Kaimuki rallied from a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit but failed on a two-point conversion attempt with 31 seconds remaining yesterday as 'Iolani held on for a thrilling 41-40 victory in the opening round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II state football tournament.

The defending champion Raiders (6-5-1) will play King Kekaulike (6-3-1) in Friday's semifinals at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

'Iolani may take until then to recover from yesterday's exhausting game before an energized home crowd of about 1,100 at Eddie Hamada Field.

"Even with the 21-point lead, we knew it was not over," said Raiders linebacker Jarom Baldomero, whose 55-yard interception return for a touchdown broke a 20-20 tie with 1:43 left in the first half. "Kaimuki is strong and they never gave up. We just had to pull together as a team and make that one last play."

Actually, 'Iolani's victory was not preserved until Jordan Nakamura recovered an onside kick that had bounced off a teammate's chest.

Kaimuki (6-5-1) suited up only 27 players, which is six more than it had against Kaiser three weeks ago in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference semifinal. Two-way standout lineman Keone Reyes sat out yesterday's game due to a swollen leg after having a boil removed this week.

But Bulldogs coach Daniel Mafua said the outcome came down to mistakes, not a lack of depth.

'Iolani safety Daniel Takami recovered a fumble on Kaimuki's first play from scrimmage after Baldomero's touchdown, and the Raiders immediately capitalized with an 11-yard TD pass from Ryan Dung to Lionel Fujioka.

Kody Adams' extra point gave 'Iolani a 34-20 halftime lead.

"'Iolani is really smart, so you cannot make mistakes against them because they'll capitalize on it," Mafua said. "At halftime, I told our guys we hurt ourselves, so to get back into it we have to fight back. The team fought back, so I'm proud of them for that."

Justin Yamamoto's 13-yard touchdown run just 66 seconds into the second half helped put the Raiders up 41-20, but that would be the last time 'Iolani reached the end zone.

Dolly Ainu'u scored on a 41-yard run with 11:52 left in the game, but the extra-point attempt was blocked. Kaimuki then closed to 41-34 with 5:16 left after Maua Tuitele's 1-yard TD run and a two-point conversion pass from Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionuebo to James Bower.

The Bulldogs drew to within one point on Kaiwi-Barrionuebo's 6-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Harris on fourth-and-goal with 31 seconds remaining.

But their two-point pass attempt sailed high, and the final bounce went the Raiders' way.

"Give Kaimuki credit — they showed a lot of pride and guts," 'Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "Both teams showed a lot of heart and played a great game."

KAIMUKI (6-5-1) 12 8 0 20 — 40

'IOLANI (6-5-1) 7 27 7 0 — 41

KAI — Perry Faleao 6 pass from Stephen Harris (kick blocked)

'IOL — Jordan Nakamura 23 pass from Ryan Dung (Kody Adams kick)

KAI — Dolly Ainu'u 4 run (run failed)

'IOL — Ronnie Hirokawa 35 pass from Dung (pass failed)

KAI — Chris Etuale 5 pass from Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionuebo (Ainu'u pass from Harris)

'IOL — Lionel Fujioka 17 pass from Dung (Adams kick)

'IOL — Jarom Baldomero 55 interception return (Adams kick)

'IOL — Fujioka 11 pass from Dung (Adams kick)

'IOL — Justin Yamamoto 13 run (Adams kick)

KAI — Ainu'u 41 run (kick blocked)

KAI — Maua Tuitele 4 run (James Bower pass from Kaiwi-Barrionuebo)

KAI — Harris 6 pass from Kaiwi-Barrionuebo (pass failed)

RUSHING — Kaimuki: Ainu'u 16-151, Faleao 4-12, Chase Nanod 8-48, Kaiwi-Barrionuebo 6-29, Harris 2-5, Tuitele 9-42, Joshwa Salvador 1-4, Bower 8-69. 'Iolani: Yamamoto 12-49.

PASSING — Kaimuki: Kaiwi-Barrionuebo 13-30-2—147, Harris 1-1-0—6. 'Iolani: Dung 15-26-1—229.

RECEIVING — Kaimuki: Travis Pologa 2-9, Romnick Pagurayan 2-14, Harris 4-59, Tom Lau 3-29, Etuale 2-27, Ainu'u 1-15. 'Iolani: Hirokawa 6-106, Nakamura 4-47, Fujioka 4-27, Aaron Fong 1-49.