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Brandon Ching | ScoringLiveOctober 23, 2021, 7:00am
Fri, Oct 22, 2021 @ Waipahu [ 7:00 pm ]
WAIPAHU — Waipahu got off to a fast start and overcame a sloppy second half to pull away from Kailua, 24-16, to open the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I season at Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex Friday.
The Marauders defeated the Surfriders, 14-12, in their regular season finale back on Oct. 12, 2019 and picked up where it left off to move to 1-0 to start the 2021 season.
"Is this really happening?" Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho said, as game day approached. "Just because it's been so long, six weeks ago we were days away from what we thought would be our opener. We restarted and it was frustrating of course and we coach our kids to get off the streets and be productive leaders in the community. A lot of times, it's experiences like this in front of their family and fans that motivate them to make good decisions. It was a relief we can really play a game after two years."
Waipahu sophomore quarterback Joshua "JJ" Manu threw for 275 yards and three first-half touchdowns, but threw four interceptions, two each going to Kailua's Japheth Lilo and Noah Grace.
Senior running back Michael Iaulualo finished with 28 carries for 190 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter to go along with 20 receiving yards and another score.
"I think coming in, with coach Nate Ilaoa being our new OC. I really love what he does offensively throwing the football around. The whole concept was to keep the run game the same and to add to complement. When our passing took a dive, we were fortunate enough to take advantage of our run game we built our program off of for the last five years. It was Alfred (Failauga) and now it's Michael, I thought he did a good job tonight filling in big shoes," Carvalho said.
Waipahu scored on its opening drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Manu to Joseph Mckenzie, but the kick was blocked for an early 6-0 lead.
After the Surfriders went three-and-out, Manu was a perfect 9-for-9 passing for 120 yards before another 5-yard touchdown pass, this time to Michael Iaulualo, but their two-point conversion pass failed.
"I think his reads were on point and he put the ball where it needed it to be. A lot of times its when the script goes to plan. That's what happened in the first two series. He executed all his reads. They (Kailua) changed a little bit defensively, but at the end of the day, we have to make correct reads," Carvalho said of Manu.
Kailua got onto the scoreboard in the second quarter after Daniel Palenapa blocked Xavier Transfiguracion's punt in the end zone resulting in a safety.
The Surfriders could not capitalize on Grace's second pick and punted and Liatama Uiliata's punt return took it to their own 48. Waipahu went on a six-play drive that resulted in Manu's third touchdown pass of the half to Saige Marienthal from 23 yards out as the Marauders took a 18-2 lead at halftime.
Kailua was whistled for eight false start penalties in the first half and finished with 12 penalties for 60 yards for the game.
Lilo picked off Manu and raced past the Waipahu sideline for 67 yards to give the Surfriders life as it trailed, 18-9 following Theodor Bierbrauer's kick.
Waipahu's next offensive drive took a turn for the worse after a personal foul penalty pushed the ball back to their own 30 and two plays later, a bad snap lost 29 yards and Grace came up with the fumble recovery at the 1. The Surfriders converted the turnover into points after Kahiapo McKeague threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Nainoa Smith-Akana and Bierbrauer's kick brought Kailua within two.
Kailua was plagued with bad snaps in the second half losing 66 yards. A 22-yard bad snap was recovered by Moziah Rogers-Tivao at the Surfrider 8 and Iaulualo rushed to the left on the next play, but the pass failed to give Waipahu some breathing room.
Iaulualo ran the ball six times to milk the clock, but Transfiguracion's knee touched the ground on the punt attempt, giving the ball back to Kailua on Waipahu's 23 with 3:25 remaining.
Uiliata intercepted McKeague and five plays into the drive, Kailua called their final timeout. Waipahu got the Surfriders to jump offsides on a third-and-3 and Manu kneeled it down three times to end the game.
Waipahu was flagged 16 times for 168 penalty yards.
""It was a lack of discipline. From a viewer's perspective, it really showed we had two years off. It's been two years and four days since the last game we played. A lot of times tonight it showed how raw we were and how undisciplined we were. I talked to them about it a little bit already. We have to avoid silly penalties. There are coachable penalties we can get better at throughout the season," Carvalho said.
Jathan Bejarano caught six passes of Romeo Ortiz's nine completions for 25 yards and Lilo added 40 yards on two catches for the Surfriders.
Kailua had minus-1 yards of net offense and minus-68 net rushing yards.
Waipahu has a bye before facing Moanalua (1-0) on Friday, Nov. 5.
Kailua has a non-league contest with Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I champion Iolani at Alex Kane Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 30.
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