Kamehameha-Maui rumbles past Kaiser for first ever state crown

Brian Bautista | SL

For the first time in school history, a state football championship is heading Upcountry.

Zedekaiah Campbell rushed for 239 yards and a touchdown and Kolten Waikiki-Caldeira factored into four scores to help Kamehameha-Maui roll to a 37-14 win over Kaiser to claim its first ever state football crown in the title game of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II state football championships.

"I know our coaches are happy for sure," Campbell said. "Its been a long journey for them, but yeah, it feels good to just finally pull it off."

The Warriors got things started with 8:15 in the first quarter, scoring on a 20 yard pass from Waikiki-Caldeira to Tevyn Apo, a play that made possible because of the early success of Campbell on the ground.

"Our run game helps open up our pass game," said Campbell. "it forces defenses to load up the box and once they do that we throw over the top, like that first one to Tevyn."

Campbell's threat as a runner played a key role in stretching the lead to 13, as Waikiki-Caldeira was able to walk into the end zone untouched on a one yard keeper as the Cougars were forced to stay home on the faked handoff.

Apo scored his second TD of the game on an 11 yard toss from Waikiki-Caldeira at the 11:24 mark of the second making it a 20-0 game, and the rout appeared to be on.

Kaiser, however, was not going to go down without a fight.

AFter failing to record a first down on any of its first five drives, the Cougars found some momentum on its sixth possession, putting together a 15 play, 80 yard drive that culminated in a 27 yard pass from Jesse Shinagawa to Caleb Hamasaki to put Kaiser on the board.

On ensuing kickoff, Morgan White's onside kick was successfully recovered by Colt McCreadie to get the Cougars the ball right back and wasting no time, the kids from Hawaii Kai struck back on the very next play, as Shinagawa dialed up Hamasaki once again for another score, this one from 36 yards out to make it a game, 20-14.

In the second half, Kamehameha-Maui went back to the ground game and Campbell, calling the running back's number five times on the drive, the final carry on for 15 yards and a score to make it 27-14.

"I just don't stop my feet, just keep running," said Campbell of his mentality carrying the football. "I just tell myself don't get tackled by one person, it should take the whole team to take me down."

The Warriors closed out the third quarter with more ground and pound, setting up a third and goal to open the fourth. Kaiser held on the first play of the final quarter, setting up a crucial fourth down play, one the Warriors opted to go for it on.

That play, initially ruled an interception, was ultimately overturned on review, and ruled a one yard score from Waikiki-Caldeira to Frank Abreu, making it 34-14 in favor of the MIL champs.

Kayden Yap added a 38 yard field goal with 9:30 in the fourth to cap the scoring of the contest, as Kaiser's final two drives ended with a Kolt Kahoohanohano interception on one and a game-sealing fumble by Urijah Benz-Ah Yuen on the other.

Kamehameha-Maui's defense held Kaiser to just 185 yards of offense, 116 of the total coming on two second quarter scores. Kang and Kamahao Akima had eight total tackles each, and Akina added a TFL and three passes defended.

"Our defense was able to get some big stops and big turnovers and got us some good field position too," said Campbell.

The Warriors claimed the crown in its third Division II title game appearance. Kamehameha-Maui fell to Kapaa in 2021 and to Waimea in 2023.