MILILANI, Hawaii — Troy Mariteragi is aware of a factor or two about ready a flip or two.
The persistence of the one-time Kahuku waterboy was on full show Friday night time because the senior quarterback guided the top-seeded Red Raiders to a 24-6 win over Campbell within the Oahu Interscholastic Association Open Division semifinals at John Kauinana Stadium.
In the second semifinal, third-seeded Kapolei upset second-seeded host Mililani, 21-14, because the Hurricanes reached their first OIA Open championship recreation.
Kahuku and Kapolei clinched HHSAA berths whereas Campbell and Mililani will play off for the third and final berth.
[Note: See below for more photos of the OIA Open football semifinals.]
Mariteragi hails from a proud household of Red Raider supporters on Oahu’s North Shore. His older brother, Jason, was the beginning quarterback who helped lead Kahuku to the 2021 state championship, snapping a run of Saint Louis dominance.
“He’s a huge inspiration,” Troy Mariteragi stated. “I was fortunate enough to be the waterboy on that team when they won the state championship and my brother was the starting quarterback. It just gives me extra motivation and inspiration that I’m carrying on my family’s legacy.”
He took a winding path to do it.
Mariteragi was the projected beginning signal-caller getting into the 2024 season however was ultimately supplanted by touted mid-year mainland switch Matai Fuiaga. Fuiaga and Kahuku misplaced to Saint Louis in final 12 months’s state open final, however Fuiaga remained the starter getting into this season.
The Red Raiders — contemporary off offseason teaching upheaval with Kahuku’s dismissal of Sterling Carvalho — absorbed a 20-0 loss to Saint Louis within the 2025 opener.
Fuiaga reportedly left the program amid injury in September and Mariteragi made his first begin of the season at Mater Dei (Calif.) on Sept. 5, a aggressive 21-18 loss in opposition to a nationwide energy.
The Red Raiders (7-3) haven’t misplaced in 5 video games since.
“We had some adversity, and adversity’s great,” Mariteragi stated. “It shows us who we really are and it’s just building off that adversity and getting better every week.”
After a layoff of some weeks, issues acquired off to an inauspicious begin Friday for the 30-time OIA champs.
Mariteragi was dropped by Campbell lineman Tevita Paongo on the Red Raiders’ opening possession and Kahuku was pressured to punt. But beneath stress on his staff’s subsequent drove, Mariteragi waited till he was about to be leveled by lineman Chaesten Eliu and flung it to a totally wide-open Christian Sanford-Tupuola alongside the best sideline for a 79-yard catch-and-run landing.
“That play, it was a huge turning point for us,” Mariteragi stated. “Our first drive, we started a little slow and had to shake off the rust. I felt some pressure, had to get the ball out and my receiver made a play like they always do.”
So started a run of 24 unanswered factors. Mariteragi was 10-for-18 for 142 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
He helped seal the result with an 11-yard fade to tight finish Rhino Aumua with beneath 5 minutes to play.
“Troy’s a veteran,” interim coach Nihoa Pule stated. “So we expect a lot of things out of him and he’s leading this team the way we knew Troy could.”
Pule stated it was not a matter of Mariteragi successful over the staff — he already had them — however getting his probability and making good on it.
“Last year I had some opportunities and I was able to play in some games,” Mariteragi acknowledged. “Just getting as much experience as I can. The more experience, the more I can learn from and get better.”
He acquired some vital assist from the Kahuku protection, which pitched a shutout after permitting a spotlight 20-yard landing seize at the back of the tip zone by the gifted two-way Saber Shaison Kupukaa on Campbell’s first drive.
Shaison Kupukaa hauled in a 20-yard landing catch at the back of the tip zone in opposition to Kahuku’s Madden Soliai within the first quarter. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Defensive again Taimua Pule, the son of the coach, returned an interception of Sabers quarterback Brayden Medeiros 40 yards to the home early within the third quarter. Medeiros, the successor to Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, was 14-for-28 for 115 yards, a landing and two picks for Campbell (6-3).
Special groups got here by way of, too. Jadyn Parker nailed a 52-yarder with room to spare in the beginning of the fourth quarter, the longest conversion in Hawaii highschool football this 12 months and 6 yards shy of matching the state report, per Spectrum OC16’s Felipe Ojastro. In addition, Noah Ah You blocked the additional level the lone time Campbell discovered the tip zone.
“It’s been interesting. Defense has stayed solid for the most part,” Pule stated of the season’s rhythms. “Our offense is slowly coming along. Hopefully we’ll keep on that rise right now.”
The groups didn’t full an official recreation Oct. 18 due to an influence outage at Kahuku’s Carleton Weimer Field. They agreed to forego the sport altogether with their seeds locked in at 1 and 4 for the playoffs.
Taimua Pule ran again a 40-yard interception return within the third quarter. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell’s Shaison Kupukaa broke up a move meant for Kahuku’s Christian Sanford-Tupuola, however Campbell was known as for a penalty on the play. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kahuku working again Blake Alo was introduced down by Campbell’s Kenaniah Fiu. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell’s Shaison Kupukaa hauled in a move by the Sabers sideline in opposition to Kahuku’s Teave Crawford. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell lineman Tevita Paongo celebrated a sack of Kahuku’s Troy Maritegari. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell’s Zayne Pasion hauled in a move close to the left sideline. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kahuku kicker Jadyn Parker drilled a 52-yard discipline purpose within the fourth quarter. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell quarterback Brayden Medeiros threw on the run beneath pursuit by Kahuku’s Fouvale Ueni. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell quarterback Brayden Medeiros handed in midair whereas beneath stress. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell’s Jaedon Pablo punted the ball. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell veteran coach Darren Johnson. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kahuku quarterback Troy Mariteragi tried to sidearm a move whereas beneath stress by Campbell. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kahuku working again Blake Alo was taken down by Campbell’s Kenaniah Fiu. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kenaniah Fiu appeared again at his teammates after his sort out. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kahuku coach Nihoa Pule, high proper, spoke to his gamers at halftime. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell’s Zayne Pasion tried to remain inbounds as Kahuku’s Brody Palolo tried to pull him out. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kahuku’s Noah Ah You (33) blocked a point-after tried by Campbell’s Mitch Lifto. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Troy Mariteragi ready to fireside a landing move to Christian Sanford-Tupuola as Campbell’s Chaesten Eliu closed in. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Christian Sanford-Tupuola tiptoed the sideline after a catch. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kahuku’s Christian Sanford-Tupuola was in a discipline by himself on his 79-yard landing catch from Troy Maritegari. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Campbell receiver Brystin Sansano hauled in a catch a second earlier than getting hit by the Kahuku secondary, which was known as for a success on a defenseless receiver. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports activities scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He might be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.