Gavin Marques spent most of his offseason preparing for a shot to start at quarterback for Waipahu’s junior varsity football team.

After a season as the JV backup, the sophomore not only exceeded his expectations by earning a promotion to the varsity but was called upon to start the Marauders’ season opener on Friday.

Before returning to his role as understudy, Marques made the most of his turn in the spotlight by throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for 103 yards in Waipahu’s 19-14 home win over Kaimuki in his varsity debut.

"At first I had butterflies, scared to get hit. But after the first hit I was ready," Marques said.

Waipahu went into the game with 17 players on academic probation, but the Marauders built a 19-0 lead in the second half, then held off a Bulldogs rally late in the fourth quarter.

Matthew Leilua, normally a slotback, lined up behind Marques in the backfield and carried the ball 25 times for 124 yards and a touchdown.

"(The probation) really put a kink in what we usually do with about three or four players going both ways tonight," Waipahu coach Eric Keola said.

"I expected we would be a little rusty in the first half; it was our first game situation, so I’m glad the coaches and players made the adjustments in the second half."

The Marauders lost five fumbles in an often ragged contest. Waipahu put the ball on the ground four times in a scoreless first half and Kaimuki defensive back Jonah Lapitan recovered three.

But the Bulldogs (1-1) couldn’t do much with the opportunities either, fumbling the ball away at the Waipahu 11 in their best scoring opportunity of the first half.

Marques went into halftime with one completion in six attempts, then connected with Sword De Asis on a 24-yard touchdown pass on his first throw of the second half.

"In the locker room at halftime I was just thinking, ‘I got this.’ I calmed myself down and the next drive we were able to score," Marques said.

Leilua added to the lead with a 3-yard scoring run and Marques led Waipahu on an 11-play drive to open the fourth quarter, capping it with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dominick Marshall on fourth and 10.

"He’s only a sophomore, so Gavin did a hell of a job tonight scoring on those long drives and keeping his composure," Keola said. "He got a little rattled in the first half. He got hit, but came back in the second half and scored a couple touchdowns."

Kaimuki’s defense broke the shutout when Jorge Rios sacked Marques and knocked the ball loose. The defensive lineman scooped up the fumble and rumbled 60 yards for a touchdown.

After Waipahu went three and out, quarterback Tevita Lino went 4-for-6 on the Bulldogs’ next possession and lofted a 51-yard touchdown pass to Fano Tuisila to bring Kaimuki within a score with three minutes left in the game.

"We told (Lino) what to expect," Kaimuki coach Clint Onigama said of the junior. "I think he did a really good job and we think he has a really bright future."

Waipahu fielded the short kickoff and ran out the clock after Leilua picked up a 5-yard gain on a critical third and 4 near midfield.