Waipahu's Tama Iosefa hauls in a pass over an Aiea defender. Scott Nishi | SL

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Waipahu quarterback Kai Mercado-Aiona scored from seven yards out on the game's final play to beat Aiea. Scott Nishi | SL

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Sat, Sep 14, 2013 @ Waipahu [ 6:30 pm ]

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Aiea

19

Waipahu

20

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Aiea (2-6-0)	3	10	6	0	19
Waipahu (2-7-0)	6	8	0	6	20

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Kai Mercado-Aiona 127 yd 1 TD

Elijah Tausaga 168 yd 1 TD

Kai Mercado-Aiona 102 yd 1 TD

Elijah Tausaga 52 yd 1 TD

Tama Iosefa 83 yd 1 TD

Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti 86 yd 1 TD

WAIPAHU – Black flag means to never give up, a motto and symbol that the Marauders have preached to their players for years now. With the game being decided on the final play of the game, the black flag tradition came through as Waipahu came out with a last-gasp win.

Quarterback Kai Mercado-Aiona engineered a 10-play, 70-yard game-winning drive that took every moment of the final two minutes and seven seconds. With 4.3 seconds left at the Aiea 7-yard line, Mercado-Aiona rolled right and punched in the game-winning touchdown.

"There's no one word to describe what just happened right there," said Waipahu coach Eric Keola after the win. "Our kids pretty much played their hearts out tonight; that black flag was waving in the air. The boys had no quit in them; they played to the last whistle, and literally played till the clock ran out."

Mercado-Aiona's seven yard touchdown run also figuratively punched in Waipahu's ticket into the postseason. The win was the Marauders' first conference victory, and it improved their record to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the Red West. Na Ali'i who were also looking for their first conference win, fell to 2-4 and 0-4.

"Tonight's game was really important because whoever won almost guaranteed themselves a spot (in the playoffs)," confirmed Aiea coach Wendell Say.

Waipahu got the ball back with two minutes and seven seconds left in the ball game, and had to start their drive at their own 30-yard line.

"Black flag," calmly said Waipahu offensive coordinator Bryson Carvalho. "That was the one thing that I made sure we were all preaching on the sideline going into that last drive. We were going to get the ball back and go black flag football the rest of the way."

The first three plays didn't go over well for the Marauders and they were forced to call their last timeout of the game on a fourth and nine situation.

Mercado-Aiona's pass on fourth down fell incomplete down the left sideline and it appeared the game was over. However, a roughing the passer penalty against Aiea breathed new life for the Marauders giving them a first down at their own 46-yard line with one minute and 11 seconds left to go.

"I seen the (penalty) flag and breathe a sigh of relief," said Mercado-Aiona. "After the flag I said okay, we got one more shot. God gave us another chance, we can do it."

On the very next play, Mercado-Aiona threw a bomb to a Tama Iosefa for a 52-yard pass reception. Iosefa out jumped two defenders and came away with a fingertip grab to move the Marauders all the way to the Aiea 21-yard line.

"I just threw it up in the air and hopefully one of my receivers would catch it," confessed Mercado-Aiona. "I didn't even know who I was throwing it to; I just threw it straight into the middle of the field."

After the miraculous reception, Mercado-Aiona scrambled for seven yards and two plays later completed a pass to Sword De Asis to set up shop at the Aiea seven yard line. An incomplete pass on first down stopped the clock with 4.3 left in the ball game.

The last play of the game was in an empty backfield set with four receivers spread out on the right side. Mercado-Aiona rolled right and couldn't find a receiver which prompted him to tuck the ball and go for the goal line. Aiea's Eligh Taisese met Mercado-Aiona at the two yard line, but the junior quarterback used every bit of his 5-foot-7 frame to get the ball to break the plane for the game-winning score.

"Honestly I didn't think I was going to get in," admitted Mercado-Aiona. "I was just thinking just go for it, ball out, and leave everything out on the field. I just stuck my arm out and it was in and the refs said it was good. It felt like it came straight out of a movie."

With the game-winning drive mainly being a by-product of Mercado-Aiona's late game heroics, it is interesting to note that he didn't start the game out at quarterback. Sophomore quarterback Gavin Marques started the game at quarterback while Mercado-Aiona started at slot back. This shift of personnel helped set up Mercado-Aiona's first quarter touchdown pass to Iosefa. Mercado-Aiona took a jet sweep handoff sucking defenders in making for an easy strike to Iosefa for a 24-yard touchdown.

"The decision to start Gavin (Marques) was to set up that toss pass," explained Carvalho. "With Matt (Leilua) out (with a knee injury), Kai was a pretty decent slot back that could carry the load a little bit."

The Marauder defense was also impressive in the game as they forced Na Ali'i to attempt three field goals, and combined for eight total sacks on the game.

"This week we prepared mostly on blitzes," said Waipahu defensive end Johnny Tuia. ""I have to say (our defense) have a good bond; we've been together ever since outside league."

The 5-foot-9, 215-lb senior led the team in sacks with three, while also garnering eight tackles and a fumble recovery.

"Well my grandma way passed away last week Friday so I was kind of heartbroken," shared Tuia. "Everything I do, I do it for her; she's my queen in my heart. She was my motivation for today's game and that was the reason why I had the stats that I had tonight."

Aiea's first score came from a Jae Won Huh 28-yard field goal with two minutes and 28 seconds left in the first quarter. The senior also boomed a 47-yarder through the uprights just before the end of the first half to cut the score to 14-13, heading into the break.

The third quarter of the game was mired with a slew of penalties that slowed the game's tempo of the game down. One of the few exciting plays of the period came on Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti's 63-yard touchdown reception. Elijah Tausaga aired it out to Hernandez-Fonoti ,who out jumped and escaped defensive back Dominick Marshall defending on the play.

That would be the last score for Aiea, as a crucial Huh 37-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter sailed wide right . Should the field goal had gone through, Aiea would held an eight point lead with nine minutes remaining.

Aiea's defense did a good job atoning for the missed field goal by forcing a turnover on downs while the Marauders were inside the Aiea 20-yard line. Unfortunately, the Aiea offense could not run off enough clock and the Marauders had just enough time to pull out a win.

"It's a tough loss," said Say. "Our kids played hard and they played their hearts out. Again, it's always a learning experience. We still have two more games and hopefully we can turn it around."

Aiea will play host to Leilehua next Friday while Waipahu will visit Waianae.