It helps to have Ranan Mamiya in your backfield.
The Farrington speedster bolted for a 95-yard touchdown run to put the Govs in front to wipe out an early deficit on the way to a 31-19 victory over Campbell in the OIA third-place game on Saturday night in Mililani.
That touchdown sweep around right end gave the Governors a 10-7 second-quarter lead and opened the floodgates. Farrington (8-3), the fifth-ranked team in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10, dominated on both sides of the ball the rest of the way to qualify for their fourth straight appearance in the state tournament. The Govs play a first-round game Friday against MIL champion Maui at Aloha Stadium.
"They were ready for us," Campbell coach Amosa Amosa said. "It was a physical game. We started early and didn’t finish. That 95-yard run turned the momentum."
It was, indeed, a physical game. Farrington’s Kingston Moses-Sanchez was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after a hit in the third quarter. At least seven other players went down and needed medical assistance. Moses-Sanchez had movement in his arms and legs, but OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka did not comment on his condition.
"We’re excited that we have new life," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said after the win. "This is what it’s all about. They ran the ball on us the last time (a 29-27 Govs win on Oct. 4), and this time we stopped them. We were prepared for the run.
"Mamiya made a great play (on the long TD), bouncing through his blockers and three Campbell guys."
After an early touchdown by the sixth-ranked Sabers, the Governors’ defensive unit proved impenetrable until the late stages. The Farrington "D," led by tackle Breiden Fehoko and linebackers Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo and Jeremiah Pritchard, finished with two fumble recoveries, an interception, four sacks and seven other tackles for loss.
Dylan Helsham’s interception led to the first of two Montana Liana to Keola Kealoha touchdown passes, an 11-yarder that gave Farrington a 17-7 lead with 10 seconds to go before halftime.
After Fehoko caused Sabers quarterback Ezra Savea to fumble, Tatupu-Leopoldo scooped the ball up and ran 18 yards for a touchdown and a 24-7 lead with 5:07 to go in the third quarter.
"It’s a blessing that we get a second chance," Tatupu-Leopoldo said. "Four years in a row to the states. Not many teams can say that. We had a win or go home mentality. We didn’t want to turn our pads in Monday."
After falling behind 31-7, the Sabers fought back with two touchdowns — Solomon Matautia’s 56-yard fumble recovery return, and Terell Johnson’s 41-yard run against Farrington’s second string.
Campbell failed to take advantage of two blocked punts in the first half — one by Tyson Tafai and one by Nicholas Kernaghan.
"Farrington was the better team," Campbell safety and punter Abiel Taito said. "It sucks (to lose), but I’m proud of our team."
At Mililani
| CAMPBELL (7-4) |
7 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
— |
19 |
| FARRINGTON (8-3) |
3 |
14 |
14 |
0 |
— |
31 |
Camp—Kona Reiny-Aloy 5 pass from Ezra Savea (Reiny-Aloy kick)
Farr—Kekoa Sasaoka FG 43
Farr—Ranan Mamiya 95 run (Sasaoka kick)
Farr—Keola Kealoha 11 pass from Montana Liana (Sasaoka kick)
Farr—Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo 18 fumble recovery return (Sasaoka kick)
Farr—Kealoha 9 pass from Liana (Sasaoka kick)
Camp—Solomon Matautia 56 fumble recovery return (pass failed)
Camp—Terell Johnson 49 run (run failed)
RUSHING—Campbell: Terell Johnson 16-71, Abiel Taito 1-21, Austin May 7-25, Jenesus Tago 1-9, Savea 6-(minus-4), Anthony Pablo 6-(minus-4). Farrington: Mamiya 12-142, Challen Faamatau 11-49, Tatupu-Leopoldo 2-5, Bugsy Tui 4-4, ), T.J. Taumua 1-3, Freedom Alualu 1-(minus-1), M. Liana 1-(minus-8).
PASSING—Campbell: Savea 11-22-1—128, Pablo 5-8-0—43. Farrington: Liana 8-12-1—76.
RECEIVING—Campbell: Reiny-Aloy 7-88, Jayce Bantolina 4-38, May 2-17, Noah Esprecion 1-19, Josiah Mageo 1-8, Javal Medlin 1-1. Farrington: Kealoha 5-54, CJ Liana 2-18, Kingston Moses-Sanchez 1-4.
ENLARGE CHART
