Tainoa Lave set the standard in Campbell’s championship run

By the time he walked off the field in his final game wearing a Campbell jersey, Tainoa Lave had left his imprint on nearly every chapter of the Sabers’ long-awaited championship night.

The Campbell senior did it all in the Sabers’ Open Division Football title win over Kamehameha, 26-23, in overtime Friday night before a crowd of 10,131 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

Literally.

Lave, who has signed to play collegiately at the San Diego State University, recorded a game-high 11 total tackles with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the win. He also had a 55-yard punt return to set up Campbell’s opening touchdown, scored on a 5-yard run for the go-ahead score on the first play of the fourth quarter and even completed a 23-yard pass in the second half.

The Sabers leaned on Lave in their possession of the overtime period as well. After Kamehameha kicked a field goal to go up 23-20, Lave took two snaps behind center with a pair of runs to set up Brayden Medeiros’ walk-off TD pass to Zayne Pasion.

“First I just want to give all the praise and glory to God,” said Lave, a four-year starter. “So many blessings. My family always showing love. The Ewa Beach community always supporting me. And our coaches for trusting in me.”

The road to the championship began long before Friday night, Lave said. It began after last year’s semifinal loss to Saint Louis, in what was a devastating end to the season for a team that started the season with nine consecutive victories.

“The week after we lost in 2024, we were back in the weight room. The work started there,” Lave said. “All the hard work and dedication led to a state championship.”

For Lave, the journey is personal. Each of his four seasons ended one step short: state semifinals as a freshman, state semifinals as a sophomore, heartbreak again as a junior.

Individually he shined with multiple All-OIA and All-Hawaii first-team selections, interception returns, punt-return touchdowns, but the ultimate prize always slipped away.

“It means a lot,” Lave said, moments after embracing family members. “All (the past) years always falling short… I just had to put it all out for the boys, for the community, for our school, for my family.”

Lave and the Sabers endured heart break during the season too. With losses to Mililani, Kapolei and Kahuku, Campbell’s state tournament hopes were on a lifeline.

But the Sabers rallied with a last minute touchdown against Mililani in the rematch before stunning Kahuku in the state semifinals with a go-ahead score with two seconds left on the clock.

Lave was at the controls in that win against the Red Raiders, running in two TDs, including the game-winner on fourth-and-goal.

“We found ourselves in that Mililani game,” Lave said. “Then going on to Kahuku and beating them… all that film, all that hard work helped us in the long run.”

Campbell head coach Darren Johnson constantly praised Lave in the midst of the Sabers’ championship run and after it was complete.

“Man, he’s such a special young man,” Johnson said. “People follow him. Coaches listen to him. He’s undersized but plays big, reminds me a lot of my son.”

Johnson said Lave is more than a star athlete. He is the example.

“Because he leads by example, his teammates follow,” Johnson said. “He’s quiet, humble, and when he speaks, our team listens.”

Lave’s work ethic has been there since youth football with Fiyah Squad. His also versatility extends beyond the gridiron. Johnson noted he’s “a heck of a baseball player” and one of the most coachable athletes he has worked with.

The SDSU-bound Lave finishes his senior season with 77 total tackles, 10 for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups.