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Michael Lasquero | ScoringLiveOctober 26, 2017, 11:48pm
Thu, Oct 26, 2017 @ Aloha Stadium [ 7:30 pm ]
HALAWA — Raise the black flag — and the championship banner.
Waipahu rallied past Pearl City in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II title game, 23-22, at Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium to win its 11th overall league crown Thursday night.
The second-ranked Marauders (10-0) also wrapped up an undefeated regular season as they captured their first OIA championship since 2011.
It was a redeeming moment for Waipahu, who lost in last year's OIA D2 final to Waialua, 36-35.
"We've just been working so hard to bring it back to the community of Waipahu," said senior quarterback Braden Amorozo. "It means so much to us and it's just awesome to get it back. We used last year to fuel us in this year's victory. Our team just kept fighting and we came out with this championship."
Waipahu won the regular season meeting between the two teams in convincing fashion, 37-6, but trailed seventh-ranked Pearl City (7-3) for most of Thursday night. The Chargers held a 15-0 lead after the first quarter and had a 22-16 advantage in the final period of play before Waipahu got a big break.
Starting Pearl City quarterback Isaiah Asinsin was a thorn in the Marauders' side all night long, but had to leave the game after his helmet came off during a play late in the fourth quarter. The following snap was too low for backup Shayn Bondaug to handle and sophomore linebacker Manuele Pulusila was able to recover the loose ball to give Waipahu possession.
"It just happened out of nowhere," said Pulusila. "I was kind of nervous though (because) I messed up on a lot of plays, but it's all God's blessing."
Amorozo completed a 33-yard pass to Isaac Yamashita down the right sideline after the turnover to set up sophomore running back Alfred Failauga's 3-yard touchdown run two plays later. Amorozo's younger brother, Brycen, was good on the PAT to give Waipahu its first lead of the game with 3:22 left in regulation.
The Marauders' defense did their part after taking the lead, stopping the Chargers on downs at their own 39 with 46 seconds left in the game. They were also able to prevent any Pearl City score on offense after giving up 15 points in the first quarter.
"The whole week we were reminded again of last year, and I told them that defense wins championships," said Waipahu third-year coach Bryson Carvalho. "They needed to win in this game this year and I felt they played a helluva of a game."
How does it taste? Waipahu rallies past Pearl City, 23-22, to win 11th OIA title and first since 2011. #TheChaseForTheChampionship pic.twitter.com/lzjNumGQwh — ScoringLive (@scoringlive) October 27, 2017
How does it taste? Waipahu rallies past Pearl City, 23-22, to win 11th OIA title and first since 2011. #TheChaseForTheChampionship pic.twitter.com/lzjNumGQwh
Offensively the Marauders were led by Yamashita, who caught a season-high six passes for 104 yards and two scores. Failauga led the ground game with 113 yards on 22 carries while Amorozo finished with 277 through the air on 25-for-46 passing.
"We just kept fighting," said Amorozo. "I kept telling my teammates it's a team effort. We're going to win this game, but we just need to keep fighting.'
It was a tough way to lose for the Chargers, who kept Waipahu on edge for most of the night. Pearl City, who was seeking its first title in school history, utilized a myriad of formations and plays that ranged from jet sweeps, reversals and double pass plays that caught the Marauders off guard.
Waipahu also couldn't get anything going on its first two possessions and Pearl City was able to take advantage with a 15-0 first quarter lead on two Asinsin TDs.
"Our heart goes out to Pearl City," said Carvalho. "We lost by a point last year. I know exactly how it feels. They played a helluva of a game. They gave us some different looks offensively and defensively and we had a bit of a hard time adjusting."
The Marauders rallied with two Yamashita scores to make it a 15-13 game after the first series of the second half before Pearl City's Zion Tupuola-Fetui picked off Amorozo and returned it 67 yards to give Pearl City a 22-13 lead.
The younger Amorozo kicked a 23-yard field goal just before the end of the third quarter to make it a one-possession game heading into the final period of play.
With the victory, the Marauders will be the lone team representing the OIA in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA D2 state tournament. They will travel to face three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation D2 champ Konawaena at Julian Yates Field in the opening round of the four-team tourney, which begins next Friday on Nov. 3.
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