Campbell’s offense provided the sixth-ranked Sabers with an early lead.
The defense took over from there.
The turnover-hungry Sabers made seven takeaways in a 29-13 victory over Leeward-side rival Kapolei on Friday night at the Hurricanes’ field.
Sabers safety Jaelan Subia-Etrata accounted for three turnovers with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He also kicked a third-quarter field goal.
Senior Joshua Torres had a pick, set up a second-quarter score with a 39-yard punt return and returned a fumble for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
“It’s just good execution,” Subia-Etrata said. “We just listen to the coaches, follow directions and work hard in practice.
“We just focus hard, we don’t take any teams lightly; whoever’s out there, we play to the best of our abilities.”
The Campbell offense scored on its first possession, but also had some turnover issues, giving the ball away four times.
But the Sabers converted on enough of their opportunities to improve to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West.
“We need to clean up things here and there,” Campbell head coach Amosa Amosa said. “I told them if we want to be a championship type of team, those little things we have to take care of.”
Campbell quarterback Justin Tago-Su’e completed 10 of his first 12 passes with two touchdowns and the Sabers took a 19-7 lead into halftime.
Tago-Su’e opened the game by leading a six-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass to Amosa Amosa Jr.
The teams traded five turnovers between them in a span of 2 minutes, 14 seconds later in the first quarter.
After the Sabers recovered Kapolei’s second fumble of the game, Aries Pihi took a handoff around the left side and scored on a 19-yard run to give the Sabers a 13-0 lead.
The lead grew to 19-0 when Tago-Su’e scrambled to his left and completed a short throw to Keoni Piceno, who fought his way over the goal line for a 10-yard touchdown.
“We always talk about (the defense) having our backs,” Amosa Sr. said. “When our offense is inconsistent, they always have our backs.
“They did enough to get some points on the board and we just have to eliminate our mistakes.”
Kapolei’s lone offensive score of the night came on a perfectly executed hook-and-ladder just before halftime. On fourth and 10 from the Campbell 45, quarterback Brandon Cambra completed a pass to Preston Wallace-Williams, who lateraled to Devin Jenkins. Jenkins, the reigning state champion in the 100- and 200-meters, then outran the Sabers to the end zone.
The Hurricanes didn’t score again until the fourth quarter, when they blocked a punt in the end zone and Keanu Kaina fell on the loose ball for a touchdown with 6:51 left. But Campbell, which held Kapolei to 164 yards, was able to run off enough time to seal the win.
“Defensively we were in a tough spot having to defend a short field; I thought special teams did well. But offensively when you turn it over, it’s not going to happen,” said Kapolei head coach Darren Hernandez, a Campbell graduate and former Sabers coach. “All credit goes to Campbell. They were well-prepared and got it done and they looked really good.
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At Kapolei H.S.
| CAMPBELL (4-1, 6-1) |
13 |
6 |
3 |
7 |
— |
29 |
| KAPOLEI (2-3, 3-4) |
0 |
7 |
0 |
6 |
— |
13 |
Camp—Amosa Amosa Jr. 22 pass from Justin Tago-Su’e (Jaelan Subia-Etrata kick)
Camp—Aries Pihi 19 run (kick failed)
Camp—Keoni Piceno 10 pass from Tago-Su’e (pass failed)
Kapo—Devin Jenkins 35 pass from Brandon Cambra (Demiana Gerber kick)
Camp—FG Subia-Etrata 20
Camp—Joshua Torres 30 fumble return (Subia-Etrata kick)
Kapo—Keanu Kaina blocked punt recovered in end zone (kick failed)
RUSHING—Campbell: Piceno 7-34, Triston Pebria 6-29, Tago-Su’e 4-26, Paul-Andrew Rhoden 4-19, Pihi 3-16, Solomon Leano 1-1, Bronson Ader 2-0, Alonzo Everett 1-(-1), Nick Molia-Penitusi 4-(-4), Brannon Cody Bantolina 1-(-4), Malik Lockett 1-(-5), Isaac Hurd 2-(-9). Kapolei: Cambra 12-29, Jacob Kukahiko 6-28, Mana Reis 9-15, Dylan Keomaka 3-12, Mason Alfaro 1-10, Kaina 1-0, Mitchell Moses 1-(-3).
PASSING—Campbell: Tago-Su’e 13-21-2-170. Hurd 2-6-0-25. Kapolei: Cambra 6-20-2-75, Alfaro 1-2-1-(-5).
RECEIVING—Campbell: Piceno 4-76, Amosa 3-37, Pihi 2-20, Ader 2-16, Molia-Penitusi 1-19, Rhoden 1-17, Bantolina 1-8, BJ Halmos 1-2. Kapolei: Preston Wallace-Williams 2-10, Reis 2-2, Moses 2-2, Jenkins 1-56.
Junior varsity—Kapolei 15, Campbell 13
Aiea 7, Mililani 6
Na Alii held onto an early lead to clinch a homecoming win over the visiting Trojans.
Trevaun Sparrow-Dennis scored the winning touchdown in the first quarter on a 32-yard run. Cheston Ioapo added 100 yards on 17 carries for Aiea.
Mililani’s Deshawn Duncan-Benson caught a 15-yard TD pass from Jarin Morikawa in the second quarter, but a missed PAT gave the win to Na Alii.
At Aiea
| MILILANI (1-3, 2-4) |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
— |
6 |
| AIEA (1-3, 2-4) |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
7 |
Aiea—Trevaun Sparrow-Dennis 32 run (Jae Won Huh kick)
Mil—Deshawn Duncan-Benson 15 pass from Jarin Morikawa (kick failed)
RUSHING—Mililani: Akana Arquette 8-14, Duncan-Benson 2-(-2), Morikawa 5-(-16). Aiea: Cheston Ioapo 17-100, Duke Spencer 9-51, Sparrow-Dennis 8-42, Isaiah Fonoti 3-(-1), Ualesi Sale 3-(-6), Hunter Vaa 6-(-6), Kamakana Apelu 1-(-8).
PASSING—Mililani: Morikawa 15-29-2-75, Duncan-Benson 0-2-0-0. Aiea: Fonoti 8-10-0-45.
RECEIVING—Mililani: Kaimi Wilson 6-24, Duncan-Benson 5-39, Trent Cole 2-7, Preston Sinn 2-5. Aiea: Kleary James Guzman 1-12, Jacob Routon 1-11, Dylan Yukitomo 1-10, Sparrow-Dennis 1-6. Jarrel Chaviera 1-3, Apelu 1-2, Ioapo 1-2, Lazarus Jove 1-(-1).
Junior varsity—Aiea 34, Mililani 21
