Waianae downs Leilehua for first OIA Open win of season

Brian Bautista | SL

WAIANAE - Tevin Wilbur rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown and Tarent Moniz-Babb passed for two TDs and Waianae beat Leilehua, 20-0, Saturday night at Raymond Torii Field.

The Seariders snapped a four-game losing streak in winning their first Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Open football game of the season for first-year coach Thom Kaumeyer. Waianae (2-4 overall, 1-3 OIA) had its other win in non-league play against Castle. Meanwhile, the Mules (0-5-1, 0-4) have dropped five in a row since a tie in a non-league season opener at Kailua.

The Seariders took a 13-0 lead into the half on Moniz-Babb's TD passes of 18 and 30 yards to Joshua Santiago. Moniz-Babb threw for 86 yards on 7-of-14 passing.

Wilbur's 67-yard TD run came after an interception by Brandon Kahalewai-Sapigao in the third quarter.

Waianae's defense was the difference. The Mules managed 144 yards of offense and were hurt by three interceptions. Besides Kahalewai-Sapigao, Alvin Kalahiki IV and Nainoa Nagum each had a pick. The Seariders also sacks of Mules' QB Dustin Chow by Dustin Pave, Johnny Sailele and Kanisto Otto.

Santiago returned the opening kickoff 24 yards to the Waianae 44. Eleven plays later, Moniz-Babb connected with Santiago on an 18-yard scoring pass. Kaden Nauer's PAT gave Waianae a 7-0 lead with seven minutes, 38 seconds in the first period.

The Seariders' second TD came after Nagum and a 46-yard punt return for a score nullified by an illegal block penalty. Still, the Seariders took over from the Mules' 42 and scored five plays later on Moniz-Babb's 30-yard TD pass to Santiago. Nauer's PAT was blocked to keep the game at 13-0 with 7:09 in the half.

Waianae gave itself some breathing room with Wilbur's 67-yard TD run. Nauer's PAT made it 20-0 with 5:56 left in the third.

Waianae draws a bye next week and resumes Open play Oct. 7 against Campbell. Leilehua will travel to Mililani Friday night.