Overcoming a slow start against its late-arriving opponent from Maui, 'Iolani rallied past Lahainaluna, 28-21, last night to capture its second First Hawaiian Bank Division II Football State Championship in three years.

The Raiders finished their season at 6-6, with five of their losses coming against Division I competition.

"This feels great, especially for the seniors, the guys who played hurt," said 'Iolani junior quarterback Kela Marciel, who completed 17 of 28 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. "We win as one team and lose as one team, and this was a one team win."

The victory required patience, first when the Lunas (9-2) arrived at Aloha Stadium 10 minutes past the scheduled 5 p.m. start and then when Lahainaluna jumped out to a surprising 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Matthew Lawless intercepted a Marciel pass at his own 1-yard line on the game's first possession and returned it to the Lunas' 30. Lahainaluna, executing its fly option offense to near perfection, then drove 70 yards in just five plays, culminating in Jake Manning's 35-yard touchdown run on a naked bootleg down the left side.

The extra point attempt failed, but after forcing a three-and-out on the Raiders' next series, the Lunas again struck quickly.

Lake Casco's 42-yard punt return gave them the ball at the 'Iolani 33, and they scored three plays later on Manning's 24-yard pass to Jayson Manning.

After an illegal substitution penalty advanced the ball to the 1, fullback Simione Vehikite ran in the two-point conversion to make it 14-0 with 5:24 remaining in the first quarter.

"They have a heck of an offensive line, and we couldn't stop their run," said 'Iolani senior linebacker Jarom Baldomero. "Their running backs are strong and hard to tackle. But our coaches just told us to play like how we usually do, and just remember our basic football."

Raiders coach Wendell Look said the 20-minute delay before kickoff was not a factor in his team's poor start.

"It didn't throw us off; if anything it should have settled us down," Look said. "But we were too anxious on defense. Lahainaluna is so disciplined with their offense, and we were too excited, we were over-pursuing. Once we settled down and played the kind of football we're used to, we were all right."

'Iolani answered the Lunas' second TD with its own quick score, with Marciel connecting with Reid Furukawa on a 46-yard pass for paydirt. Kodi Look's extra point cut the lead in half with 4:15 left in the first quarter.

The Raiders then tied it after Marciel's 2-yard touchdown pass to Lionel Fujioka with 10:16 remaining in the half. The score was set up by a 74-yard pass from Marciel to Furukawa.

"We were really stoked to play, but then we came out flat, I don't know why," Marciel said. "There was a little pressure on us when we were down 14-0, but we knew we could do it. We've got players with heart, so we knew we could get back in it and that the defense would hold them down."

Lahainaluna took a 21-14 halftime lead after Vehikite's 2-yard TD run with 34 seconds left.

'Iolani tied it at 21-21 with 13 seconds remaining in the third quarter after an 11-play, 71-yard drive capped off by Marciel's 12-yard pass to Ronnie Hirokawa, with Marciel in the grasp of the Lunas' Kailas McGhee.

The Raiders then took their first lead after a 10-play, 80-yard drive culminating in Justin Yamamoto's 3-yard touchdown run with 5:21 left in the game. Kodi Look's PAT made it 28-21.

Lahainaluna drove to the 'Iolani 39 after the ensuing kickoff, but Baldomero made an interception on fourth-and-10 to effectively seal the game with 1:25 remaining.

"It was a nice, hard-played game and 'Iolani deserved to win — that's the bottom line," Lunas coach Bobby Watson said. "We couldn't stop their passing game, so give all the credit to them. Our kids played hard, but 'Iolani just did a better job than us tonight."

Look said the Raiders showed the same resiliency they have displayed all season.

"That's how it's been with this team, they don't win the easy way," said Look, in his 17th season at the 'Iolani helm. "But they know how to battle back, and they showed their character. I'm proud of them, and I told them they earned this championship.

"They deserve it."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.