Marauders burst through Nanakuli, 51-14

Waipahu Sophomore RB Alfred Failauga tries to break free from Nanakuli's Sinai Robello. Failauga scored three rushing TDs to help the Marauders in the win. CJ Caraang | SL

NANAKULI — The Waipahu Marauders opened the 2017 football season in style Friday night.

Visiting Waipahu scored over 50 points for the first time in 10 years in its 51-14 non-league road win over Nanakuli in both teams' season opener. It was the team's highest-scoring game since a 56-0 win over Kalani in 2007.

The Marauders (1-0), ranked third in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division II Football Power Rankings, scored in every facet of the game to dispatch the Golden Hawks (0-1) in mercy-rule fashion.

"I think we did well on both sides of the ball," said Waipahu senior quarterback Braden Amorozo. "We met most of our goals that we set before the game and I felt we did really good today."

Amorozo and sophomore running back Alfred Failauga each accounted for three total scores to lead the Marauders in their lone non-league game before the Oahu Interscholastic Association D2 regular season.

Although Waipahu scored on its first drive of the game with Amorozo's 6-yard keeper, it took a while for the Marauders to get going offensively. Failauga, the state's leading rusher in 2016, only had five rushing yards by the time the first quarter was over.

Things looked even bleaker when Amorozo was picked off by Nanakuli's Willis Yin midway through the second quarter, which resulted in Nahum Kipi's 8-yard touchdown pass to Chayce Morgan. Kipi would also run in the 2-point conversion to give Nanakuli a 8-7 lead with 5:58 remaining in the first half.

The turnover and one-point deficit was enough of a wake-up call to get the Marauders back in sync. Waipahu quickly responded with Amorozo's 44-yard TD pass to Alika Ahsing just 71 seconds later. Failauga ran in the 2-point try to make it a 15-8 game.

"We just had to calm down," said Amorozo, who completed 17 of 30 passes for 255 yards and two scores. "We had all the adrenaline going on and had some jitters. We just needed to settle down in the moment."

After the offense retook the lead, the Waipahu defense did its part on the next possession with back-to-back sacks to force a three-and-out. This helped set up Amorozo's 19-yard scoring strike to junior slotback Matthew Fiesta just before the end of the first half to make it a 22-8 game at the break.

While Amorozo did most of his work in before halftime, it was Failauga who had his number called in the second half. The sophomore running back had a 17-yard gain on the ground, a 35-yard scamper and a 9-yard TD run on the Marauders' first drive of the third quarter. Failauga, who had 151 yards rushing in the contest, would also score on a 12-yard run and a 5-yard blast before the night was over.

"I just like how everybody put things together," said Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho. "We kind of struggled run blocking in the first quarter, but once we made adjustments, we were kind of able to establish our blocks and plays, both running and passing."

It also helped that the Golden Hawks were without 18 players who had to sit out due to injuries and academics. First-year Nanakuli coach Kili Watson said he was proud of his team for hanging in the game despite adversity.

"We knew we were going to end this game going both ways and we definitely did see it take a toll on the boys," said Watson. "I'm glad that the players were able to rise to the occasion. There were times that they were tired, but they had the mindset that they had to go in and get the job done."

The Marauders also scored on a safety and had a blocked punt returned for a TD by Ahsing at the 7:33 mark of the fourth quarter to induce the 35-point mercy rule and running clock.

Joey Vea-Quitog accounted for the Golden Hawks' second score of the night with a 2-yard rushing TD. He was also a reliable receiver for Kipi, snagging eight balls for 73 yards.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].