What were they supposed to do, pack it up and call it a season?

The Kahalu'u-He'eia Broncos were prohibitive underdogs to make it to the Pop Warner championships in Florida, but that hardly seemed to matter to a team all too happy to fly under the radar.

In the state semifinals on O'ahu, the Broncos had to overcome an emotion-driven and highly talented Young Warriors squad that had dedicated its season to its emotional leader Gjino Kanahele, who was killed in a moped accident last month. The Broncos had lost their two previous meetings against the Warriors this season 18-6 and 20-6.

The Broncos led 12-0 late in the game, but the Warriors made a charge, cutting the lead to four points on a touchdown bomb and a two-point kick with less than two minutes left. Kahalu'u snagged the ensuing onside kick and held on as time expired for a 12-8 victory.

That set up a meeting with the undefeated Wailuku Rainbows on Maui. The Broncos trailed 6-0 at the half, then 12-0 in the third when Wailuku recovered a fumble and took it in for a touchdown.

"They beat us for three quarters," said Broncos coach Kenneth Kong. "And then, finally, our kids woke up."

Kahalu'u roared back with a pair of touchdowns late in the game and converted an extra-point attempt to stun Wailuku, 13-12.

"Other kids might have folded, but our guys kept playing," Kong said. "Our defense kept us in the game until we could get a break on offense. The minute we got that first touchdown, we knew we could do it."

This weekend, a battle-sore but elated bunch of Broncos head to Florida to prove their mettle against the best the Mainland has to offer.

"Guaranteed we'll match up with kids 6 feet 2 and 165 pounds," Kong said. "We'll have to find a way to counter their speed and size."

In turn, Kahalu'u's opponents will have to find a way to stop the Broncos' balanced air-ground attack.

Quarterback Jaymeson Lee is an unflappable team leader whose poise on the field is a calming influence. The Broncos also rely on a deep roster of talented running backs, including Kong's son, Joshua, and Kanoa Porter, who scored the tying touchdown against Wailuku.

The Broncos are just as tough and just as versatile on a defense manned by the likes of Jordan Manao, Kalani Lessary and Jacob Martin.

"After playing the last two weeks, they're a little tired, but they still come to every practice because they're so happy to be going," Kong said. "Even the guys who aren't going on the trip, they haven't missed a practice."

The Broncos are accepting donations to help defray the cost of the trip. For more information, call team manager April Kong at 330-1539.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.