Honolulu, HI
The boys from the south complete the mission.
It all came down to this. Campbell and Kamehameha-Kapalama faced off in the 2025 hhsaa Open Division State Championship Game. Both teams were looking to bring back the Koa Wood home for the first time since the 2000’s. Campbell heading into this game with a last minute touchdown over Kahuku in the first semifinal match, while Kamehameha dominated Kapolei in their head to head. There were stars all over the sky and on the field in Manoa Friday night, with SDSU Commit Tainoa Lave going up against Michigan’s Malakai Lee and Cal Berkeley’s Taimane Purcell. This matchup had everything that’s expected from a Championship Match.
The sabers went undefeated last year under Coach DJ and star QB, Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele. After falling short in the OIA Open Division Championship and HHSAA state semifinal, many thought that this year would be a rebuilding year for the sabers. Campbell’s postseason run would be described as a Cinderella run, but not for Head Coach Darren Johnson.
The sabers started the season strong going 5-0 before their first loss against the Mililani Trojans. They would go on to lose again the following to the Kapolei Hurricanes. After two back to back losses, a lot of people counted the Saber out. Their 3 and final loss came to the Kahuku Red Raiders in the OIA Open Division semifinal. After not finishing the scheduled game against the red raiders in the regular season due to stadium issues, the sabers never really had a shot to prove themselves in the regular season against the raiders, making everyone wonder what the outcome would’ve been. It’s easy to count a team out after losing to the top 3 teams in the division, but that’s exactly what the saber wanted everyone to think.
They would play in the 3rd place game against the Mililani Trojans and the outcome was different. Campbell finds themselves falling short of the goal every year. Weather it be falling to make the championship game or getting past the semifinal match in the state tournament, the sabers used the outside noise and doubt to their advantage. They would go on to play Kahuku in the HhSaa semifinal match. A game where Kahuku had control, but when you have a swift army knife in Tainoa Lace, anything can happen for your team. Lave and the sabers would go on to upset the reigning OIA champs and book their ticket to the HHSAA title game since 2004. After losing to both the Mililani Trojans and Kahuku red raiders, the sabers got their revenge and at the perfect timing.
As for the Kamehameha-KAPĀLAMA warriors, their season to the HHSAA was no different than the sabers. They would win their first game before losing 3 in a row to Kahuku, West Lin, and Serra. After starting 1-3 in the preseason, they would change things around once the ILH season started. They would win the first round against the Punahou Buffnblue and St. Louis crusaders.
By the second meeting with the Crusaders, the warriors would end up falling short. They would end up getting back in the win column the week after against the Punahou buffnblue, leaving it to the buff blue and crusaders to see who would be the one and only lone star to come out the ILH division and play for the state title. Punahou would end up beating the reigning state champs of St. Louis and that would get Kamehameha into the HHSAA playoff. They would take care of Kapolei hurricanes in the semifinal and would ultimately set up their first state title appearance since 2009 when they last won the championship.
This would be the first time since 2016, when the open division started that no Kahuku or St. Louis team would be in the title game.
Campbell would open up the game late in the first half with a touchdown pass from senior qb Brayden Medeiros to senior wr Brystin Sansano. the boys from the south would get their fan base going as they would eventually get on the board. Kamehameha had a chance to be on the board first, but failed to convert a field goal attempt. kamehameha offense would soon get their offensive drive going in the second quarter and equaled the score to 7 after an 11 yard run from Nainoa Melchor. Kamehameha would tack on a field goal right before the halftime whistle and head into the break up 10-7.
both defenses were making the offense work. Kamehameha had no problem with their passing game during the semifinal match, but they couldn't find their rhythm on championship night. as for the sabers, they looked to their Swiss army knife guy, Tainoa lave. the sabers and lave loved to go to their wildcat formation and run different schemes that a lot of teams don't see them do. the sabers rpo and check balls have been their style of play in the postseason along with their running game.
Brayden medeiros is the guy that wants to prove everyone wrong. after last year loss in the hhsaa state semifinal match against the st Louis crusaders, he made a promise that he would use that game as motivation and come back stronger. the backup qb went in for former saber qb, Jaron keawe-sagapolutele, due to an injury. that moment that medeiros was waiting for, came through in the second half of the championship game. We would see Campbells offense flourish in the second half as Brayden Medeiros would throw for 151 yards and 3 touchdowns.
the sabers would get themselves back into the game after Tainoa lave touchdown run and medeiros big 55 yard touchdown to Nathaniel teleaai. the sabers would be up 20-10 in the 4th quarter. with time running down, the warriors were not done yet. they would set up a scoring drive late in the 4th but would only get a field goal to cut the deficit to 7. after a 3 and out drive by the sabers, the warriors locked in and had one more chance to send this game to overtime or ultimately seal the game in the end.
kamehameha senior qb, mana forges, would find senior wr, hayzen botelho, and would tie the game with only 14 seconds left in the game. the warriors would make the point after and eventually send this game to overtime.
kamehameha won the toss in overtime and selected to go on offense first. they would set up a drive for a made field goal and they had the lead again after being down 10 points. with the warriors only converting a field goal, the sabers could win it all with a touchdown or send the game to a second overtime with a field goal. there would be a deja vu moment for the sabers. ball is in their hands with one shot to win the game. they did it twice in a row leading up to this moment in the postseason. the sabers behind Tainoa lave would run their wildcat formation run for the first two plays. after being stopped, the person who wanted to prove he was the guy, showed up when the lights were bright. Brayden Medeiros would call game and throw a 17 yard touchdown pass to wr, Zayne Pasion, to put the dagger over Kamehameha.
the Campbell sabers finally complete the mission and are named your 2025 hhsaa open division state champions! Campbell is the first team outside of kahuku and st Louis to win the hhsaa open division championship title since the new Format in 2016. after many years of this goal, the dream came true for coach Darren Johnson and the whole campbell football program.
Congratulations to the Campbell Sabers Football program, school and community!
Mahalo to everyone that has supported NorthVue Media this year as your main source of coverage for the 2025 football Season. We hope that every football athlete has enjoyed the photos that our team have captured. Mahalo again for the amazing season and support from everyone. We look forward to covering it all over again next season!
final score: Campbell 26 - Kamehameha kapalama 23
for more pictures, head over to our photo gallery
pictures taken by: Kennedy Velasco - @kennnchapo
