VIDEO: Kamehameha wins state Division I football crown

An Aloha Stadium crowd of 21,661 saw the highest scoring title game, beating out Kahuku's 27-26 win against Saint Louis in 2003.

"Everybody knew it was going to be a defensive battle, but when (the media) says it, it becomes a battle like this," Kamehameha third-year coach David Stant said.

T.C. Campbell passed for 183 yards and three touchdowns and Ryan Ho rushed for 121 yards and two TDs to give the Warriors (12-1) their first title since 2004.

The Red Raiders (12-1), who could not cross midfield, much less make a first down in the first half, gave the Warriors a scare with two quick scores in the third quarter to pull to 20-14. But Kamehameha answered with two more TDs in the second half to seal the victory.

"They never let down. I told our boys, we want them to come out and challenge us," Stant said. "If we are the best team in the state, when you guys get challenged, you better step up."

The Warriors' only blemish from a perfect season came in their Interscholastic League of Honolulu season-opener, a 20-17 loss to 'Iolani, the Division II state champion for the third successive year.

"That was the best thing to happen to us," Stant said. "We came out the first game, we took 'em easy. You could tell at practice. They (the Raiders) woke 'em up."

Kamehameha accomplished its first goal, which was to score first, taking a 7-0 lead after taking the opening kickoff and driving 71 yards in 12 plays, taking up 4 minutes, 35 seconds.

The Warriors, in fact, held the ball for 9:16 in the first quarter. That gave the Warriors' defense gas to smother the Red Raiders in the first half.

"They gave us the time we needed to rest by driving the ball," Kamehameha defensive tackle Landon Aano said. "I'm really proud of them."

The Warriors scored again on breaks from the defense and special teams. A blocked punt by Bryson Burnett gave the Warriors possession at the Kahuku 9, where Ho scored on an option pitch to make it 14-0.

Just before the half, safety Wave Ryder intercepted a pass from Evan Moe at midfield, returning it inside the Kahuku 20. A penalty against Kahuku on the play placed the ball at the 8 and three plays later, Charley Bollig hauled in an 8-yard TD pass from Campbell to make it 20-0 at the half.

The Red Raiders opened the second half by scoring on their first two series, first on a 26-yard TD pass from Moe to Punga Vea and a 36-yard run by Fonoivasa Mata'afa to make it 20-14.

But the Warriors added a TD in each of the last two quarters to seal it, first on Campbell's 10-yard TD pass to Bollig and a 27-yard run by Ho.

But the Red Raiders showed no quit, scoring with 38 seconds left on a 16-yard TD pass from Moe to Vea.

"I'm proud of these guys (pointing to his players)," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "They fought all the way to the end."

The Red Raiders showed a defense in which the linemen were in a standing position. Torres said that was to confuse the Kamehameha blockers on run plays.

But it was Kamehameha's athletic defense which was able to make stops when it needed.

There were family ties in the game. Kahuku's Keanu Yoshida lives with Stant, whose son, Kawika, is a linebacker for the Warriors. Yoshida said he was dismissed from Kamehameha.

"I made a lot of friends at Kahuku," said Yoshida, who played for Kamehameha last season. "It's a great experience that I'll remember forever. I appreciate everything (Kahuku has) done for me."

In the Santiago household, Kamehameha cornerback Walter Santiago Jr. has bragging rights over his father, Kahuku offensive coordinator Walter Sr.

"He played a heck of a game," Santiago Sr. said. "They played like the team they've been playing the past couple weeks."