They’re dropping like flies in OIA Red West football.
Waipahu further muddled a hazy conference picture by upsetting Aiea 28-7 on Friday night in Aiea.
Now, the Marauders are 2-2 and smack-dab in the middle of the tight race. Going into Friday night, only one game separated all seven league contenders.
Na Alii were coming off a huge upset of their own, edging front-running Leilehua last week. So, instead of sustaining their momentum, they took a step back and fell to 1-2 in the conference.
"We had an awesome week of practice," Waipahu coach Eric Keola said. "We won because our coaches did a great job of scheming and because of the effort that the players showed. It’s wild (the Red West). I don’t know what’s going to happen."
"Sheesh," said Aiea coach Wendell Say, whose squad dropped to 3-2 overall."Anybody can beat anybody (in the Red West)."
The Marauders (2-4 overall) grabbed a 21-0 halftime cushion. The first quarter was a battle for field position, and Waipahu finally pulled away after a 9-yard Aiea punt led to a 45-yard drive for the first score.
On third and 2 from the Aiea 9, Wesley Nagaseu, a two-way standout all night, carried a pile of Na Alii 8 yards to the 1 and then dove into the end zone on the next play for a 7-0 lead as time ran out in the first quarter.
Nagaseu, a 6-foot, 250-pound load, is a linebacker by trade, and he also had an interception and a two-point conversion run in the first half.
"The win is awesome," Nagaseu said. "We had the best week of practice and I give props to the boys. In the Red West, anybody can beat anybody."
The Waipahu defense held Aiea to just three first downs in the first half and came up with two interceptions. Mark Failauga Jr. had the other pick.
The Marauders boosted the lead to 13-0 with their biggest offensive play of the night. Quarterback Kai Mercardo-Aiona, who platooned with Kaimi Paredes, took a quick drop and unleashed a bomb down the right sideline. Speedy and elusive receiver Dylan Pakau ran under it and sprinted for the 76-yard touchdown play.
"We wanted to get the running game going," Keola said. "Get them to put eight men in the box and then look to go to Mr. Dylan Pakau, who is probably the best receiver on the island."
Pakau finished with 163 receiving yards and two touchdowns on four receptions.
Paredes’ 26-yard scramble was the big play on Waipahu’s 80-yard drive for its last first-half touchdown. This time, after two hard runs by Nagaseu, Mercardo-Aiona snuck in from 1-yard out. Nagaseu added the two-point run for the 21-0 bulge.
Pakau’s second touchdown, a 25-yard reception on a slant pattern from Mercardo-Aiona gave Waipahu a 28-0 lead with 2:30 left in the third quarter.
The Marauders drove inside the Aiea 5 late in the game, but were stopped on four downs. Na Alii took over and drove 98 yards for their only TD. Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti completed six passes on the march that he capped with a 6-yard scoring toss to Kamakana Apelu to make it 28-7 with 1:19 to go.
At Aiea
| Waipahu (2-2, 2-4) |
7 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
— |
28
|
| Aiea (1-2, 3-2) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
— |
7 |
Waip–Wesley Nagaseu 2 run (Jayson Gonsalves kick)
Waip–Dylan Pakau 76 pass from Kai Mercardo-Aiona (kick failed)
Waip–Mercardo-Aiona 1 run (Nagaseu run)
Waip–Pakau 25 pass from Mercardo-Aiona (Gonsalves kick)
Aiea–Kamakana Apelu 6 pass from Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti (Jae Won Huh kick)
RUSHING–Waipahu: Kaimi Paredes 15-65, Isaiah Alama 10-43, Matapua Tulafale 8-31, Nagaseu 5-25, Mercardo-Aiona 7-8, Terrance Lauli 2-3, James Nunuha 5-0. Aiea: Mana Kaahanui 8-37, Samate Talia 3-12, Apelu 1-(-3), Jalen Medeiros 1-(-7), I. Hernandez-Fonoti 4-(-20).
PASSING–Waipahu: Mercardo-Aiona 4-6-0–139, Paredes 3-5-0–76. Aiea: I. Hernandez-Fonoti 13-20-0–112, Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti 2-7-1–38, Kaahanui 0-1-1–0.
RECEIVING–Waipahu: Pakau 4-163, Mataio Fualema 2-38, Nunuha 1-14. Aiea: Jarrel Chaviera 4-55, Kalei Liilii 3-42, Apelu 3-15, Jantzen Shinmoto 2-25,Talia 2-14, Kaahanui 1-(-1).
