The Sabers celebrate after outlasting visiting Na Menehune in double overtime. CJ Caraang | SL

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Fri, Sep 16, 2016 @ Campbell [ 7:30 pm ]

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Moanalua

6

Campbell

12

Final/2OT	1	2	3	4	OT	T
Moanalua (5-7-0)	0	0	6	0	6	6
Campbell (7-5-0)	0	0	6	0	6	12

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Kawika Ulufale 97 yd

Alakai Yuen 137 yd 1 TD

Tasi Faumui 99 yd 1 TD

Roland Rodrigues 23 yd

Markus Ramos 43 yd

Ryan Ramones 52 yd 1 TD

EWA BEACH — The first game at Campbell Stadium in over two years proved to be worth the wait. 

Darius Cambe ran in the game-winning touchdown and the Campbell defense held visiting Moanalua to 113 yards of total offense to help the Sabers outlast Na Menehune, 12-6 in double overtime Friday night.

"We all worked together and was united as one," said Campbell running back Tasi Faumui, who scored on a 52-yard run for the Sabers' only score in regulation. "Coach motivated us to get the win and we just had to play with heart. We all trusted in everybody, we all trusted in the team and we got the win."

Campbell snapped Moanalua's two-game winning streak and moved into third place of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I-Blue standings with the win. The Sabers (3-3 overall, 3-2 OIA D1) can finish the season in second place with wins over Waianae and Radford to close out the season.

Na Menehune dropped to 3-3 and 2-3.

"We didn't come to play at all, horrible effort on every part," said Moanalua first-year coach Savaii Eselu. "Our defense played very good in the first half, but our offense was not there at all. Hats off to Campbell, they had a great game plan. We did horrible. You live and you learn, that's how it goes."

The Sabers had the first possession of the overtime period, but went three-and-out and turned it over on downs. Moanalua just needed a field goal to win the game, but failed to capitalize as quarterback Alakai Yuen was intercepted by Campbell's Noah Empron on third down to send the game to double overtime.

The second overtime period was trouble for Na Menehune. A holding penalty on the first play of the series made it first-and-23 and a sack by Campbell's Jeremiah Leano made it second-and-33 from the Campbell 43-yard line. A delay of game and a bad snap pushed the ball to the Moanalua side of the field, which resulted in Yuen throwing an interception to Campbell freshmen safety Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa to give the Sabers the ball back.

"Defense came up big for us, especially in overtime," said Campbell coach Amosa Amosa. "They just kept moving the Moanalua offense and Yuen back and back. Like I said before, they are the heart and soul of our team." 

Campbell quarterback Kawika Ulufale kept the ball for 15 yards on the ensuing possession and Cambe was able to run in the game-winning score one play later.

The defense pressured Yuen throughout the entire night and forced him into four interceptions. Adkins-Kupuaa had his first of two interceptions come on the final play of regulation while Jaylen Ignatowski had a pick on Yuen in the first half. Ignatowski also recovered a fumble in the win.

The Sabers also did a great job in covering Moanalua star wideout Ryan Ramones. With cornerback Braden Kauhane playing man coverage and freshman linebacker Tyrese Tafai bracketing Ramones over the top, Campbell was able to hold the 5-foot-11 receiver to a season-low 52 yards receiving on six catches.

"For the most part we bottled him up," Amosa said of Ramones. "He got some short stuff here and there, but that was a key for us to make sure that we take care of Ramones and put pressure on Yuen with some of our backers."

Freshman linebacker Jeremiah Tauai was another key contributor on the Campbell defense with a team-high 8 1/2 tackles, three of which were for loss, and a sack.

If the Sabers didn't come away with the win, the story would dwell on the 10 penalties that they committed for 110 yards. Campbell had three personal fouls called on the defense, with the second leading to Moanalua's only touchdown.

Moanalua's first drive of the second half sputtered nearly came up short in Campbell territory after Na Menehune faced third-and-16 from the Sabers' 27-yard line. Yuen's intended pass for Brandon Bender fell incomplete, but a hit on a defenseless player penalty against Campbell made it third-and-1 for Moanalua. Yuen threaded the needle to Ramones in the end zone to make it a 6-0 game midway through the third quarter.

Campbell scored on its next possession on Faumui's 52-yard run, but had to attempt a long PAT after Faumui was flagged for excessive celebration before reaching the end zone. The kick was well short and the score was tied at 6-6 with 4:13 to go before the final stanza.

Turnovers plagued both teams for the better part of the night. Both starting quarterbacks were intercepted four times and both teams loss a fumble.

Moanalua safety Kea Rodrigues had two interceptions and fumble recovery and Jacob Ramelb made a game-high 10 1/2 tackles to lead Na Menehune in the loss.