MILILANI — It was the opener of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference season, but to Moanalua it was like a title game.

The Menehunes recycled three turnovers into touchdowns to hold off defending Division II state champion Campbell, 20-7, last night at Mililani stadium.

"I don't know how to described this feeling, but it's like we won a championship," Moanalua safety J.D. Baba said.

Probably because it was the first time in 16 years that Moanalua (2-0 overall, 1-0 White) beat Campbell (1-1, 0-1).

Baba had two interceptions that were followed by touchdown runs of 1 and 4 yards by quarterback Stanford Leti. Jordan Monico recovered a muffed punt in the first quarter that led to the Menehunes' first TD of the game.

"One of our goals this season was we wanted to move up (in defense)," Moanalua coach Arnold Martinez said. "We had one interception last year. This year, we have five total (including last week's nonleague win against Pearl City). We made a big-time focus on that this summer."

Even Leti, who played some free safety, came up with an interception late in the first half at the Campbell 5, returning it to the Campbell 39, to snuff a Saber opportunity to score.

"We had our opportunities," Campbell coach Tumoana Kenessey said. "We just didn't capitalize on those opportunities."

The Sabers went down clawing. They executed an 11-play, 76-yard drive, but consumed four minutes, 22 seconds in the process with running back Bronson Ellis-Rivera's 22-yard TD run with 4:21 to play to close to 20-7.

Leti keyed Moanalua's option attack with nice reads of the Sabers' defense. On keepers, he totaled 64 yards on 12 carries. He also made some last-second pitches to John Estores.

CAMPBELL (1-1, 0-1) 0 0 0 7 — 7

MOANALUA (2-0, 1-0) 6 7 0 7 — 20

Moan—Landon Watanabe 1 run (kick failed)

Moan—Stanford Leti 1 run (Watanabe kick)

Moan—Leti 4 run (Watanabe kick)

Camp—Bronson Ellis-Rivera 22 run (Christopher Fuga kick)

RUSHING—Camp: Obadiah Mataio 7-23, Isiah Smith 4-19, Berzil Kelii 10-38, Jesse Lee 3-3, Bronson Ellis-Rivera 7-39, Bronson Lloces 1-(minus 2). Moan: Leti 12-64, Jordan Monico 4-19, John Estores 11-28, Jarin Salvador-Atabay 6-57, Watanabe 3-14, J.D. Baba 1-8, Ricky Sierra 1-8, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING—Camp: Mataio 3-7-2—41, Robert Lum 0-1-1—0. Moan: Leti 7-12-1—117.

RECEIVING—Camp: Kelii 1-13, Lee 1-10, Kealii Basham 1-18. Moan: Monico 3-49 , Jim Mateo 1-40, Dustin Fernandez 1-8, Estores 2-20.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.