Campbell in OIA title game
By Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinFor Campbell slotback Mark Acidera, the wait was agonizing. The 1996 Red Conference all-star was sidelined for more than two-thirds of the regular season after suffering a torn meniscus tendon in preseason, for which he still wears a knee brace.
But last night, Acidera made up for all the lost time as he poured out everything he'd been saving up to rally the Sabers past Kahuku, 20-13, in the semifinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs, before 3,991 fans at Aloha Stadium.
Acidera scored on two spectacular pass plays, 54 and 85 yards, in the second and fourth quarters, and even spent a little time at quarterback to help Campbell move into the OIA title game for the second straight year.
''It was hard not playing," said Acidera, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior, whose last score overcame a 13-12 halftime deficit. ''I was always getting hyped for games but I couldn't play. I felt so sad. But tonight, Hey, I feel top shape."
Campbell head coach Darren Hernandez went directly to Acidera and lifted him off the artificial turf with a bearhug after the game, screaming at him, ''We're going to the show, baby!"
Hernandez sang Acidera's praises.
''He's still not 100 percent but he's the fastest guy on the team -- he can motor -- he's a weapon," said Hernandez.
Acidera finished with four catches for 154 yards.
''All three of their touchdowns were big plays," said second-year Kahuku head coach Siuaki Livai, whose team (8-1) went undefeated through the White Conference schedule.
''We needed to not make mistakes so we wouldn't have to do first-and-long and third-and-long," said Livai, whose team was penalized 15 times for 154 yards.
Kahuku, which used eight different backs, was led by juniors Andreas Manumaleuna (8 carries for 136 yards) and Talamoni Talamoni (20 for 116 yards).
Campbell will play the winner of tonight's Waianae vs. Leilehua game next Friday at the stadium.
Campbell quarterback Rodney Tavui gave his fans a scare when he had to be helped off the field after a sack by Pali Lua with a little more than five minutes left in the scoreless first quarter.
''I hurt my shoulder, my right, but I said, 'Come on, boys, let's come back.' "
He said he was surprised when Acidera went in for him until the final minute of the quarter, completing one of two passes for six yards.
''I was pretty surprised but Mark is pretty good -- and we were a pretty good combination tonight," said Tavui, who came back to throw three touchdown passes and complete 15 of 25 attempts for 225 yards.
He said his shoulder continued to ache throughout the game but he played through it despite being sacked six times.
Acidera played quarterback as a junior varsity player.
''He's our backup now because of his experience," said Hernandez.
The winning Tavui-to-Acidera play came with 7:18 left in the game.
Backed up to his 15 after a 40-yard Chris Pahia punt, Tavui put some touch on the ball and found Acidera behind the defense.
Acidera made the catch while doing a half-pirouette in the air with only a half step on three defenders. But he turned on the jets for the sidelines and scored.
Kahuku threatened at the Campbell 16 late in the third quarter but Kerwin DeMello foiled Joseph Fotu on a third-down pass into the end zone. A subsequent attempt at a 33-yard field goal wound up in chaos, as Napalikuho Kahalepuna chased the snap to the 46 and threw what looked like touchdown pass to Andreas Manumaleuna.
But it was called back and Kahuku was penalized 15 yards. The punt was then muffed and Kahuku wound up on its 38.
Despite four fumbles -- two of them lost -- and 10 penalties for 80 yards, Kahuku went into the locker room at the half with a one-point lead.
The teams battled through a scoreless first quarter before Talamoni broke the ice to put Kahuku on top with a 1-yard burst 1:07 into the second quarter that culminated a 76-yard, eight-play drive, aided by one penalty.
But less than four minutes later, Acidera made a sensational grab and sideline run for a 54-yard touchdown. Acidera caught Tavui's bomb on the sprint at the Kahuku 20, barely inbounds. Kahuku's Pahia made a strong grab for the ball and briefly got his hands on it, but Acidera ripped away from him, never breaking stride.
''I had to take it from him (Pahia) -- I just did my job and took it away," said Acidera.
Kahuku 0 13 0 0 -- 13 Campbell 0 12 0 8 -- 20Kah--Talamoni Talamoni 1 run (Napalikuho Kahalepuna kick)Cam--Mark Acidera 54 pass from Rodney tavui (kick failed)
Kah--Joseph Fotu 9 pass from Robert Thompson (kick failed)
Cam--Ezekiel Kelii 34 pass from Tavui (kick failed)
Cam--Acidera 85 pass from Tavui (Jack Ioane pass from Tavui)