Hawaiian Electric Game of the Week
Waipahu holds off No. 13 Moanalua to remain unbeaten


  



Fri, Nov 5, 2021 @ Moanalua [ 7:30 pm ]


Final 1 2 3 4 T
Waipahu (2-3-0) 0 21 0 021
Moanalua (5-2-0) 0 0 0 1414
Taylor Malloe 215 yd 1 TD
Joshua Manu 106 yd 1 TD
Michael Iaulualo 58 yd 1 TD
Gabe Wells 82 yd 1 TD

SALT LAKE — Waipahu led comfortably for three quarters and held off a late rally from No. 13 Moanalua to win, 21-14 at Na Menehune's stadium Friday.

The Marauders, who came off a bye, improved to 2-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I standings and handed Na Menehune (3-1 overall, 2-1 OIA) their first loss of the season.

"The thing is about this team, we're only two games in so a lot of guys are in midseason form. We're still working on that as you can see. I think once we get more consistent, we'll be more dangerous, but we have to work on that part," Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho said.

JJ Manu threw for 106 yards, a touchdown and a pick on 16-of-23 passing and Michael Iaulualo rushed for 58 yards.

Waipahu had an early opportunity to jump on Moanalua but turned it over on downs on fourth-and-goal after Michael Iaulualo was dropped for a 3-yard loss by Christian Paleafei.

Seth Setu recovered Cameron Johnson's fumble setting up the Marauders on Na Menehune's 3-yard line, but missed another opportunity to score and it gave it back to Moanalua after Manu threw an interception to Skyler Pangan in the end zone.

"It was deja vu almost two weeks ago, not being able to score in the red zone. It was super frustrating," Carvalho said, referring to their season-opener against Kailua.

After Moanalua punted, Waipahu took over with 3:42 left in the first quarter and their offensive drive extended into the second quarter. The Marauders converted two key fourth downs, one off a pass interference penalty and Iaulualo caught a 5-yard pass from Manu to set up a 2-yard touchdown from Manu to Joseph Mckenzie for a 6-0 lead following a missed kick.

Na Menehune started on their own 38 and Pila Goo Sun, an offensive lineman, rushed for a 23-yard gain on a fourth-and-3 from their own 45. Four plays later Moanalua benefitted from a pass interference call but Malloe fumbled and Romeo "Toodie" Failauga scooped and scored from 79 yards out. Manu connected with Saige Marienthal for two, to put the Marauders up, 14-0.

"I just seen the ball loose, I thought I was going to jump on it but I knew I had a chance to pick it up and score. I scooped it up and ran," said Failauga, who is Alfred's younger brother.

Jaden Nii blocked the punt and Moziah Rogers-Tivao recovered the ball on the 2 and Iaulualo punched it in to make it 21-0 that held up until half-time.

"We were fortunate enough to get some more turnovers and have a short field to punch stuff in and things starting turning our way," Carvalho said. "Fortunate to get those scores on the board and get an advantage going into the half."

Moanalua's defense forced a turnover on downs and Na Menehune took over late in the third quarter. Malloe had three passing first downs to move the offense down to the Waipahu 26. Na Menehune capitalized on a pass interference penalty on fourth down with Malloe's 13-yard touchdown to Gabe Wells to get the home team on the scoreboard for the first time.

Wells finished with a game-high seven catches for 82 yards and Malloe had 215 yards on 19-of-37 passing.

Moanalua, who put up 35 first half points on Castle and won, 49-26, the previous week was held scoreless for three quarters.

"I'm high on my defense, I love the way they play and energy they bring. They set the tempo for our whole team," Carvalho said.

Waipahu was 1 for 5 on fourth downs and gave the ball back to Na Menehune 3:24 to go. The Marauders committed a roughing the passer penalty and two plays later, Malloe found Wells for a 28-yard gain. He connected with Keenan McCaddy with an 11-yard pass to the 7 and on the next play, Waipahu's Nainoa Hall thought he had the game-sealing interception, but that was negated by a pass interference penalty.

It took two tries for Kindred Malakai Park to get into the end zone as Moanalua trailed by a touchdown and PAT with 1:11 to go but Failauga recovered the onsides kick and Waipahu kneeled it three times to end the game.

Setu and Ia Fualema each had two sacks and Tyrus Niuatoa broke up two passes. Nii recorded a tackle-for-loss to go along with his punt block.

Moanalua ends the regular season on the road at Kailua (0-3 overall, 0-2 OIA) on Nov. 12 and at Roosevelt (1-2 OIA) on Nov. 26.

Waipahu has another bye before three-consecutive home games starting with Castle (1-2 overall, 1-1 OIA) on Saturday, Nov. 20.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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