In a game in which both Kailua and visiting Waipahu couldn’t get anything going offensively, it seemed fitting that overtime would be needed to decide things.
After Alfred Failauga’s 8-yard rushing touchdown in double overtime, the Marauders finally weathered the storm and enter the OIA playoffs by ending a two-game losing streak with a 12-6 win.
“We’re feeling pretty great about that one,” said Failauga, who finished with a game-high 100 rushing yards on 17 carries. “It was a pretty close game, but eventually we went to overtime, and who wouldn’t want that win? We came out with it and congrats to our team.”
The Surfriders struck first when linebacker Leighton Russell scooped up a fumble on an attempted double reverse by Waipahu for a 10-yard touchdown with 5:05 left in the first quarter.
Coughing the ball up was a common struggle for both teams, who fumbled numerous times on Kailua’s muddy field.
“It was very, very sloppy. Not the ideal conditions, to say the least. Proud of how my kids fought the whole game, especially defense,” Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho said. “We knew going in it would be sloppy. We had our backup quarterback in, he had a hard time handling the football. At the end of the day, we got the ‘W,’ but we’re heading into the playoffs with some kind of high note.”
Waipahu evened the score in its penultimate possession of the first half when Branson Jay Reyes jetted past defenders for an 85-yard score with 1:06 left.
The teams were tied 6-6 at halftime since both had trouble even attempting their extra points. Both teams had chances to take the lead on field goals in the third quarter. Kailua’s Maka Roberts’ 25-yard attempt was wide left with 8:50 left in the third quarter, while Waipahu’s Brycen Amorozo was blocked from 35 yards out with 3:29 left in the third.
Amorozo had another chance to give Waipahu the lead with 2:04 left in the fourth, but again he was blocked on a 37-yard attempt.
After Kailua ran out the clock to end regulation, both teams lined up for handshakes, as if there was an understanding that the game would end in a tie. After both head coaches and officials had an extended meeting at midfield, overtime was back on.
Both overtimes were similar to regulation, with both teams generating little offensively.
Until Failauga ended it.
“We’re usually used to turf, but in this weather, we were ready,” he said. “It was a good fight for us.
“It was a good one, but I’m excited to wash off.”
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GAME SUMMARY
Waipahu 12, Kailua 6, 2 OT
At Kailua
>> Waipahu (6-4, 5-2) 0 6 0 0 0 6 — 12
>> Kailua (2-8, 2-5) 6 0 0 0 0 0 — 6
Kailua — Leighton Russell 10 fumble recovery (kick failed)
Waipahu — Branson Jay Reyes 85 run (run failed)
Waipahu — Alfred Failauga 8 run
RUSHING — Waipahu: Alfred Failauga 17-100, Reyes 2-95, Deacon Kapea 3-15, Joel Auvae 4-(minus-1), Matthew Fiesta 2-(minus-3), Team 4-3. Kailua: Samson Rasay 15-68, Kaniala Williams 10-30, Brian-Allen Kamanu 3-23, Lahaina Kane 2-7, Team 6-(minus-18).
PASSING — Waipahu: Auvae 3-9-0-26. Kailua: Williams 2-8-2-6.
RECEIVING — Waipahu: Saxon Tote 1-15, Solofa Setu 1-7, Jovan Gooman 1-4. Kailua: Kane 1-9, Case Oshiro 1-(minus-3).
* JV —Kailua 22, Waipahu 6
