The aftermath of a championship victory never gets old for the Kahuku Red Raiders.

Coach Reggie Torres was on his way to Aloha Stadium to watch the UNLV-Hawaii football game on Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Kahuku fought off Punahou 42-20 in the Division I final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships.

Torres had gotten 30 minutes of sleep in the past two days.

"It was crazy, just crazy coming back home," he said of the bus ride from Aloha Stadium, up the Windward Coast to the school campus.

That included a police escort for the team bus once they got back to Red Raider country.

"There were so many people on the side of the road congratulating the kids," Torres said.

The celebration frenzy continued deep into the night, a dreamy close to a season of anticipation. From Day 1, the shadow grew longer and longer. When Kahuku rallied to beat Punahou back on Aug. 18 in a nonconference game, there was only intrigue, maybe some hope, that the rematch would happen in the state final.

Now that the Red Raiders have taken the Buffanblu’s best shot and won again, there is no doubt. Kahuku exorcised any remaining questions. Finality is clarity. A 12-0 season, back-to-back championships and a title win with contributions in every phase — offense, defense and special teams.

But it took a resilient Punahou squad to force Kahuku to play at another level. The Buffanblu, employing a power-I set, stunned just about everyone in Aloha Stadium by making Kahuku’s rugged defense seem pedestrian in the third quarter. Big Red had permitted just 1.5 yards per rush through 11 games, but Punahou ran that left-side blast like a wrecking ball, becoming only the second team this year to hit the 100-yard mark on the ground against Kahuku.

When a 21-point lead is about to disappear, championship resolve surfaces. With Kahuku clinging to a 21-14 lead, Viliami Livai found Lasselle Thompson for a huge first-down completion on third and 16.

"It was starting to get close and we could hear our audience roaring, so we just wanted it more," Livai said. "Lasselle did a great job with his routes. He’s a great receiver."

Kawehena Johnson prolonged the drive with a fake punt, taking the direct snap and racing for another key first down.

"That was his call," said assistant coach Darren Johnson, Kawehena’s father. "Our (special teams) coach gives him the option in certain situations and he took it."

That led to a touchdown run by Aofaga Wily, and the Red Raiders had some breathing room. A moment later, Soli Afalava popped Punahou kick returner Keanu Chee, and Will Cravens pounced on the fumble for a touchdown return.

"I just tried to bust through, go for the hole and do my thing," Afalava said. "Things happen and the fumble happened. I saw my fellow teammate pick up the ball and score. That made me proud."

Momentum had been regained by Kahuku. A perfectly thrown pass by Livai. A great special teams play by Afalava. More superb defense by cornerbacks Jayven Mohetau and Thompson, who shared the cover responsibilities on Punahou’s spectacular sophomore, Kanawai Noa.

"I believe that he’s a very good route runner, but we just worked 100 percent," Mohetau said.

With Kahuku’s pass rush back in effect, there wasn’t much Punahou’s prolific offense could do, not with time running out and a big margin to overcome.

"Everybody takes pride in what they have to do, and we work hard on defense," linebacker Matai Paselio said.

Punahou showed plenty of respect for its rival from the OIA.

"Couldn’t ask for more except the state championship, but we’ve got to earn that. They wanted it more," Punahou left tackle Semisi Uluave said. "They came out the first half, they executed. We just came late. The third quarter we came out with the mentality, we had to win."

All the preparation, all the stimulation, all the in-game tactical tweaking were necessary. Kahuku had to revamp its run scheme to thwart the Buffanblu.

"It was just a little blocking changes, just a little bit," Kahuku left tackle John Wa‘a said. "On our smash play we have our tackle block the ‘backer instead of the guard going up and we crossed out our folds because we fold on smash. Just basic stuff like that."

That amounted to 235 rushing yards — 5 per carry — against a defense that had allowed less than 91 yards per game on the ground. Kahuku simply wore the gritty Buffanblu down.

"(Punahou) looked pretty tired, but they’re a tough team, I’m not going to lie," Wa‘a said. "Especially in the trenches. Big boys, too."