WAIPAHU — The energy at the Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex was at an all-time high during halftime of Waipahu's 2018 homecoming game.

The home team Marauders held a 13-12 lead at the break over visiting Leilehua and school spirit was on display as fans eagerly awaited to hear the results of the week's homecoming competitions and activities between the classes.

Too bad there was still 24 minutes left to play.

The Mules scored 38 straight second half points en route to a 50-20 blowout win over Waipahu Friday night before a standing-room only crowd of about 4,000 at the Marauders' stadium.

Quarterback Max Nichols accounted for four total touchdowns and linebacker Vitale Afoa scored on a 11-yard fumble return and a 28-yard interception return to help No. 12 Leilehua improve to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the OIA Division I standings.

On his team's second half turnaround, Leilehua coach Mark Kurisu said the adjustments was more mental than anything technical.

"We didn't do anything different, all we did was do our jobs and that was it," Kurisu said.

"There was a lot of high energy. I think this was one of the biggest crowds we played in front of all year. That was maybe something that caught the kids off guard, just a little high energy. This is a great atmosphere."

The Leilehua coaching staff's message at halftime was direct and clear.

"'Just stop doing your own thing and do your job,' that's the easiest way to say it," Kurisu said. "'Stop doing what you think is right and do what we tell you.'"

Nichols added that the second half was more about the team than the individual.

"We're a super close team. During halftime we made sure we came together as a team and we talked about everything we've gone through since February, all the work we put in for this season, and we decided that we were going to do this for each other and in the second half the result was great."

As the Mules tightened their ranks, the Marauders (5-3 overall, 4-1 league) began to unravel.

It was a nightmare third quarter for Waipahu, who coughed up the football four times during the period. Problems with the game clock towards the end of the second quarter had the score showing 24-13 in favor of the Mules at halftime - which proved to be an ominous prophecy to how the rest of the game was going to go.

After holding the Marauders to a three-and-out to start the second half, Leilehua took its first lead of the game on Nichols' 34-yard TD pass to James McGary down the right sideline to make it 19-13 in favor of the Mules.

On the ensuing possession, Waipahu running back Alfred Failauga, who was coming back from a left hand injury, got the ball stripped from him by Xavier Tauasosi and Afoa was able to scoop it up for an 11-yard TD to go up 26-13.

Things continued to get worse for the Marauders when a punt attempt went into the back of their own players to give Leilehua possession at the Waipahu 30. The Mules quickly got the ball into the end zone and went up by three scores on Nichols' 1-yard sneak.

Comedy of errors now by the Marauders. A punt into a Waipahu player gives Leilehua the ball on Waipahu's 30 and they quickly score to go up three scores after trailing, 13-12 at the break. Mules lead 33-13 midway through third quarter.

— Michael Lasquero (@SL_Mich) September 29, 2018

The Marauders got something going on their next two series, but fumbled the ball twice inside the Mules' 15-yard line to derail any form of momentum.

Leilehua recycled the Marauders' third fumble of the night into Nichols' 24-yard TD pass to Kalei Akagi. Afoa also returned an interception 28 yards before the quarter was over to make it a 47-13 game heading into the final period of play.

"Turnovers just killed us tonight," Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho. "We were sloppy with the football in the third quarter. I think they went up 34 points, shoot, that's hard to come back from. I think that just kind of killed us."

The Marauders were also charged with 23 accepted penalties for 201 yards. Yellow flags on the field was a constant theme all night long as Waipahu consistently made simple errors.

The home team's lack of focus was evident from their first scoring drive. After Deacon Kapea returned a Nichols interception to the Leilehua 2-yard line, the Marauders committed three straight false start penalties to push them back 15 yards.

"We made it so hard to score one touchdown," said Carvalho. "We just made it difficult for us in every aspect. When you play a quality team like Leilehua, that's going to be the result."

Despite losing the football, Failauga led Waipahu in the loss with 144 rushing yards and a 8-yard score in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Cody Marques scored on two quarterback keepers in the first half for the Marauders' other points.