'EWA BEACH — In the famous afternoon heat of the arid 'Ewa plain, this Gatorade shower was refreshing.

Especially for Campbell High School football coach Tumoana Kenessey, whose Sabers earned their first victory of the season yesterday by holding off visiting Kapolei, 19-12.

Campbell improved to 1-2-1 overall and 1-2 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Western Division. Kapolei, ranked No. 10 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, fell to 3-2 and 1-2 with its second straight loss.

The Hurricanes had a golden opportunity with 1:07 remaining in the game when a low Campbell punt hit the up-back, giving Kapolei possession at the Sabers' 23-yard line. But after a false start and two incompletions, Sabers defensive back Cory Freitas made an interception at his 5-yard line with 40 seconds left and Campbell was able to take a knee twice to run out the clock.

"It feels good (to win), because we're having a tough season," Freitas said of the Sabers, who saw their non-league opener canceled due to thieves stealing copper from stadium lights and a game at Wai'anae forfeited after an on-field fight against 'Aiea. "Our coaches prepared us well, and the (defensive) line kept telling us to keep our motivation up."

On the series before the botched punt, the Hurricanes had gained a first-and-goal from the 9, but came up empty after a run for no gain and three incompletions.

"We had so many chances, but we just didn't capitalize," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "We're at a crossroads right now, we've lost a little bit of our edge. We need to regroup and go back to the drawing board."

The Hurricanes also were hampered early in the game when starting quarterback Mason Koa began to suffer from leg cramps. He moved to receiver and finished with six catches for 56 yards, but the cramps bothered him throughout the day, Hernandez said.

The Sabers took a quick 13-0 lead midway through the first quarter after Samson Anguay's 8-yard touchdown run and Fa'afetai Tuvale's 15-yard TD scamper. The second extra-point attempt went wide right.

Kapolei answered with Noah Pascua's 1-yard quarterback sneak, which was set up by Shenon Moore's 49-yard run.

But the Hurricanes' extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving Campbell ahead 13-6 with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Kapolei closed to 13-12 on Pascua's 9-yard TD pass to Koa on a fade route, but its two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

Kevin Newcomb's 1-yard quarterback sneak put the Sabers up, 19-12, with 7:54 left in the game, but the extra-point attempt was hooked left.

The lead held, although Campbell's misfired punt suddenly gave Kapolei one final hope.

"It was just one of those weird accidents," Kenessey said. "Our punter wasn't back far enough, and the up-back was too close to him."

On the interception play, Pascua was under heavy pressure from defensive linemen Chris Fuga and Keli'i Christian and linebacker Bronson Alfafara-Pires, and threw the ball sooner than he wanted to a waiting Freitas.

"I was thinking, 'Please, no more downs (for Kapolei),' " Kenessey said. "I'm happy it's over."

KAPOLEI (3-2, 1-2) 6 6 0 0 — 12

CAMPBELL (1-2-1, 1-2) 13 0 0 6 — 19

Camp — Samson Anguay 8 run (Robert Regpala kick)

Camp — Fa'afetai Tuvale 15 run (kick failed)

Kap — Noah Pascua 1 run (kick blocked)

Kap — Mason Koa 9 pass from Pascua (pass failed)

Camp — Kevin Newcomb 1 run (kick failed)

RUSHING — Kapolei: Shenon Moore 8-73, Chase Alcott 1-1, Pascua 7-12, Koa 1-1. Campbell: Derrick Santiago 4-35, Tuvale 5-43, Bronson Ellis-Riveria 11-88, Jayden Ercanbrack 5-18, Samson Anguay 7-24, Pita Faleunga 5-30, Holcomb 4-16.

PASSING — Kapolei: Koa 0-2-0— 0; Pascua 14-25-1—161. Campbell: Holcomb 2-8-0—55.

RECEIVING — Kapolei: Koa 6-56, Alcott 4-57, Jason Recamara 1-16, Moore 2-30, Keli'i Aki 1-2. Campbell: Martin Kodama 2-55.

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.