Injuries have forced Aiea coach Wendell Say to use four quarterbacks in four games.
Despite the hard luck, Na Alii put themselves in position to contend for one of four playoff berths in OIA Division I by beating Radford 26-6 on Friday night at John E. Velasco Stadium.
Senior Fabian Bautista had completed four passes all season before throwing three touchdown passes against the Rams. Senior Zach Kalahiki-Basque scored on a 33-yard reception and turned one of seven Aiea takeaways into a 56-yard fumble return for a score to nudge Na Alii (2-1-1, 2-1) over .500 in league play and a game up on Radford (1-4, 1-2), which was coming off its first win in a non-forfeited game in three years last week against Kailua.
“We’ve got to stay healthy. That’s the key,” said Say, whose 124 OIA wins are fourth all-time. “My most successful years we’ve always stayed healthy, so that’s going to be the key to our success.”
Bautista, who finished 10-for-16 for 139 yards, was banged up on a play in the fourth quarter, but came back to hit Kalahiki-Basque for a touchdown to push the lead back up to 20.
Kalahiki-Basque was held to fewer than 100 yards receiving in a game for the first time this year but extended his streak of TD receptions to four straight games.
“I made a lot of mistakes, but I said to myself I have to sharpen up and play ball,” Kalahiki-Basque said. “Our quarterbacks have been getting injured, but we’re getting through. We’re short numbered, but we try our best to fit everyone in.”
Kalahiki-Basque also had one of five interceptions by the Aiea defense, which also forced two fumbles.
Na Alii exploded out of the gate for two touchdowns in the first three minutes, looking crisp on their first offensive drive.
A 43-yard return on the opening kickoff by Babu Capanang set up Aiea in Radford territory. After three runs, Bautista hit Capanang on a 17-yard fade in the left corner of the end zone for a 6-0 lead.
Radford’s opening possession on offense didn’t work out quite the same way. Quarterback Matai Suitonu scooted for 16 yards on the first carry, but a fumble on the next play was scooped up by Kalahiki-Basque and returned 56 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 advantage.
That was all the scoring in the first half as the defenses settled in. Both offenses struggled, with Aiea turning to its fourth quarterback this season, LJ Vongsy, late in the first half.
Radford had its last four drives of the half all begin in Aiea territory but came up with no points as Aiea’s Noble Ripley broke up the final pass of the first half near the goal line.
Aiea hadn’t played since a 38-26 loss to Moanalua on Aug. 17, when it lost leading passer Kayson Castillo to injury with a concussion.
Say hopes to have him back soon.
“That was my biggest concern,” Say said. “We’ve had almost a three-week layoff. It was good it gave us time to heal, but I was unsure how it’d work. These guys came out and showed they were ready to play.”
GAME SUMMARY
Aiea 26, Radford 6
At Radford
>> Aiea (2-1-1, 2-1) 13 0 7 6 — 26
>> Radford (1-4, 1-2) 0 0 0 6 — 6
Aiea — Babu Capanang 17 pass from Fabian Bautista (run failed)
Aiea — Zach Kalahiki-Basque 56 fumble return (Thomas Hulett kick)
Aiea — Capanang 47 pass from Bautista (Hulett kick)
Radford — DJ Alpha 1 run (kick blocked)
Aiea — Kalahiki-Basque 33 pass from Bautista (pass failed)
RUSHING — Aiea: Ma’alo Auva’a 9-26, Bautista 10-26, Kalahiki-Basque 4-17, Capanang 4-1, LJ Vongsy 5-(minus 1), team 3-(minus 3). Radford: Alpha 7-43, Matai Suitonu 10-43, Hunter Copp 4-18, Dejuan James 4-11, Kendall Saxton 1-1, Taias Savea 2-1.
PASSING — Aiea: Bautista 10-16-1-139, Vongsy 2-4-0-32. Radford: Copp 14-28-3-122, Suitonu 1-6-2-5.
RECEIVING — Aiea: Capanang 4-73, Kalahiki-Basque 3-46, Bautista 2-32, Austin Mogote 2-9, Dylan Soberano 1-11. Radford: Carson Dean 5-70, Damon Nelson 5-28, Savea 4-24, Ehven Marques 1-5.
* JV — Aiea 18, Radford 6
