Iolani's Stirling Sakashita (29) forced and recovered this fumble by Waipahu RB Alfred Failauga that set up Iolani's first touchdown of the game. Michael Lasquero | SL

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_19091423_FB_9_13_19_WAIPvsIOL-2851.jpg - Michael Lasquero | SL

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HALAWA — Friday the 13th was definitely an unlucky day for the defending Division I state champions.

No. 12 Iolani scored four touchdowns in the opening period off of three turnovers and a blocked punt as it cruised to a 48-14 win over reigning state champion Waipahu at Hawaiian Financial FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

It was a redemption win for the Raiders (5-1), who loss to the Marauders (2-4) by one-point in last year's state semifinals.

Waipahu senior running back Alfred Failauga still did damage with 281 rushing yards and two TDs on 42 carries, but he struggled to hold on to the football and fumbled twice.

After Iolani went three-and-out on its opening possession, Failauga ran the ball seven straight times for 63 yards before Stirling Sakashita stripped him and recovered the loose ball at the Raiders' 10-yard line.

The Raiders then recycled the turnover into a six-play drive that ended with Jonah Chong's 25-yard TD pass to Cole Ichikawa with 6:08 to play in the first quarter.

Waipahu struggled to move the ball on the following drive and Iolani capitalized when junior defensive lineman Shayden Molina blocked a punt. Brody Logan Bantolina punched in a 10-yard TD run immediately after the change of possession to make it a 13-0 game with 4:25 remaining in the opening period.

Iolani's @shayden_molina was an ANIMAL against Waipahu in the Raiders' 48-14 win. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound junior had 12 total tackles (eight solo), five TFLs, a sack, fumble recovery and a blocked punt that led to the Raiders' 2nd TD of the game. pic.twitter.com/ytdajNRGjY

— Michael Lasquero (@SL_Mich) September 14, 2019

The ball continued to bounce in favor of Iolani when Micah Camat ripped the ball away from Waipahu receiver Solofa Setu in the backfield. Isaac Ignacio then was able to recover the loose ball after it traveled to the Waipahu 1-yard line before Brock Hedani ran it up the gut to give the Raiders a 20-0 with the first quarter clock showing 3:33.

On the Marauders' very next play from scrimmage, Jedidiah Wataru tipped a Cody Marques pass in the backfield that was intercepted by defensive lineman Lima Harbottle. Bantolina then ran in another TD to give Iolani a 27-0 advantage just 21 seconds after the Raiders' previous score.

"They executed today," Iolani coach Wendell Look said of the defense. "They read what their keys were. They fit in the right places and sometimes the ball just bounces the right way for you. Yeah, we got a lot of turnovers in that first quarter and the offense was able to capitalize on the defense's play."

Waipahu went to a power-I formation for most of the game after the first quarter and got an 8-yard TD run by Failauga early in the second quarter, but the Raiders answered with Chong's 65-yard TD pass to Wailoa Manuel.

Iolani's defense continued to make plays with Meki Pei stealing the ball away from Failauga on the Marauders' next possession. After Pei returned it the Waipahu 8-yard line, Ichikawa ran a jet sweep and took a shovel pass into the end zone to give Iolani a 41-7 halftime lead.