Blog
Sabers seized control of game in third quarter




For most of the first half Friday night, Moanalua and Campbell were fairly evenly matched. Then, the third quarter happened.

The host-Sabers turned a 14-6 halftime lead into a 27-6 advantage by the start of the fourth quarter en route to a 34-6 drubbing of Na Menehune in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Blue game.

Seventh-ranked Campbell used a hard-nosed ground attack that featured junior Terell Johnson (18 carries for 129 yards) and Austin May (12 carries for 73 yards) to subdue 10th-ranked Moanalua and its overmatched defense.

After rushing for 49 yards on 19 carries in the first half, the Sabers pounded out 290 yards on 30 carries after the intermission. It was evident from the start of the third quarter that they wanted to control the clock with its run-game.

Campbell marched 80 yards in 15 plays — including 11 rushes — mostly out of the I-formation to set-up a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by May. The drive took five minutes and seven seconds off the clock before Moanalua touched the ball in the second half.

When Na Menehune got the ball back, defensive back Zibrex Cabel got it back for the Sabers with his interception of Kawika Keama-Jacobe.

Campbell orchestrated another long drive on its ensuing possession. It benefitted from a pair of Moanalua penalties on the 14-play drive that covered 81 yards, including an illegal participation flag on a fourth-down punt that extended the drive. The Sabers got a pair of third-down conversions on the drive, including Ezra Savea's 16-yard touchdown pass to Jayce Bantolina on the penultimate play of the third quarter.

Campbell converted on 8 of 14 third downs and 2 of 3 fourth downs. It picked up 32 first downs in all, including 13 of its 17 by rush after halftime.

Na Menehune never recovered after allowing 27 unanswered points by the Sabers.

Moanalua was 3 of 10 on third-down conversions and 0 for 2 on fourth downs. It registered just 13 first downs for the game, including three by rush. Four of Na Menehune's first downs came off Campbell penalties.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


MORE STORIES

MIL no ka oi - Baldwin, Maui declared Division I co-champs

Game called in the third inning as rain causes safety issue; both teams go home champions in first ever...

Kamehameha-Hawaii topples Damien to claim first state title since 2016

The Warriors blasted eight hits for a nine-run first inning to run-rule the Monarchs to win their first...

Maui shuts out Saint Louis to reach Division I finale for first time since 2017

Nicholas Nashiwa's two-out, RBI single to left, the Sabers' only one of the game, proved to be the difference...

Bears squeeze by Warriors to set up all-MIL final with Maui

Kaden Anderson pitched five innings and made an incredible running catch to deep right-center field to...

No. 1 Mililani claims fourth D1 state crown, first since 2014, with rout of No. 2 Kamehameha

Sunni Kahanu belted a pair of home runs and drove in five runs and Hinano Bautista fired a four-hitter...

No. 10 Kapaa dominates PAC-5 to end perfect season with D2 state title

The Warriors hammered out 12 hits in their 12-run rout of the Wolfpack to win their first Division II...