Kaika Sasaoka knew all about the history of Kahuku football.

The senior walked the same halls as former Red Raider greats such as Mark Atuaia, Muliwai Pula and Aaron Francisco. He knows what it means to be part of the "Pride of the North Shore."

Sasaoka also understood Kahuku's long past of a lack of a kicking game.

"It's really ironic. I mean, for how many years, I don't even know when they had a real kicker," he said. "They probably did once, I don't know, but I guess this just goes to prove that hard work, team work and togetherness will come through for you in the end."

Sasaoka's extra-point kick with 23 seconds left provided the winning margin in Kahuku's 7-6 victory over Saint Louis on Friday in the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawaii High School Athletic Association state Division I football championship. It was the Red Raiders' fifth state championship.

Richard Torres passed 14 yards to Jordan Kapu for the game-tying touchdown before 18,870 fans at Aloha Stadium.

Then came the hard part.

"I was scared," said defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu of the extra-point kick attempt. "That's been our downfall all season. We missed one (field goal) earlier. That was the thing that worried me the most. I was on the sidelines saying a little prayer."

The Crusaders called a timeout to set up a block.

Kahuku coach Reggie Torres had a few words for Sasaoka.

"He said to believe and that it's an easy shot," Sasaoka said. "I practice every day; my dad helps me every day at home."

Sasaoka, who said he tries to do each extra point "the same way," went through his routine.

"I lined up, blocked everything out, they snapped the ball, it was a perfect snap, perfect hold and I just got it through," he said.

His coaches had nothing but faith in Sasaoka.

"The kids never gave up, and Kaika never lost confidence even though in the first half he missed that kick," said special teams coach Gerald Welch. "I mean, it (the field-goal attempt) wasn't even close, but he caught his composure and he came through in a crucial time."

Sasaoka admitted the missed field goal was still prevalent in his thoughts.

"I guess there's always something in the back of your head when you miss, but the team always believed in me."

Kahuku has long been known for its lack of proficiency in the kicking department. In the 1995 Prep Bowl against Saint Louis, the Red Raiders scored four touchdowns, but went for two-point conversions after each one and converted only once.

They lost the game, 27-26.

Kahuku went through this season without making a field goal.

Friday night, Sasaoka had an opportunity to break a scoreless tie with 44 seconds left in the third quarter, but his field-goal attempt was well short, and the Crusaders gained possession.

"That was my fault," said Richard Torres, the holder on the play. "I leaned it too much toward me."

Coach Torres knew there was much football to play.

"There was nothing to tell," said Reggie Torres, when asked what he told Sasaoka after the miss. "We believe in him. He's a good kicker, it's just our holder pointed the ball at the wrong angle and they knew and they fixed it by the PAT. But I got faith in that boy. I told him 'I got faith in you, you're going to make this.' And if he didn't, so what? That's just how it is in football."

Saint Louis scored with 6:52 to play on an 8-yard run by Keani Nishigaya. However, the snap was low on the ensuing point-after, and the normally reliable Kenton Chun missed.

Kahuku turned the ball over on downs on the following drive, but the Red Raider defense held and forced a Saint Louis punt.

Starting on its 49-yard line, Kahuku benefited from a pair of pivotal penalties by the Crusaders.

On the drive's first play, Saint Louis was flagged for a substitution infraction, giving Kahuku first-and-5, which the Red Raiders converted on a 10-yard scamper by Torres.

Four plays later, on fourth-and-1, Saint Louis gave the Red Raiders a first down on a illegal participation penalty. Two plays later, Torres found Kapu in the end zone.

"We've been here all season, last week we were in the same situation," said coach Torres. "They don't give up. These kids keep battling, and that's what makes this team special."

Kahuku edged Baldwin last week on a miraculous double-pass on the game's final play.

SILENCING CRITICS

Despite his success as the longtime junior varsity coach, when Reggie Torres took over the Red Raiders' program in April, not everyone was happy with the decision.

Assistant coaches left Kahuku, and much of the community, including parents of his players, spoke out against his hiring.

While winning a state title in his first year at the helm may quell his critics, Torres is not one to shy away from the criticism.

"As a coach, the heat always comes down on you," he said. "I was disappointed when some of the heat went down on my son, for being the coach's son, the quarterback."

Will the complaints ever stop?

Doubtful, says Kahuku athletic director Joe Whitford.

"You know it's hard to come in and take over any program. Especially this one," he said. "This (program) is a monster and I mean our fans, some of them will not be happy because it was only 7-6, but I think Reggie has set the foundation."

Torres won't respond to his critics and even bites his lip at a question about the situation. Instead he, much like his son, turns the attention on the positives.

"We got a great fan base, though we had to deal with some of the critics. That's OK, that's part of the job, that comes with coaching, that's just part of the job."

Richard Torres said he's learned a lot about football and life being on this team and from his father.

"That's just what he's been teaching us this whole season," he said. "That we have to come together in order to win, and our team has bonded real good this year. It all teaches us to stay humble and keep our composure even when the times are rough, and that's how he is, so we just use him as a great example."

Reggie Torres is the first person to ever win a state championship in three sports. He has led the Red Raider wrestling and judo programs to state titles in recent years and doesn't intend to lessen his workload anytime soon.

"I'm just lucky to be blessed to be at Kahuku, because we have so many fine athletes," he said. "Great community, great support, great athletes, great kids, great school."

GOOD FOUNDATION

The Red Raiders lose 45 players to graduation this season, more than the entire rosters of some high school football teams.

In comparison, Division II champion King Kekaulike of Maui listed 66 players on its roster.

However, the players say there's no reason to worry if you're a Kahuku fan.

"I don't think they're going to skip a beat," said Richard Torres. "Next year we're only losing three starters on our O-line, and they have great backups. They're going to have a solid O-line next year and our quarterbacks; they just needed maturing, so next year they should be ready."

Torres started the year at defensive back, split time at quarterback, but eventually became the full-time starter there.

"I kind of miss (defensive back), but I like the leadership role (of quarterback)," he said.

"It's tough at times, especially when you screw up, because everybody's hating you, but if you do something good, everybody loves you, so that's a good thing."

Kahuku also loses eight starters on defense, including Tuipulotu, the all-everything defensive tackle.

"They'll be great," said the 6-foot-2, 290-pounder. "They should be good. Half the starters are all underclassmen. They'll step right in and play."

Kahuku returns defensive leader and safety Shiloah Te'o, outside linebacker Paipai Falemalu and defensive end Alema Tachibana, whose sack of Crusaders' quarterback Tamatoa DeMello on the final play of the game began the Red Raider celebration.

On offense, tackle Anthony Siilata and behemoth center Benji Kemoeatu return. Kemoeatu, who is 6 feet 3 and 315 pounds, is the younger brother of NFL linemen Chris and Ma'ake Kemoeatu.

"We should be pretty solid," said Whitford. "Our offensive line should be really good. We got some good people coming back. A lot of people didn't play this year, but I think we'll be OK, we'll be solid. We'll just be Kahuku again and see what we can do again next year."

There is no secret to the Red Raiders' success. It's just plain hard work.

"It starts with what we do next week," said Reggie Torres. "If our kids get involved in other sports, get in the weight room and start training right away, we'll have a chance, but it all depends what we do in the off-season."