Kamehameha LB Hoku Arias prepares to sack Kapolei QB Noa Bailey in an interleague contest at Aloha Stadium on Friday. Jim Lebeau | SL

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HALAWA — Hoku Arias recorded three sacks and ran in the go-ahead touchdown to help No. 6 Kamehameha slip past No. 7 Kapolei, 21-7, at Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium Friday night.

The Warriors outgained the Hurricanes, 309 to 183, to improve to 1-0 after the first game of the historic OIA-ILH interleague agreement. The interleague matchups count towards the ILH regular season standings but does not count toward the OIA standings, according to OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka.

The contest was also the first time the two teams met on the field in 10 years. Regardless, Arias said the Warriors' approach is still the same whether its against an OIA or an ILH opponent.

"We just enjoy playing," said Arias. "It doesn't matter who's across from us, it doesn't matter where we are, we just want to play, that's it."

It was a total team effort for Kamehameha. With the offense struggling to move the ball in the first half, defense kept the Warriors in it with seven total sacks and two sacks.

Kamehameha eventually got things going in the second quarter with a 21-yard run play by Alec Serrao and a 16-yard sweep by Reino Bush. The two big run plays set-up Tanuvasa Moe's 17-yard TD pass to a diving Skyler Ramoswith 5:31 left to play in the first half.

"To me the biggest part of this game was everyone coming together, believing in each other," said Arias. "Our offense was struggling a little bit, (but) we got behind them. They got our backs, we got their backs and that's how we pulled through."

On the other side of the ball, the Hurricanes (1-1 overall) was dealt a big blow early on when starting quarterback Christian Rapis left the game with an injury. Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said that it was hip injury and estimated that it would keep Rapis out for eight weeks.

Backup Noa Bailey came into the game at the 6:08 mark of the first quarter and grew into the role as the contest went on after starting the game with three incompletions.

Bailey, who also got called for three delay-of-game penalties, bounced back in the third quarter with a 52-yard TD pass to Ikari Stokes to tie the game at 7-all within the first four minutes of the second half.

"Next man up, and our next quarterback Noa Bailey, only a sophomore, he showed up and played well," said Hernandez. "We're excited about our future."

The two teams were at a stalemate until the fourth quarter when Kamehameha was able to convert on a third-and-24 situation near midfield. QB Christmas Togiai, the third Warrior to take snaps behind center, was flushed out of the pocket and threw a 46-yard completion down the right sideline on the run to Edward Correa to set up Arias' go-ahead TD run.

After the ensuing kickoff, Bailey's next pass was tipped by a Kapolei receiver before falling into the hands of Kamehameha's Kalau Morikawa. The Warriors ran a double reverse for Ramos after the turnover before Laakea Ane ran in a 1-yard TD for the final score of the game.

"We made some mistakes," said Hernandez. "We can play better than that."

Arias said that he was pleased with the Warriors' effort through all four quarters.

"I like our energy," said Arias. "We came out with a ton of energy (and) we didn't let it slip. We kept that consistent. I think that was big key for the game too."