Top-seeded Waipahu is seeking its first league championship since 2011 and 11th overall, while second-seeded Pearl City is in search of its very first in school history. CJ Caraang | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

After finishing just shy of its 11th league title last season, the Waipahu football team will get its second chance this week.

The Marauders bring a perfect 9-0 record and No. 2 ranking in the latest ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division II Power Rankings into Thursday night's showdown against seventh-ranked Pearl City (7-2) in the championship game of the Oahu Interscholastic Association D2 tournament.

Last season, Waipahu reached the OIA final — which proved to be an epic, back-and-forth battle against eventual-champion Waialua.

The Marauders rallied from a 21-7 deficit after the one quarter to pull ahead 35-29 heading into the fourth. However, the Bulldogs reclaimed the lead early in the final quarter of play and held on for a 36-35 win to stake their first league crown in 61 seasons.

Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho is hoping to erase that bitter memory with one of his team hoisting the championship trophy Thursday night.

"That hurt us a year ago, and our kids were reminded of that moment all year long," Carvalho said. "That has been our main driving force all year and we want to make sure we learn from our mistakes in that game. I told the kids to not let the past haunt us, but we do have to learn from it."

Carvalho is in his third season leading his alma mater, which is seeking its first OIA title since 2011 — when it beat Pearl City in a low-scoring affair, 9-7 — and third overall in D2.

"Winning Thursday would mean that our hard work has paid off," Carvalho said. "When I came in three years ago, naturally you want to come in and start winning games, but it's three years later that you realize you planted your seed and you're taking care of your crops, and like I told the kids, Thursday night is time to bear our fruit."

Standing in the way are the Chargers, who will be trying for their very first league championship.

The lone blemish on Pearl City's record this season — aside from a 20-7 season-opening loss to reigning D2 state champion Lahainaluna in non-league play — is a 37-6 defeat at the hands of Waipahu nearly five weeks ago.

In that meeting, the teams played a scoreless first half, before the Marauders exploded for five touchdowns and a safety after halftime.

"The first time we played, the first half was good, (but in the) second half they outplayed us," Chargers coach Robin Kami said. "They wanted it more than us — I'm not sure if it was because it was their homecoming or what — but they outplayed us."

Sophomore running back Alfred Failauga rushed for a season-high 243 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries and senior quarterback Braden Amorozo threw for 246 yards and two other scores to lead Waipahu's second-half surge.

"We got off to a very slow start in that game — and we had 90 yards in penalties in the first half — so that was something that we've been driving home all week: just making sure we stay disciplined," Carvalho said. "Pearl City is a hell of a football team and I think playing a team the second time is always a lot tougher. They're very well-coached and I know they're going to come prepared and pick up on some of the things we like to do, so we've got to make sure our execution is on point and that we do our part."

The Chargers are led by their defense, which is allowing opponents an average of just 9.8 points and 178.7 yards per game. They have pitched five shut outs this year, including a 7-0 win over Kaimuki in the tournament semifinals on Oct. 13.

Seniors Kasey Kikuyama and Zion Tupuola-Fetui have gotten most of the notoriety for Pearl City defensively. Kikuyama, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back, has posted 27 tackles, five interceptions and 13 pass break-ups, while Tupuola-Fetui, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive lineman, has notched 23 tackles and seven sacks.

"Zion gets a lot of the attention, but I really respect their defensive line as a whole," Carvalho said. "They're very good, so we have to make sure we win the battle on the line of scrimmage and do a good job there."

Offensively, the Chargers are paced by senior running backs Makoa Cooper (7.3 yards per carry, 9 TDs) and Andre Carter (5.8 ypc, TD), who have combined for 1,053 rushing yards this season.

"We have a lot of film on them and we studied all of it," said Carvalho, whose team is coming off a 38-0 semifinal win over Roosevelt two weekends ago. "We're just focused on making sure we stop what they like to do and attacking some of the, we feel, weaknesses. That's basically what we spent the week and a half doing, making sure we have all the answers to what they want to do, and then just making sure we execute."

No team in D2 has been more productive offensively this year than Waipahu, which is averaging 40.7 points and 405.4 yards per game.

Failauga has rushed for 1,107 yards and 16 TDs, while averaging 7.3 yards per attempt, and Amorozo has slung the pigskin for 1,922 yards with 24 TDs against four INTs.

"They have a good running game and a good passing game, so I'm not sure if we can stop them, but we're going to have to slow them down," Kami said.

The Marauders have also been impressive on the defensive side of the ball, limiting opponents to a mere 5.4 points and 159.3 yards per contest.

"Their defense is fast, aggressive and physical. The last game against them we were one for 10 on third-down conversions, so we've got to get better at those third-down situations, but it's going to be a very challenging game for us," Kami said.

"In my mind, we're going to have to win two phases out of the three to win this game. We're going to have to play flawless, make no mistakes, and basically play our best game of the season because they're very good and they're very well coached."

Pearl City will be making its third trip to the OIA final in Kami's five seasons at the helm of his alma mater. It lost to eventual-D2 state champion Kaiser in 2013, 41-21 before returning to the title game in 2014, only to fall to Nanakuli in overtime, 37-36.

"It would be special if we could win one for the school," Kami said.

Last year, the Chargers lost to Waipahu in the league semifinals by a score of 13-7.

Kickoff Thursday night is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.