When the going got tough, Brayden Medeiros got tougher. 

Medeiros, a senior quarterback for the Campbell football team, has faced his share of adversity over the years. Undoubtedly, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Medeiros has earned every accolade that has come his way, especially that of state champion. 

As a sophomore in the fall of 2023, Medeiros was called up to the varsity squad after the completion of the JV season. He filled the role of third-string quarterback behind starter Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and backup Donny Faavi Jr. but did not appear in any games. 

Faavi transferred to Farrington the following year, which left Medeiros to backup Sagapolutele, who would go on to throw for more than 3,400 yards with 46 touchdowns and become the state's all-time leading passer. In limited playing time as a junior last season, Medeiros accumulated 265 yards on 21-of-36 passing with two TDs and no interceptions. 

Medeiros was thrust into action against eventual-state champion Saint Louis in the semifinals of the 2024 state tournament, when Sagapolutele suffered a rib injury that did not allow him to complete the game. Medeiros finished the contest 5-of-11 passing for 39 yards; He was sacked thrice in the 27-24 loss to the Crusaders. 

"He would do anything in the world to try to get that back and do it different. We thought, honestly, he would be OK and I mean, he's in the bright lights, he had to step up, but it happened for a reason," Campbell coach Darren Johnson said. 

It was, by all accounts, a baptism by fire for Medeiros. In hindsight, it proved to be an invaluable experience that set the table for Medeiros and the Sabers' 2025 campaign. 

"I think it really helped him and lit a fire under him. I think he came this year wanting to make people understand that he's better than that and he had so much to prove and he's done it. He managed the game, he managed the boys, I mean, it's just one of those Kurt Warner stories. He never shied away and now, I mean, (shoot), he's a state-champion quarterback," Johnson said. 

Despite serving as Sagapolutele's backup a year ago, Medeiros still was not handed the starting job on a silver platter by any means this fall. In fact, he battled for QB1 duties against fellow senior Elijah Mendoza, who was the starter at Aiea a year ago after he played his first two seasons at Waipahu. 

In the face of competition, Medeiros rose to the occasion as a leader for the offense, which saw not only Sagapolutele graduate, but a handful of other stalwarts complete their eligibility as well. 

"He was groomed into being that leader over the years and he understood that. I mean, you know, when you play behind Jaron for two years, you're gonna watch and learn, but at some point you start to think, ‘when am I gonna get my shot?' He stuck with us and faced adversity and just kept persevering and eventually he became the guy. It wasn't easy for him, too, it really wasn't easy," Johnson said. 

Medeiros wasn't exactly a clear-cut winner when it came to the QB battle. In fact, there were a few occasions where he lost command of the starting job in favor of Mendoza. While it was upsetting, to be sure, he refused to let it deter him from continuing to put in the sweat equity to regain the post. 

"I think we had struggles and there was a time when he was heartbroken because of the choices we made, but he stayed and worked — he didn't cry about it — he just worked his ass off and I think honestly, it really lit a good torch under him and we saw a real quarterback just jump out," Johnson described. 

In a two-game stretch against Damien and Leilehua in early September, Medeiros struggled to complete only 49 percent of his passes. He threw nearly as many interceptions (4) as he did touchdowns (5). A few weeks later, in a loss to Kapolei, Medeiros saw limited action behind Mendoza and attempted only 10 passes. 

He responded to that, however, with a strong showing in a win over Farrington, when he completed 19 of 25 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. 

"His perseverance is rich and solid — because I'm an ass to play for but I love the hell out of my kids — and he had to deal with me every day. Not only that, his dad (Justin) is on our coaching staff and he had to deal with his dad every day, so Brayden had to face it (from) everywhere," Johnson said. 

Medeiros was arguably at his best in Campbell's two state tournament games. In a semifinal upset of then-No. 1 Kahuku, he threw for just 87 yards, but completed 11 of his 14 passes and was not intercepted. In Friday's Open Division title game victory over Kamehameha, Medeiros recorded 151 yards through the air on 11-of-15 passing and again, was not intercepted. 

"He was efficient and that's what we wanted him to do. We won the game with a solid game plan that he had to nurse for us — he really had to — and he had to understand we need those plays to make it happen. We put the ball in his hands for things we know he's good at it and he proved it," Johnson affirmed. 

After a scoreless first quarter, the Sabers opened the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown pass up the left seam from Medeiros to Brystin Sansano on third-and-11. The Warriors responded by going up 10-7 after three quarters before Campbell reclaimed the lead, 13-10, following a short Tainoa Lave TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter. 

One play after Shaison Kupukaa came down with an interception, Medeiros connected with a streaking Lathaniel Teleaai on a 55-yard TD pass down the middle of the field. 

"He throws a good football, he really does. Every now and then he might throw a pick, but he throws a good ball and if somebody's not on page with him, he tries his best to get on the same page and honestly, he's like another coach on the field. He may not have all the skills in the world, but he has some brains, he's self motivated and he brings smartness. His IQ of the whole game is just amazing for a high school kid," Johnson stated. 

The touchdown pass to Teleaai came with 7:53 left in regulation. Medeiros did not attempt another pass until the final play of the game, when he threw the winning touchdown to Zayne Pasion to help Campbell walk off with the 23-20 victory. 

"The thing I like about him is he stays in tune with the game and he keeps himself loose. He's in tune even when he's not playing and we're in wildcat," Johnson said, alluding to the fact that the Sabers' first two plays of their OT possession saw Medeiros relegated to the sideline while Lave was in as a wildcat quarterback. 

Johnson disclosed that he initially was not in favor of the play call that led to the winning touchdown, but was eventually talked into it by both Medeiros and his offensive coordinator, Shane Masaniai. 

"I'll be real honest, I didn't call the last play. I had two different ideas and (Masaniai) had an idea and I trusted his idea, but Brayden actually stood there and said, ‘Coach, trust me. Trust me on this one. Please just trust me.' I said, ‘Brayden, don't make me kick your ass after the game,' he said, ‘Coach, trust me.' I said, ‘Go win, you got one shot. Go win,' and that one shot worked," Johnson said. 

He added: "I don't care what anybody says, that we got lucky, because it worked and I don't think they expected it. Zayne went right by him and the safeties bit on the middle and (Medeiros) went right to where it should have been; it was picture perfect."

Medeiros, who served as a captain this season, finished the year with more than 1,800 passing yards and 22 total touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He completed 60.3 percent of his pass attempts. His impact, however, isn't entirely reflected by the numbers, as Johnson expressed. 

"What he did for our program was he was a great leader. He had good captains to help him be a leader and I mean, his back was up against the wall a lot and he fought adversity — he kicked adversity in its ass. He took up the challenges and I'm just proud of everything about him because he could have easily threw in the towel and walked away and said, ‘(forget) this place,' but he stuck to his guns and kept on working hard and trying to be the guy," Johnson said. 

After the loss to Kahuku in the OIA semifinals on Halloween night, Johnson said it was Medeiros who addressed the team and issued a challenge. 

"He stepped up and spoke out and said, ‘we're better than this and all we need to do is have a chance,' so I'm happy for Brayden — I'm happy for all the kids — but he got people to trust him and he just played superb and is a big reason why we were there," Johnson said. 

Johnson has coached at several schools over nearly four decades, but has openly stated that Campbell will be his last stop, although he has no immediate plans to retire. After stints at his alma mater, Kahuku, as well as Kailua and Kaimuki, Johnson finally captured his first state championship in his ninth year with the Sabers. 

"It's so unreal. The idea is to win the big one and yeah, it took us nine years, but they did work. We were consistently OK and good, but we finally got the one that we needed and hopefully there's more to come. Now everybody's gonna be gunning for us again," Johnson said. 

Campbell finished fourth in the final regular season standings of the OIA Open Division, then knocked off Mililani to claim the league's third and final spot into the state tournament. The Sabers (9-3) won four of their final five games and ended the year on a three-game win streak to claim their second state crown and first since they won the D2 title in 2004. 

FOOTBALL

Evan Cazimero, Kamehameha — Made 7 ½ tackles in a loss to Campbell 

Kalei Harbottle, Kamehameha — Made six tackles, including two sacks, and forced a fumble in a loss to Campbell 

Tainoa Lave, Campbell — Made 10 ½ tackles, including one for a loss, ran for a touchdown and had one punt return for 55 yards in a win over Kamehameha 

Jeovanny Maghamil-Avilla, Campbell — Made seven tackles, including one sack, and had one pass break up in a win over Kamehameha 

Nainoa Melchor, Kamehameha — Ran 24 times for 102 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 37 yards in a loss to Campbell 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Alika Ahu, University Lab — Scored 27 points in a win over Baldwin 

Joseph Bieniek, Kailua — Scored 23 points in a win over Kohala 

Saumahe Haney-Tongotea, Castle — Scored 19 points in a win over Pearl City 

Nainoa Hirasuma-Kenny, Kailua — Scored 21 points in a win over Konawaena 

Garrick Imamura, Kalani — Scored 26 points in a win over Kapolei 

CJ Jenkins, Kapaa — Scored 19 points in a win over Kealakehe and scored 23 points in a win over Molokai 

Layden Kauka, Kohala — Scored 38 points in a win over Seabury Hall, scored 38 points in a win over Damien, scored 19 points in a win over University Lab 

Dylan Kuia, Baldwin — Scored 22 points in a win over Corona 

Makoa Lindsey, Maui — Scored 20 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Kilinahe Mata-Goldmann, Kekaulike — Scored 20 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Keanu Meacham, Saint Louis — Scored 30 points in a win over Seabury Hall 

Dylan Nonaka, Konawaena — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kailua and scored 19 points in a win over Damien 

Brylan Nunes, Baldwin — Scored 19 points in a loss to Bonita

Sebastian Peterson, Seabury Hall — Scored 21 points in a win over Konawaena, scored 33 points in a loss to Saint Louis and scored 38 points in a win over Damien 

Maddox Pung, Kailua — Scored 19 points in a win over Corona, scored 22 points in a win over Konawaena 

Shyne Salvador, Kamehameha — Scored 25 points in a win over Le Jardin 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Breyanna Alfonso, Island School — Scored 19 points in a win over Kaimuki and scored 26 points in a win over Aiea 

Lily Buden, Maui Prep — Scored 17 points in a win over Seabury Hall 

Arieana Doran, Waiakea — Scored 22 points with 10 rebounds in a win over University Lab and scored 15 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Honokaa 

Nihoa Dunn, Kamehameha — Scored 17 points in a win over Maryknoll 

Pua Herrington, Maryknoll — Scored 22 points in a loss to Kamehameha 

Caysea Kaupu, Konawaena — Scored 20 points in a win over University Lab 

Justice Kekauoha, Iolani — Scored 24 points in a win over Punahou 

Jaedyn Koshiba, Punahou — Scored 17 points in a loss to Iolani 

Rayne Mershon, Leilehua — Scored 18 points in a win over Kahuku 

Malia Morioka, Punahou II — Scored 17 points in a win over Hilo 

Jade Peterson, Waianae — Scored 17 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific 

Kiana Ramos, Punahou II — Scored 17 points in a win over Hilo 

Kailea Sakau Masulit, Island School — Scored 38 points in a win over Iolani II and scored 30 points in a win over Aiea 

Mikela Salazar Harrell, Konawaena — Scored 21 points in a win over Pahoa 

Kyani Samson, Hilo — Scored 18 points in a win over Hawaii Prep and scored 21 points in a loss to Punahou II 

Darsee Seegmiller, Maui — Scored 17 points in a win over Baldwin 

Emalata Tasini, Kulanihakoi — Scored 20 points in a loss to Maui Prep 

Riya Tobosa, Pearl City — Scored 20 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission 

Lesieli Tuivai, Kekaulike — Scored 21 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Melony Urbina, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 17 points in a win over Keaau 

BOYS SOCCER

Hoopono Bautista, Kapolei — Scored the lone goal in a win over Pearl City 

M. Chung, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored the lone goal in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Daichi Fujita, Kalani — Scored the lone goal in a win over Castle 

Gregory Givens, McKinley — Scored three goals in a win over Waialua 

Asa Hironaka, Iolani — Scored a goal and assisted on another in a win over Kamehameha 

Kolby Okutsu, Waiakea — Scored three goals in a win over Keaau 

GIRLS SOCCER

Shore Carlbom, Kaiser — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kalaheo 

Chiara Doyle, Kalani — Scored the lone goal in a win over Castle 

Keale Haake, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored two goals in a win over Lahainaluna 

Juliah Hayes, Roosevelt — Scored four goals in a win over Nanakuli 

Trinity Hines, Kapolei — Scored the lone goal in a win over Waipahu 

L. Kay-Wong, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Taliah Nelson, Waiakea — Scored three goals in a win over Keaau 

Miyah Suster, Campbell — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua 

Cheyenne Uejo, Aiea — Scored the lone goal in a win over Nanakuli 

Aileah Villatora, Kauai — Scored two goals in a win over Kapaa 

Caley Yamane, Campbell — Scored the lone goal in a win over Pearl City