Top-ranked Kahuku cashed in on second-half opportunities to rally past No. 4 Farrington, 16-14, last night at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

An overflow crowd of 3,000 — including Gov. Linda Lingle — watched the Red Raiders stay unbeaten at 7-0 and clinch at least a share of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East title at 5-0. They also clinched the East's top seed for the 10-team OIA tournament.

Cameron Mercado's 32-yard field goal with six minutes, 41 seconds left in the game capped the Red Raiders' rally from a 14-0 halftime deficit. He had missed a 47-yarder on the series before; his first miss of the season (another was blocked). He also missed on his second PAT attempt of the game, snapping his streak at 33. Moreover, he kicked-off four touchbacks.

The Governors (6-1, 4-1), who were celebrating homecoming, dropped their 10th consecutive to Kahuku since 2003.

"Second half, we didn't really think about the score," Kahuku defensive end Kona Schwenke said. "We came in like it was 0-0 and played them hard."

The Governors took a 14-0 lead into halftime, scoring on two of their first five series that had an average starting field position at the Farrington 45. That was the result of a stellar defensive effort by Farrington, which yielded 62 yards of offense in the first half.

Farrington scored on its first series starting from the Kahuku 39 after Kahuku punted from deep in its territory.The seven-play drive ended with Siaosi Feleunga powering in from the 1 with 7:55 left in the first quarter. Ekolu Kaina's PAT made it 7-0.

Following an interception by Vaughn Tomas at the Govs' 30, Farrington added to its lead just before the half. Harry Tuimaseve's 1-yard TD plunge with 20 seconds left in the half capped a 13-play drive that consumed 4:23 and gave Farrington a 14-0 lead at the break.

After surrendering 143 yards rushing in the first half, the Red Raiders allowed just 43 in the second.

"What we did was just play assignment football," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said of the second-half adjustment. "They were missing their gap responsibilities (in the first half)."

The turning point came early in the second half, when the Governors, from their 20, lost the ball when Tuimaseve fumbled and George Kaka recovered at the Farrington 18.

Mercado kicked a 40-yard field goal, but the Governors were called for roughing the kicker, an automatic first down. Kahuku took the points off the board and cashed it in for a 15-yard TD pass from Evan Moe to Kaipo Pearl with 9:47 in the third quarter to pull Kahuku to 14-7.

Later in the quarter, a personal foul penalty after a punt gave Kahuku the ball at the Farrington 49, where it needed just three plays to score, the last being a 34-yard TD run by Tyrone Brown. But Mercado's PAT hit the upright and kicked back, leaving Farrington with a 14-13 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter after Mercado's missed 47-yard field goal went for a touchback, the Red Raiders forced the Govs to punt from their 16. Kahuku started from its 35 and aided by another personal foul, eventually moved to the Farrington 15, where Mercado's 32-yard field goal was the difference.

Besides the turnover, Farrington was hurt by 10 penalties for 103 yards, four of which led to first downs.

"It seems like we gave them so many opportunities," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "Give Kahuku credit, of course. They cashed in on it. The penalties, we can't do that against a the No. 1 team in the state. We shot ourselves in the foot."

Farrington had the ball two more times after falling behind, punting the first time and losing the ball on downs with 43 seconds left.

NOTES

The Farrington Alumni and Community Foundation made a donation of $10,000 to the Farrington athletic department at halftime.

The OIA accepted donations for the tsunami/earthquake relief fund for those in the Philippines, Samoa and Indonesia.

KAHUKU (7-0, 5-0) 0 0 13 3 — 16

FARRINGTON (6-1, 4-1) 7 7 0 0 — 14

Farr—Siaosi Feleunga 1 run (Ekolu Kaina kick)

Farr—Harry Tuimaseve 1 run (Kaina kick)

Kah—Kaipo Pearl 15 pass from Evan Moe (Cameron Mercado kick)

Kah—Tyrone Brown 34 run (kick failed)

Kah—FG Mercado 32

RUSHING—Kahuku: Evan Moe 2-2,Viliami Pasi 21-50, Fonovasa Mata'afa 6-25, Tyrone Brown 12-60, Team 2-(minus 4). Farrington: Jared Hakuole 1-8, Tuimaseve 26-96, Felenunga 13-79, Alvin Faamausili 1-3.

PASSING—Kahuku: Moe 6-15-2—88.Farrington: Hakuole 6-17-0—24.

RECEIVING—Kahuku: Jackson Kaka 1-6, Punga Vea 1-8, Mata'afa 2-27, Pearl 1-15, Shairone Thompson 1-32. Farrington: Benjamin Malufau 1-7, Feleunga 2-3, Sammy Park 2-8, Faumaasili 1-6.

JV—KAHUKU 7, FARRINGTON 0