On-Air Now
On-Air Now
Listen Live
, ,

Farrington holds off Kailua, 13-10, to reach OIA DI final

By: Wes Nakama

In a typically tough, smashmouth football game between two longtime OIA rivals, Farrington held off visiting Kailua, 13-10, Friday night to advance to its first league championship game since 2016.

A tense crowd of about 2,000 at Skippa Diaz Stadium watched Governors defensive back Willis Lilly intercept a pass in the end zone with 1:58 remaining to end the Surfriders’ final drive and allow Farrington to run out the clock and improve to 6-2. The Govs will face Waipahu — a 37-21 victor over Leilehua — for the OIA DI title next weekend. Kailua’s season ends at 5-5.

“Traditionally, every time we play Kailua, it’s always a battle,” Farrington coach Daniel Sanchez said. “They’re a bunch of tough kids, and they played a helluva game. Sometimes it’s not pretty, but a win is a win and we get to play on.”

Photo: Bleed Blue Photos

The Surfriders got on the scoreboard first, with Matthew Mashiba’s 33-yard field goal three minutes into the game capping an 11-play, 65-yard drive. That 3-0 lead surprisingly held until midway through the second quarter, when Sitani Mikaele’s 3-yard touchdown run ended an 11-play, 85-yard march. On the previous carry, Mikaele rambled for 28 yards but landed awkwardly on his right ankle after trying to leap over a defender.

“It was tough, but I didn’t want to go out,” said Mikaele, a senior fullback who finished with 145 yards rushing and two TDs on 30 carries to push his state-leading total to 1,149 yards. “It was bugging me, it was really sore. But I had to keep going.”

Mikaele later had six carries in a 50-yard drive, including the final four yards to help extend the lead to 13-3 with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter. But this time Kailua answered quickly, traveling 60 yards in just five plays, aided by a pass interference penalty on third-and-6 and capped by Romeo Ortiz’s 34-yard scamper to paydirt on a quarterback keeper with 17 seconds left in the period. Mashiba’s extra point cut it to 13-10.

Then late in the fourth quarter, the Surfriders marched 56 yards in nine plays, including an 8-yard run by Ortiz followed by a late hit penalty on fourth-and-4, putting the ball on the Farrington 31.

But on the next play, Ortiz launched a long pass to the left front corner of the end zone, where Lilly was able to make the interception. 

“I had a feeling they were going to my side,” Lilly said. “I give props to Kailua … but we knew we had to step up on defense. They put the game in our hands, and we came through. To go to a championship game is a blessing.”

Both teams struggled with their air attack — Kailua had just 14 yards passing, and Farrington only 25. But they each established a solid ground game, with the Governors churning out 198 yards rushing, and the Surfriders 174.

“That’s the type of football we like — we like ‘ground and pound,’ ” Kailua coach Joe Wong said. “It fell into what we do, we’re physical, too, and it showed out there today. It was a tough game all the way down to the wire. I just wish we would have had a better shot at the end … We had our opportunities all game, it was a slugfest back and forth — we stopped them, they stopped us, and one mistake in the end cost us.”

Photo: Bleed Blue Photos

MAHALO TO THESE SPONSORS FOR PROUDLY SUPPORTING HAWAI’I HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS & HELPING TO PROVIDE US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO COVER ATHLETES AND SCHOOLS HERE IN THE 808.

You might also be interested in…

Sabers prevail in thrilling 49-43 victory over Punahou

Sabers prevail in thrilling 49-43 victory over Punahou

chaneltNov 30, 20231 min read

Aliyah Bantolina scored a game-high 18 points and Taysia Molina-Schulte added 15 points to help the Sabers (2-0) hold off the Buff ‘n Blue (1-3). Campbell led 13-7 after one…

Konawaena dominates San Clemente, 59-25 | Photo Gallery

Konawaena dominates San Clemente, 59-25 | Photo Gallery

jarinkNov 30, 20231 min read

The Konawaena Wildcats ball out in their first game of the 2023 Punahou Invitational against the San Clemente Tritons from California and win 59-25. Mikela Salazar-Harrell scored a game-high 23…

Successful hurricane drill concludes Hawaiʻi’s 2023 season | HFN Ep: 118 ft. Matthew Shipley

Successful hurricane drill concludes Hawaiʻi’s 2023 season | HFN Ep: 118 ft. Matthew Shipley

jarinkNov 30, 20231 min read

The Rainbow Warriors conclude their 2023 season with a thrilling win over Colorado State on senior night. University of Hawaii placekicker, Matthew Shipley drills a career-long 51-yard field goal as…

‘Iolani girls edge San Juan Hills in OT, 53-49

‘Iolani girls edge San Juan Hills in OT, 53-49

chaneltNov 30, 20233 min read

By Wes Nakama The ‘Iolani girls basketball team did not have to wait for its annual Prep Classic next week to face its first big challenge from a prominent Mainland…