. They’re physical and they play great. We knew our defense had to stop 0 (Nunuha), 6 (WR Bodhi Kaanga) and 7 (QB Lucky Suguturaga).”

After decades of devotion as coaches, Hernandez and his loyal staff are in the final.

“I’m the luckiest, most blessed man in the world,” Hernandez said. “I’m so thankful to God that he wakes me up every morning and that I can coach this team. I love these guys. I’m on cloud nine for these boys.”

Kahuku (8-6) improved significantly over the course of the season under first-year head coach David Stant.

“We did the best we could. We had our chances and we kind of shot ourselves in the foot this year. We just got to apologize to our seniors. We didn’t get the job done. Kapolei had a good game plan. Our game plan on offense, defense and kicking was good. Sometimes we executed great, and sometimes we made mistakes,” he said.

On the opening series, Kapolei went to work with their basic four-wide sets, adding an occasional five-wide with Kapahu blocking for teammates like Nikko Smith. On third-and-7, Nunuha found Rayce Gomes wide open in the middle of the end zone to give the Hurricanes a 7-0 lead with 7:16 left in the first quarter.

An interception near midfield by Brison Miyose gave Kapolei a short field at the Kahuku 49-yard line. However, Kapolei went three and out and a shanked 18-yard punt gave Kahuku a break.

Kahuku’s offense picked up a single first down on a Kapolei penalty and punted. The ball caromed off a Kapolei defender who was chasing a gunner, and Kahuku’s Aliimalu Tan recovered at the Kapolei 18-yard line.

After Blazyn-Brave Nunuha, a cousin of Kapolei QB Jonez Nunuha was brought down for a five-yard loss, Suguturaga tossed what appeared to be a 19-yard TD pass to Kaanga. The replay showed Kaanga’s foot touching the end zone, officials ruled that he did not have full possession.

Ryder Green’s 36-yard field goal put Kahuku on the scoreboard with 2:18 to go in the first quarter.

The ‘Canes responded with a 10-play, 61-yard scoring drive. Kapahu rumbled over the goal line for a 4-yard TD, but Kapolei RB/WR Zeph Salis left with an injury during the drive. It was 14-3 with 9:49 remaining in the first half.

Kahuku LB Siale Reid suffered a leg injury with 3:04 let in the first half. He returned on the next Kapolei possession.

Kahuku had minus-5 rushing yards in the first half and 28 total yards.

The opening series of the second half was a major momentum switch. On third-and-1, Kahuku sent out their jumbo personnel and Kaanga ran right for a 33-yard TD. That brought Big Red within 14-10 with 7:42 left in the third quarter.

After Kahuku’s kickoff bounced out of bounds, Kapolei lined up in a three-wide set with Ava Cook as a bonecrushing H-back. Seven handoffs in a row to Kapahu, then back-to-back holding calls. A 20-yard completion by Nunuha to Haalilio Lemamea-Oto set up fourth-and-2. Kapahu’s 4-yard keeper kept the drive alive at the Kahuku 21-yard line.

Kahuku’s defense began to clamp down, but Kapahu’s helmet went airborne, torn off by a Kahuku defender. Instead of a tackle for loss, it was a facemask penalty.

On third-and-12, following a Kapolei holding penalty, Kapahu gained six yards on a screen pass and left the game with a leg cramp.

Beckman Collman’s 34-yard field goal barely got over the crossbar, but a penalty on Kahuku gave Kapolei first and goal at the 9-yard line. Three plays later, Salis crawled over the goal line for a 4-yard TD. Kapolei led 21-10 with 10:02 remaining, taking 9 minutes and 40 seconds off the clock

Kapolei’s special teams unit was exceptional. On a fake punt by Kahuku, Toa Loeffler intercepted a pass by the up man, Tan. Kapolei took over at the Kahuku 38-yard line with 7:43 left.

Kapahu returned to the field, but Salis got hurt moments later. After an 18-yard, first-down completion from Nunuha to Nikko Smith, Kapahu scored on a 2-yard blast. Kapolei led 28-10 with 4:34 to go.

The pain doubled for Kahuku when a diving TD catch by Kaanga was ruled incomplete after review. His after-TD spike in the end zone was flagged to the delight of Hurricane fans.