Amosa Amosa wasn't about to take any chances.

The coach of the Campbell Sabers knows all too well the rigors of travel on the Big Island. The fact that Friday's state playoff game against Hilo was his alma mater's first Division I state-tournament appearance, combined with a three-day, holiday weekend meant high emotions and more importantly, limited travel options for the OIA Red's third-place team.

"We flew out on Thursday instead and got here early because we wouldn't have been able to get our team on a flight to Hilo Friday," said Amosa, whose 2007 Sabers' team beat host-Konawaena in a D2 first-round game in Kealakekua. "We would have had to fly into Kona and drive to Hilo, which we didn't want to do."

Campbell arrived on the Big Island a day prior to their game against Hilo and whatsmore, set-up camp at the gym of Keaau High School, site of Friday's showdown.

"We were lucky that Keaau was gracious enough to let us stay here," said Amosa, whose squad will face OIA champion Mililani in next week's semifinal round.

Despite their early arrival, the Sabers struggled out of the gates Friday. The Vikings held leads of 7-0 and 17-14, which Campbell erased with 18 consecutive second-half points en route to a 42-27 win.

"What a game," Amosa said in his postgame comments. "It has been a tremendous road trip for us. I was kind of worried about how our kids would take the trip, but I'm glad we did what we did by coming in early Thursday."

Campbell, which improved to 9-3 with the win, is now one win away from its first D1 state title-game appearance.

"I'm so happy for my team, we never did give up and this is our dream goal to make it to the state championship," wide receiver Kainoa Perry said. "We didn't want our season to end like this."