Campbell stuns Kahuku to reach first ever Open state final

Kinue Miller I ScoringLive

When it mattered most the odds tipped in the Sabers' favor.

In the closing seconds of regulation, Brayden Medeiros' lofted pass for Zayne Pasion miraculously was hauled, after being tipped and nearly picked, turning into a huge 20 yard gain on 3rd and 2, setting up a game-clinching score by Tainoa Lave from two yards to cap off Campbell's stunning 15-12 win over Kahuku.

"People thought we wouldn't make it here, we wouldn't even make it to states but we just push each other every day in practice and we believed in each other," said Medeiros.

Kahuku took the lead at the 5:22 mark of the fourth when Toa Sam bursted through the first level and weaved his way for a 20 yard score that eked the OIA champs ahead 12-7, but Campbell's offense responded in a big way on what would be its final possession of the contest, a 12 play drive that spanned 65 yards.

Medeiros completed all four of his passes on the drive, none bigger than his last one of the drive to Pasion, one that saw him scramble out of the pocket, wheere his lofted pass was actually tipped by a Kahuku defender.

"I thought he was going to pick it," said Campbell head coach Darren Johnson. "When he tipped it and (Pasion) made the catch, that's just awareness."

"I rolled out, I saw Zayne, so I just threw it, I just trust him that much," said Medeiros of Pasion.

That tip seemingly gave Pasion the opportunity to somehow get under the ball and cradle it to put the Sabers on the doorstep at the Red Raiders' 10.

A jet sweep by Brystin Sansano on the next play placed the ball at the two, and two plays later, Lave scored his second rushing TD of the game on a race to the right pylon.

The first half was a defensive struggle, with the only score coming on a 19 yard pass play from Troy Mariteragi to Kea Lerner.

A missed conversion on that play, as well as a botched snap on a field goal attempt in the closing moments of the second quarter, proved costly.

Campbell made a key adjustment in the third quarter, one that ultimately factored into both scores, was deploying Lave at quarterback in a wildcat type formation.

"Growing up I was the quarterback, dual threat kind of thing so it felt good to be back there," said Lave.

He carried the ball five times on the Sabers' first score, capping off the drive with a one yard plunge to tie the contest, taking the lead on Jaedon Pablo's point after kick. Lave finished the game with 11 carries for 42 yards, none for loss.

Kahuku outgained Campbell 265 to 209 but lost two fumbles. The Sabers recorded seven tackles for loss, including three sacks.

Campbell is making its first appearance in an Open Division state title game. Its last overall appearance in a championship game was 2004, where it defeated Kauai for the Division II title.

The Sabers' win over the Red Raiders marked the second one in the last four meetings overall between the two teams. But marked the first one over Kahuku in the Open Division state tournament, where it had lost in the semis in 2021 and 2022.

"Kahuku teams are the hardest to beat in the playoffs," said Johnson. "We knew it was going to be tough, but we just stuck to our guns and we came out with a win."

"We still got one more, but it's always fun when you dethrone somebody."