Lahainaluna's Joshua Tihada (33) goes up and over Iolani's Kyler Mento (3) to avoid being tackled. Tihada was flying high all night, rushing for 167 yards and three TDs. Glen Pascual | Special to SL

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Iolani's Tai-John Mizutani hammers Lahainaluna's Bailey Honda (8) on a scramble. The senior QB ran for 130 yards and two TDs. Glen Pascual | Special to SL Glen Pascual | Special to SL

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Lahainaluna's Joshua Tihada (33) goes up and over Iolani's Kyler Mento (3) to avoid being tackled. Tihada was flying high all night, rushing for 167 yards and three TDs. Glen Pascual | Special to SL

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Lunas RB Elijah Ragudo also racked up big with the ground yardage total, carrying the ball 18 times for 139 yards and a touchdown. Glen Pascual | Special to SL

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Fri, Nov 3, 2017 @ War Memorial [ 6:00 pm ]

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Iolani

27

Lahainaluna

35

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Iolani (4-6-0)	3	7	9	8	27
Lahainaluna (11-1-0)	7	28	0	0	35

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Taai Galoia 0 yd

Tai-John Mizutani 290 yd 1 TD

Joshua Tihada 167 yd 3 TD

Tai-John Mizutani 130 yd 2 TD

WAILUKU, Maui — The years of frustration are over and Lahainaluna finally ended its postseason losing skid to Iolani.

The top-ranked and top-seeded Lunas rushed for five first-half scores and held off a second-half Raiders' rally to win, 35-27, in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II Football State Championships opener at War Memorial Stadium.

"We've been drilling our kids that we've never beaten these guys. This is a down year for them and look how much points they put up, look how well they battle to the end. That's what we've been preaching. This Iolani team, don't be fooled by their size. They're going to come after you and they're not going to quit," said Lahainaluna co-head coach Garret Tihada.

The Lunas (10-1 overall) have another opportunity to defend their state title, and in the process, beat Iolani for the first time in the postseason after four tries. Lahainaluna will take on Konawaena — who edged out Waipahu in a wild 53-50 win — on Nov. 18 at Aloha Stadium at 2 p.m.

"Some of our guys are going to come in thinking it's the same team. But everybody gets better throughout the year. It's like how our story was last year. We started off slow. We can't play comfortable with either team and if we do, it's going to be a battle," said Lahainaluna Siale Hafoka, on the title game matchup.

The Raiders, who were seeking their first Division II championship game appearance since 2014 and ninth overall title, ended their season at 4-6 overall.

"I'm very proud of them. They fought all game, all season long. They fought. They never made excuses. They never asked anybody to feel sorry for themselves. They went out and battled. They got to where they wanted to be," said Iolani coach Wendell Look.

Joshua Tihada rushed for three first-half touchdowns and 167 yards on 29 carries. Elijah Ragudo added 139 yards on 18 carries and a score.

"Second half, we needed to come out with more intensity. I feel like we just had enough push at the end to take us there. Over the last two weeks, coach has been telling us to push. Fourth quarter is when it all matters. I think that's what got to us," added Tihada, the coach's nephew.

The Lunas rushed for 299 of their 377 yards of net offense in the first half and gained 17 rushing first downs. Taai Galoia had Lahainaluna's only passing attempt.

It was a tale of two halves as the Lunas took a commanding 35-10 lead at halftime, but the Raiders held Lahainaluna scoreless and scored 17 unanswered points.

"They dug themselves a big hole and clawed themselves back out. To me that shows a lot of character and a lot of heart, and that's what this team is about. This group is an amazing group. It's something we haven't had in a while. We have low numbers, small size, but again, they never made excuses," Look said.

Mizutani rushed for his second touchdown, and a pass to Jake Yokogawa for two made it, 35-27, with 9:14 time left in the fourth.

The Raiders defense held Lahainaluna in check to force Pablo Rico to kick a 50-yard field goal that was short. Iolani received the ball at their own 20 with 2:11 remaining and no timeouts. Tai-John Mizutani completed passes to Jonah Miyazawa and Yokogawa. Kaihulali Casco intercepted a pass intended for Carter Kamana, and Lahainaluna ran out the clock with a run and two kneels.