Steve Erler | SL

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Sat, Nov 5, 2016 @ Aloha Stadium [ 4:30 pm ]

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Waianae

14

Farrington

8

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Waianae (9-5-0)	0	7	0	7	14
Farrington (8-4-0)	0	0	0	8	8

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Bishop Rapoza 39 yd

Jaren Ulu 120 yd 1 TD

Challen Faamatau 32 yd 1 TD

Javen Towne 148 yd 1 TD

Challen Faamatau 24 yd

Isaiah Freeney 41 yd 1 TD

Waianae's defense was put to the test and answered the call to lead the Seariders over Farrington, 14-8, Saturday night in the inaugural First Hawaiian Bank Open Division state football tournament at Aloha Stadium

The Seariders (9-4), sixth in the Hawaiian Electric Division Power Rankings, will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Saint Louis in Friday's 4:30 semifinal at Aloha Stadium.

The No. 4 Governors (8-4) saw their season end after failing to capitalize on four Waianae turnovers: two interceptions by Iosefo Ah Ching-Noga and two fumbles.

Waianae's defense held Farrington's Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference Offensive Player of the Year to 32 yards rushing on 20 carries, and stripped him of the ball that set up the Seariders' go-ahead score.

"They answered, they answered," Waianae coach Walter Young said. "Defense came up big. Offense, when we needed them, came up with that score."

Running back Javen Towne scored on a 15-yard run, breaking left, then cutting back inside and spinning out of a tackler at the 3 en route to the end zone with four minutes, 58 seconds left.

Farrington recycled only one of the turnovers that led the Govs to their only TD of the game, a 2-yard run by Faamatau 7:40 left in the game.

Towne led all rushers with 148 yards on 22 carries, spelling starting RB Rico Rosario (5 for 35 yards), who sustained a shoulder injury (acromioclavicular joint).

The Governors entered the game without some key players, including receivers Tanielu "Mosi" Alaivanu-Afe and Kingsley Moses Sanchez, to injuries.

"Not having Mosi, Kingsley injured, I think that really hurt us," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "It showed that we weren't able to pick up the slack with our other guys. Offense couldn't do too much."

Without a passing threat – Farrington had 65 passing yards – it made it easier to contain the dangerous Faamatau. Defensive end Kanai Mauga dropped Faamatau for lost yardage twice and once for no gain.

"We practiced hard this whole week to zero-in on him," Mauga said. "It was kind of hard, but we pulled it off."

Despite three first-half turnovers, Farrington's offense's deepest penetration was to the Waianae 31, where the Govs punted.

After a scoreless first period, the Seariders scored with 19 seconds left in the half on a 28-yard TD pass from Jaren Ulu to Isaiah Freeney. Tate Ebel's PAT made it 7-0, a lead the Seariders took into the break.

Kade Ambrocio returned the second-half kickoff 40 yards to the Waianae 40, only to have a penalty move its starting spot at the Waianae 25. The Seariders moved down field, converting two third downs along the way, but on fourth-and-goal at the 3, Faasina Masalosalo stopped Towne for a 1-yard loss.

Farrington then had a golden opportunity to score when Ah Ching blocked a punt that was recovered by Blessing Umaga, who returned the ball to the 8. A personal foul penalty moved the ball half the distance to the 4. But four downs later, the Govs came with nothing, as Faamatau was stopped for no gain on third- and fourth-and-goal at the 1.

Waianae, with its back to the end zone, moved on three yards after two runs by QB Jorell Pontes-Borje. On third-and-7 at the 4, Pontes got sacked by Masalosalo in the end zone for a safety with 11:56 left in the game to pull Farrington to 7-2.

But Farrington failed to take advantage of the good field position at Waianae's 41 following the free kick. The Governors lost the ball on downs at the 20.

Waianae took over, but Ulu fumbled and Ayson-Jae Calip recovered at the Waianae 13. Four plays later, Faamatau scored on a 2-yard run with 7:40 left to pull the Govs ahead, 8-7. Waianae's defense, though, stopped a running play on the 2-point conversion to stay within 1.

Waianae punted on its next series and Farrington took over at its 20. But on first down, Faamatau plowed up the middle and Jaylen Gonzales stripped the running back of the ball that Braiden Ayala recovered at the 20.

"I just took him on with the help of (lineman) Dayne Evangelista," Gonzales said. "I felt that ball, so I just tried to get at it."

Two plays later, Towne scored the go-ahead score and Ebel's PAT put Waianae ahead, 14-8.

Farrington tried a long lateral pass on the ensuing kickoff from Ah Ching to Faamatau, but only got to the Farrington 15. The Govs converted two fourth down situations, but could not a third time at the Waianae 49 with 1:58 left in the game. The Seariders then ran out the clock.

NOTE: The Faamatau fumble that led to the Seariders' go-ahead score, was initially ruled that he was down by contact. The officials discussed the call and reversed it to give Waianae the ball at the Farrington 20. TV replays showed that the ball came loose after Faamatau was down however.