In the most fantastic finish in state football tournament history, Pelefoni Soliai caught a 43-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from fellow receiver Shiloah Te'o on the game's final play last night to lift Kahuku to a stunning 22-20 victory over Baldwin.

The defending champion Red Raiders (10-2) will try for their fifth state crown in seven years Friday against the winner of last night's late semifinal between Saint Louis and Wai'anae. Baldwin, which led 17-7 in the third quarter and was up 20-14 with 10 seconds remaining, ends its season at 10-1-1 after attempting to become the first Neighbor Island team to advance to a state title game.

"When Bruddah (Soliai) caught the ball and I saw the referee signal 'touchdown,' I was stunned for a couple seconds," said Kahuku quarterback Richard Torres, who started the final play by throwing a swing pass to Te'o near the left sideline. "I didn't know what to do — I was speechless."

So were the several hundred fans in the Baldwin cheering section, but the 3,500 or so on the Kahuku side of Aloha Stadium were jumping for joy in a deafening roar as soon as it was apparent Te'o's perfect spiral was headed to an open Soliai.

Soliai caught the ball ahead of three defenders at about the 5-yard line, then dashed into the end zone untouched, setting off a wild celebration as the Baldwin defense was left sprawled on the turf in disbelief.

"I thought our guys would stay back (near the end zone)," Bears coach Jimmy Morimoto said. "We were in a 'Cover 4' (defense), and we told them to look for the deep ball, to keep their receivers in front of them and give them the short pass. But our guys were too aggressive when they threw the (swing) pass, and then (Te'o) threw it over our heads."

The play was set up by Gary Nagy's 16-yard punt return on a free kick after a high punt snap by Baldwin rolled out of the end zone for a safety with 10 seconds remaining.

The Bears had gained possession after the Red Raiders lost the ball on downs at the Baldwin 19 with 1:33 left. Kahuku had one timeout left, which it used after the Bears took a knee on first down. Baldwin took two more knees before setting up in punt formation from the 11.

"We did the math and knew we probably would have to punt," Morimoto said. "We thought it would come down to one last play, but we didn't think their pass (attack) was too big a threat."

The Red Raiders had completed only one pass in their three previous games, but finished with 117 passing yards last night.

Kahuku also rushed for 295 yards, but the Bears had led since Jordan Helle's 29-yard TD pass to Chase Nakamura helped put them up 10-7 with 27 seconds remaining in the half.

Baldwin then took a 17-7 lead after linebacker David Ka'anana recovered a fumble in the end zone with 6:47 left in the third quarter. The Red Raiders closed to 17-14 on Torres' 25-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Kapu and Kaika Sasaoka's extra point with 2:22 remaining in the quarter.

But the Bears pushed the lead to 20-14 with 5:26 left in the game on Dane Fernandez's 21-yard field goal.

And after Torres' pass fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 1:33 remaining, it looked like Baldwin was on the doorstep of history.

But Kahuku knew it wasn't over.

"We never lost faith," Soliai said. "Even before that play, no one on our sidelines put their head down. We were going to try our hardest until the end, and that's what we did."

KAHUKU (10-2) 0 7 7 8—22

BALDWIN (10-1-1) 0 10 7 3—20

Kah — Junior Mata'afa 80 run (Kaika Sasaoka kick)

Bald — FG Dane Fernandez 40

Bald — Chase Nakamura 29 pass from Jordan Helle (Fernandez kick)

Bald — David Kaanana fumble recovery in end zone (Fernandez kick)

Kah — Jordan Kapu 25 pass from Richard Torres (Sasaoka kick)

Bald — FG Fernandez 21

Kah — Team safety

Kah — Pelefoni Soliai 43 pass from Shiloah Te'o

RUSHING — Kahuku: Mata'afa 9-115, Lehi Aumua 19-108, Neal Lokotui 5-31, Torres 18-61, Blane Beatty 6-21, Kaliki Unga 2-4, Te'o 2-2, Nai Fotu 1-1, Ian Rigterink 1-0. Baldwin: Chansi Bolosan 10-43, Nakamura 1-2.


PASSING — Kahuku: Torres 3-9-0—74, Te'o 1-1-0—43. Baldwin: Helle 10-23-2—104, Fernandez 0-1-1—0.

RECEIVING — Kahuku: Kapu 3-74, Soliai 1-43. Baldwin: Nakamura 5-100, Bolosan 2-(minus 10), Colten Quinabo 1-8, Ikaika Lau 1-4, Canencia-Black 1-2.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.