Kahuku rallies to turn back Waianae, 14-10

Kahuku RB Aofaga Wily busts his way through the Waianae defense for the game-winning score. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Kahuku escaped with a 14-10 victory over Waianae in an OIA Red quarterfinal thriller, as running back Aofaga Wily ran in the game-winning score from 3 yards out just over two minutes left in regulation.

"In the fourth quarter we were down, but what was the plan was we didn't want to panic." explained Wily.

"So we talked it out and we just pushed no matter how tired we were, we pushed and I really give it to the 16 to 110s we always complain about, the conditioning every Monday." he continued. "That really helped out, well as you see tonight it worked out in the fourth quarter."

Waianae took the lead at the 11:04 mark in the first quarter, as Josiah Hoopii scooped up a Kahuku fumble and ran it back 32 yards for the game's opening score, and Jacoby Cid tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Seariders took that seven-point lead into halftime, but Kahuku's Kawe Johnson returned an interception 25 yards, fumbled the ball at the one, and the loose ball was recovered by Devalio Galeai and into the endzone for a score.

Cid's 39-yard field goal midway through the third quarter vaulted Waianae back into the lead, 10-7, until Wily's game-winner late in the fourth.

The Waianae defense allowed 219 yards to Kahuku, the lowest output for the Red Raiders this season, led by defensive lineman Kennedy Tuliseamalii.

"The gameplan going in was to play as a family, to come in smash mouth, play with our hearts." said Tuliseamalii.

Wily was a workhorse for the Red Raiders as usual, toting the pigskin 32 times in the contest for 175 yards.

"No matter what the score is you always have hope" said Wily of the comeback for the Red Raiders. "You never give up until the clock hits zero."