Led by its stingy defense and a running game that amassed 227 yards, Kahuku shutout host Roosevelt, 28-0, last night at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

The Red Raiders, ranked No. 6 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, improved to 3-1 overall, 2-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East Conference. Roosevelt, which managed just 148 yards of offense, fell to 1-3, 0-2 in the Red East.

"It took us a while to get going again, but I thought we played well in the second half," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "We were able to run the ball, but our passing game still needs improvement."

Junior running back Viliami Pasi led eight Red Raiders' rushers with 81 yards on six carries and two second-half touchdowns.

"I have to give credit to my receivers and O-line. They were blocking downfield and allowed me to break a couple (runs)," said Pasi, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound tailback.

Kahuku took a 7-0 lead into halftime after St. John Lessary III scored on a 7-yard run with 49 seconds left in the second quarter.

After a Roosevelt timeout, Lessary III took the handoff, bounced it to the outside and outran three Rough Riders to the right, front corner of the end zone.

Kahuku made it 14-0, scoring on its first drive of the second half. Pasi found paydirt on a 34-yard run with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

"First half, we came out a little flat, but in the second half we came out fired up and our defense came up big, too," Pasi said.

On a third-and-3, quarterback Allan Kubota cut upfield on an option right. He gained about seven yards before he made the pitch — in a crowd — to Pasi, who evaded a pair of defenders on his way to the end zone.

Kahuku was aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty on Roosevelt that followed an incomplete pass on third-and-4 to extend its drive.

"When you're playing a good team like (Kahuku) and you make mistakes, they're going to make you pay for it," Roosevelt coach Les Parilla said. "We're just not there yet."

Kahuku's defense, which accumulated eight sacks, came up with a turnover on the second play of Roosevelt's ensuing drive.

Defensive end Kona Schwenke came up with an interception after linebacker Charles Reed hit Roosevelt quarterback Shon Fujii while he was throwing. Schwenke, a 6-foot-4, 203-pound junior, snatched the ball in the air near the Rough Riders' 25-yard line and returned it for the game's third score.

"Defensively, we kept pressure on them, and came up with a couple turnovers that we were able to convert for points," Torres said.

Matthew Gomez added a third Kahuku interception early in the fourth quarter on a deep, corner route that he returned 40 yards to the Roosevelt 42-yard line.

Pasi capped the scoring on his second touchdown, a 42-yard scamper off right tackle two players later. Lessary III's kick made it 28-0.

Kahuku held standout receiver Alex Fowler to three catches for 37 yards. Fowler, a speedy dual threat as a rusher, had six carries for 121 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown run in a win over Pac-Five last week. He also returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score against the Wolf Pack.

Justin Afalava had three sacks and an interception for Kahuku, which is tied for the Red East lead with Farrington.

KAHUKU (3-1, 2-0) 0 7 14 7 — 28

ROOSEVELT (1-3, 0-2) 0 0 0 0 — 0

Kah — St. John Lessary III 7 run (Lessary III kick).

Kah — Viliami Pasi 34 run (Lessary III kick).

Kah — Kona Schwenke 25 interception return (Lessary III kick).

Kah — Pasi 42 run (Lessary III kick).

RUSHING — Kahuku: Lessary III 12-55, Kubota 7-(minus 7), Dallin Muti 2-6, Pasi 6-81, Alapeti Magalei 5-25, Pololu Silva 6-50, Sage Kaka 1-7, Joseph Deal 2-10. Roosevelt: Shon Fujii 15-(minus 9), Jordan Delos-Santos 3-2, Tyler Kila 5-1, Alex Fowler 1-4.

PASSING — Kahuku: Kubota 3-6-0—41, Kaka 0-1-0—0. Roosevelt: Fujii 12-33-3—150.

RECEIVING — Kahuku: Siatima Tapusoa 1-5, Jackson Kaka 1-5, Aulola Tonga 1-31. Roosevelt: Victor Kapihe 4-48, John Hopkins 1-31, Lowen Furuta-Harada 2-13, Delos-Santos 1-12, Fowler 3-37, Matthew Kuali'i-Moe 1-9.

JV score — Kahuku 28, Roosevelt 20

Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2404.

OIA RED WEST

MILILANI 20, NO. 10 WAIPAHU 7

The host Trojans (1-3 overall, 1-1) handed the Marauders (3-1, 1-1) their first loss of the season last night in an OIA Red West game. Details and statistics of the game were unavailable.

NONLEAGUE

NO. 1 PUNAHOU 42, C. KITSAP (WASH.) 19

The top-ranked Buffanblu used a dominant second quarter to rout the Cougars at the Emerald City Kickoff Classic at Seattle's Qwest Field.

Kimo Makaula threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter as the Buffanblu scored four times.

Makaula, filling in for injured quarterback Cayman Shutter, completed 19 of 24 passes for 303 yards and one interception.

Robert Toma caught eight passes for 177 yards and one touchdown.

PUNAHOU (3-0) 7 28 7 0—42

CENTRAL KITSAP (0-1) 0 6 7 6—19

Pun — Dalton Hilliard 3 run (Mountan Mitchell kick).

Pun — Thurston Kino 12 run (Mitchell kick).

CK — Christian Wesley 64 pass from Jason Simonis (kick failed).

Pun — Hilliard 10 pass from Kimo Makaula (Mitchell kick).

Pun — Robert Toma 74 pass from Makaula (Mitchell kick).

Pun — Mark Silverstein 28 pass from Makaula (Mitchell kick).

CK — H'arion Gaulden 12 run (Christian Berg kick).

Pun — Stabren Caires 19 run (Robert Izuta kick).

CK — Cole Adams 1 run (kick failed).

No individual statistics available.

OIA WHITE

WAIALUA BY FORFEIT

The Bulldogs were awarded a forfeit victory over the Falcons.

JV score—Kalani 28, Waialua 15.

BIIF

KEA'AU 42, WAIAKEA 0

The Cougars rolled past the Warriors last night in a Big island Interscholastic Federation game. Details and statistics of the game were unavailable.

KOHALA 12, HPA 7

In a Big Island Interscholastic Federation game Friday night, the Cowboys beat Ka Makani. Details and statistics of the game were unavailable.

VISTA 38, KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 3

In a nonleague game Friday night the visitors from Vista High in California beat the Warriors. Details and statistics of the game were unavailable.