Kahuku's defense had a part in nearly all of the scoring in the No. 4 Red Raiders' 12-7 win over No. 8 Wai'anae in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red semifinals last night at Aloha Stadium.

Kahuku will face No. 5 Farrington (8-2) for the Red title at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Aloha Stadium.

The Seariders (4-5) will play Leilehua (7-2) for third place next Saturday for the OIA's third and final Division I state berth.

The Governors, whose only regular season loss was 13-6 at Kahuku, are making just their fifth appearance in the title game and their first since 1994, when they lost to Kahuku, 21-7. The Red Raiders (9-1) return to the championship since 2006, when they lost to Wai'anae, 7-0.

"Our defense did a wonderful job tonight," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "It was a great defensive battle."

The Red Raiders turned a turnover into their only TD of the game. They also recycled a muffed punt return for a 37-yard field goal by St. John Lessary III to take a 10-7 lead with 20 seconds left in the third quarter. Then linebacker Tolovae Tito, a last-minute sub for AJ Atuaia at linebacker, blitzed through Wai'anae's line to sack Keoni Napierala-Rose for a safety with six seconds left in the game.

"We lost our first game here (at Aloha Stadium) 35-0 to Kamehameha," said Atuaia, referring to the team's nonleague season opener. "We didn't want that to happen here."

It was a grind of a first half as Kahuku and Wai'anae battled to a 7-all tie. Both teams kept the ball primarily on the ground, using time-consuming drives to score their TDs.

The Seariders went 65 yards on 13 plays, using up 6:30 off the clock in the first quarter with quarterback Napierala-Rose scoring on a one-yard sneak with 10 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Red Raiders capitalized on a Seariders' fumble — Atuaia jarred the ball from Danny Kekoanui that was recovered at the Kahuku 21 — to tie the game just before the half.

Kahuku capped the 17-play, 79-yard drive that ate up 8:41 with a three-yard TD pass from Allan Kubota to Jackson Kaka in the left, back-end of the end zone.

The Red Raiders had issues with the quarterback-center exchange, losing the ball twice. But Wai'anae was unable to capitalize on the turnovers.

Kahuku tallied 103 yards at the half, 100 on the ground, while the Seariders had 94 yards, 86 by rushing.

The Red Raiders snapped the deadlock midway through the third quarter. They punted from midfield, but the Seariders muffed the catch and Kahuku recovered at the Wai'anae 18. But the Seariders' defense also played well, setting the Red Raiders back two yards and having to settle for Lessary's 37-yard field goal, his third and longest of the season.

"I knew I had it," he said. "I just had to be calm."

The Red Raiders managed to overcome two turnovers, both on the center-quarterback exchanges. They had two other fumbled snaps that they recovered.

"It was just nerves," Torres said.

The Seariders had one last chance with 29 seconds left after Kahuku failed to prolong its drive after a fourth-and-1 at the Wai'anae 9. But after three incomplete passes, Tito slipped through to sack Napierala-Rose for the safety to make it 12-7.

Wai'anae failed on the ensuing onside free kick, as Kahuku recovered and took a knee on first down to end the game.

"I'm proud of our team," Lessary said. "Our defense played great and our offensive line stepped it up tonight."

Lessary finished with 110 yards on 25 carries to lead all rushers.

WAI'ANAE (4-5) 7 0 0 0— 7

KAHUKU (9-1) 0 7 3 2—12

Wain — Keoni Napierala-Rose 1 run (Terrance Akao kick)

Kah — Jackson Kaka 3 pass from Allan Kubota (St. John Lessary III kick)

Kah — FG Lessary 37

Kah — Safety, ball carrier tackled in end zone

RUSHING — Wai'anae: Napierala-Rose 4-(minus 7), Johnathan Ligsay 13-57, Danny Kekoanui 16-48, Shane Amina 1-17, Team 1-(minus 6). Kahuku: Allan Kubota 10-8, St. John Lessary III 25-110, AJ Atuaia 4-29, Derek Aiwohi 1-3, Alapeti Magalei 5-5, Reupena Moors 1-(minus 5), Viliami Pasi 1-3, Team 1-(minus 2)

PASSING — Wai'anae: Napierala-Rose 6-20-1—41, Maurice Simpson 0-1-0—0. Kahuku: A. Kubota 1-6-0—3, Lessary 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING — Wai'anae: Johnathan Ligsay 1-2, Kekoanui 1-6, Simpson 3-24, Jasiah Bales 1-9. Kahuku: Kaka 1-3.