SANTA ANA — Few expected Mater Dei would be clinging to a one-point lead at the half against Kahuku, which travelled 2,500 miles from Honolulu to take on the top-ranked team in the nation.
Even fewer could have predicted the game would come down to an on-sides kick.
But the Monarchs were forced to recover one with 40 seconds remaining to preserve their 21-18 victory against Kahuku at Santa Ana Stadium.
“We’re not used to being in close games as much,” Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said. “So, hats off to Kahuku for staying in the game and making us earn the game.”
The margin of victory was especially surprising considering Bishop Gorman, which is ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Mater Dei in USA Today’s Top 25, went to Oahu last weekend and pounded the Red Raiders, 38-0.
“We played a lot better tonight,” Kahuku interim football coach Nihoa Pule said. “We were more dialed in on both sides of the ball. Bishop Gorman, we were on the field quite a bit defensively. Still, an awesome team to play against.”
The Monarchs are scheduled to travel to Bishop Gorman on Sept. 19, but they still need to get past Centennial next Friday, Sept. 12, in another road test.
“We just need to get in a rhythm offensively,” Lara said. “Once we get in rhythm, then we’re going to be fine.”
Mater Dei (2-0) appeared to seal the victory when Malachi Roby scored on a 3-yard run with 2:27 remaining to extend the lead to 21-10.
The Red Raiders marched down the field, however, and made it a three-point game with a 32-yard touchdown strike from Troy Mariteragi to 6-foot-6 wide receiver Christian Sanford-Tupuola, followed by a successful quarterback sneak on the 2-point conversion.
Kahuku attempted the on-sides kick, but Mater Dei wide receiver Koen Parnell covered it up.
“We needed to do a better job of executing,” Lara said of the offense. “If we do a better job of executing, obviously we’ve got a lot of talent. We’ve just got to get these guys the ball and here we go.”
After the Red Raiders went three-and-out on their first drive of the game, Mater Dei went 63 yards on four plays on its first possession, scoring on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Hopkins to Gavin Honore just 1:42 into the game.
Shaun Scott ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
Mater Dei lined up for a 38-yard field goal on their third drive, but after an offsides penalty on Kahuku, the Monarchs sent their offense back on the field on fourth-and-7, but Hopkins threw the ball over the head of wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and out of bounds.
Mater Dei got the ball back near midfield, but Hopkins was intercepted by safety Madden Soliai, a UCLA commit, who stepped in front of Kayden Dixon-Wyatt on a post pattern.
The Red Raiders then marched 76 yards in 13 plays, getting a first down on third-and-12 with a 26-yard pass from Mariteragi to Sanford-Tupuola, and another first down on fourth-and-6 with a 21-yard pass from Mariteragi to Kea Lerner.
Kahuku was on the 7-yard line when Mariteragi rolled out and faked a handoff before throwing the ball back against the grain to wide open tight end Rhino Aumua for the touchdown with 32 seconds left, cutting the lead to 8-7.
“I feel like we kept our composure,” Mater Dei running back Kennie Leggett said. “There was no type of doubt.”
Kennie Leggett was part of a Mater Dei ground attack that combined for 171 rushing yards in a 21-18 win against Kahuku on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Dan Arritt)Related Articles
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