Waipahu holds off Lahainaluna, 19-14


Waipahu RB Gregorio Alip ran wild for a game-high 134 yards and 2 scores against Lahainaluna. Scott Nishi | SL
WAIPAHU -- Gregorio Alip rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries last night as Waipahu held off Lahainaluna, 19-14, in a First Hawaiian Bank/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division II Football State Championship semifinal at Masa Yonamine Stadium.

The Marauders improved to 9-3 and will face the winner of today's Kapa'a-'Iolani semifinal in Friday's 4 p.m. title game at Aloha Stadium.

It will be Waipahu's first state championship final.

Lahainaluna's season ends at 7-5.

The Marauders took a quick 7-0 lead after Alip scampered 74 yards to paydirt less than two minutes into the game, one play after defensive lineman Taylor Leilua recovered a Lunas fumble. Lahainaluna tied it with 9:31 remaining in the second quarter on BJ Pagdilao-Bala's 6-yard TD run and Amateo Flores' extra point, then went up, 14-7, after
Jared Rocha-Islas' 2-yard scoring run with 7:34 left in the half.

Waipahu closed it to 14-13 five minutes later on Drake Yoshioka's 19-yard touchdown pass to Mataio Fualema, but the PAT attempt was wide.

The Marauders then took the lead for good on Alip's 1-yard TD plunge with 7:29 remaining in the third quarter.