Waipahu’s Eric Stephens (2) scored on a 51 yard touchdown pass from Elijah Mendoza with 2:15 left in the half against Kailua at Waipahu’s Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex. CJ Caraang | SL

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Sat, Oct 7, 2023 @ Waipahu [ 6:30 pm ]

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Waipahu

49

Kailua

14

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Waipahu (8-4-0)	8	27	7	7	49
Kailua (5-5-0)	0	0	7	7	14

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Romeo Ortiz 113 yd

Elijah Mendoza 385 yd 4 TD

Romeo Ortiz 74 yd 1 TD

Ezra Nahoopii-Makakona 1 yd 1 TD

John Griffiths 42 yd

Eric Stephens 136 yd 1 TD

WAIPAHU — Elijah Mendoza threw four touchdown passes and No. 13 Waipahu blew open the game in the second quarter to wipe out Kailua, 49-14 at Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex Saturday.

The Marauders (4-3 overall, 4-1 OIA) won their fourth-straight game and locked up the top seed in group B and first round bye in the upcoming OIA Division I playoffs.

"It feels great, but at the same time we cannot let up. We got Mililani and we got to stay focused because we need that state championship this year," Mendoza said.

"That's what we want. We want to sit in the driver's seat and watch how things unfold," Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho.

The Surfriders conclude the regular season and fell to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the OIA and clinch the second seed in group B.

Mendoza completed 27 of his 33 pass attempts and finished with 385 yards, an interception, two touchdown passes went to Jayden Chanel.

"I'm thankful for the staff we have and the receivers corp we have, great receiver corp and linemen. It's a great offense and I'm thankful for everybody," Mendoza said.

"I like how he's owning the system and he's not so much in his head. The game is slowing down for a little bit. When you go in as a freshman the game is flying at 100 miles per hour. Now with a bunch of games under his belt, it's settling down, the game is slower and he can make adjustments. When you get that, you get a confident quarterback and what he's starting to be," Carvalho said of Mendoza.

Eric Stephens caught a game-high seven passes and 136 receiving yards and a score and opened the third quarter with a kick off return for touchdown. He also added a tackle-for-loss and pass breakup on defense.

After Kailua went three-and-out, Waipahu got on the scoreboard with a five-play, 66-yard drive that ended with Ezra Nahoopii's 1-yard run and Tai Aipia-Barrett ran it for two for a 8-0 lead.

"That's something we work on. Just be consistent, move the ball, nickel and dime as we go and take what the defense gives us. Coach Zach (Mauga) has been doing a real good job calling plays on the offensive side of the ball. Getting the ball in our playmakers' hands. We have a bunch of them, Jayden, Eric and Tai (Aipia-Barrett). Our returnee Tai, people forget about that guy, but he picks up a lot of yards in between the end zone. I can't say more about the offensive production so far," Carvalho said.

Waipahu poured on 27 points in the second quarter.

"We cannot let up and we had to make a statement right there and then," Mendoza said.

Arjay Kelemete forced a fumble and the Surfriders turned it over on downs. Mendoza threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Chazen Rodillas-Vesido and Ezekiel Stewart's kick made it 15-0.

"We've gotten way better overall. I know we have a lot of transfers but we had a lot of team bonding," Stephens said.

Elijah Nahoopii picked off Romeo Ortiz for a 56-yard interception return, but the run failed for a 21-0 lead.

"A lot of credit goes to the defensive staff. They came in midseason and have done a tremendous job. The kids learned a whole new defense and they were receptive of the change and they picked it up real quick. They're doing a great job. They played lights out. Our defensive staff have put our kids in the best position to win," Carvalho said.

The Marauders forced another punt and the offense responded with a 10-play, 85 yard drive as Mendoza found Chanel for a 41-yard strike.

"Everything is clicking right now. The most important thing is getting along. Everybody is hanging out with each other and keeping each other safe and everybody got each others' back," Mendoza said.

Waipahu made it 35-0 on a two-play drive that resulted in a 51-yard touchdown from Mendoza to Stephens.

"I went to running back that play. I saw a broken coverage and we took it and I just made a play. I'd like to thank my teammates for helping me and blocking for me and allowing me to make plays," Stephens said.

Kaikea You intercepted Mendoza and got down to the 22 with 1:08 to go. Matthew Mashiba's 49-yard field goal attempt hit the cross bar and Kailua went into halftime scoreless.

Stephens raced around defenders for a 84-yard touchdown 24 seconds into the second half.

"I just get the ball. We practice it a lot. We practice special teams a lot. My teammates blocked really well that time and I was able to find a hole and take it," Stephens said of the return.

Ortiz lead all rushers with eight attempts for 74 yards and his 33-yard keeper got Kailua on the scoreboard.

Garic Pahinui blocked Chanel's punt and returned it 45 yards with 6:06 left in the fourth quarter.

Chanel finished with 72 receiving yards and caught a 4-yard touchdown from Mendoza with 3:11 left for the final points of the night.

Waipahu goes to No. 3 Mililani (7-1 overall, 5-0 OIA) in a regular season finale for both teams.