By: Wes Nakama
Showing momentum — not a letdown — from its big victory a week prior, visiting Campbell raced past short-handed Farrington, 42-13, in impressive fashion Friday night at Skippa Diaz Stadium.
Junior quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele completed 24 of 34 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns to help the Sabers improve to 6-1, one week after upsetting No. 2-ranked Punahou, 38-23. Farrington, which was missing about a dozen players due to illness, fell to 3-2.
Sagapolutele had 305 yards passing in the first half, helping Campbell take a 21-7 lead. Defensively, Campbell held the Governors to only one touchdown until the closing minutes.
“We started hot … and the defense has always stepped up every week,” Sagapolutele said. “They make us better in practice, and we make them better in practice, and we’re just working as a team. I’m just thankful for the defense helping us get back on the field.”
The Sabers wasted no time getting untracked, covering 85 yards in just five plays after the opening kickoff capped by Sagapolutele’s 35-yard scoring pass to Falaniko Scanlan. Campbell then made it 14-0 about midway through the second quarter after James Steffany-Fiame’s 15-yard TD run and Cristian Wyckstandt’s extra point.
Farrington closed it to 14-7 on Sitani Mikaele’s 3-yard run to paydirt followed by Jacob Talamoa’s PAT, but the Sabers immediately answered with a six-play, 70-yard drive culminating in Sagapolutele’s scoring pass to Rowen-Ray Bucao from 40 yards out. Wyckstandt tacked on the extra point to put Campbell ahead at halftime, 21-7.
The Sabers extended the lead to 28-7 eight minutes into the third quarter after Sagapolutele’s 3-yard keeper, then made it 35-7 after the third play of the fourth quarter, a 7-yard touchdown pass from Sagapolutele to Zayden Alviar-Costa.
Campbell then went ahead 42-7 midway through the quarter after Donny Fa’avi, Jr.’s 45-yard TD pass to Caysean Melvin, triggering the mercy rule and running clock.
“They’re just a good team,” Govs coach Daniel Sanchez said. “No excuses, but we had a lot of guys out, we had the flu bug hit us at a crazy time. But we expected a lot from Campbell, so hat’s off to them … when it starts to rain, it pours, so we just gotta go fix that this week and get ready for the next one.”
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.
