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Aiea receiver Jayden Chanel hauls in a 12-yard TD in the corner of the end zone in the third quarter. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Aiea's Windsor Asing (8) comes down with his second interception of the night against Moanalua. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Eziekiel Olie accounted for two scores, one in the air and one on the ground, in Aiea's victory over Moanalua in the OIA Division I championship. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Sat, Dec 11, 2021 @ Moanalua [ 6:30 pm ]

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Aiea

17

Moanalua

14

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Aiea (4-3-0)	0	7	10	0	17
Moanalua (5-2-0)	7	0	0	7	14

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Taylor Malloe 70 yd 1 TD

Ezekiel Olie 118 yd 1 TD

Cameron Johnson 23 yd 1 TD

Kaimana Lale-Saole 94 yd

Jayce Bareng 31 yd 1 TD

Jayden Chanel 57 yd 1 TD

SALT LAKE — The title drought is over.

Ezekiel Olie accounted for two scores as Aiea dethroned defending Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I champion and No. 13 Moanalua, 17-14, at Na Menehune's field Saturday.

Na Alii (4-2) captured their first league title since 2003 and return to the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships for the first time since 2009 when they were in Division II.

"It feels great. These kids deserve it, they been through so much. Every game has been a tough one for them, could've gone either way. I'm glad they did everything possible and played well and executed," longtime Aiea coach Wendell Say said.

"It's a blessing to accomplish this with these guys. It's a lot to take in," Olie said.

Aiea avenged a season-opening 28-25 loss to Moanalua on Oct. 22.

"After that first game, it was like, ‘see you again, see you later,'" Olie said. "That was our mindset the whole season. Coming back and getting our revenge and making history."

Na Menehune's season comes to an end with a 5-2 overall record and was 4-2 in league play.

Olie passed for 118 yards on 13-of-24 passing, his touchdown going to Jayden Chanel. He was picked off twice, each by Keenan McCaddy and Tyler Collo.

"He kept his calm, he told me before the game, ‘I'm ready coach' and I believe him. He's such a quiet guy, he doesn't show too much emotion. I trust him. When he says he's ready, he's ready," Say said of Olie.

"That was the mentality for tonight. Lately it's been pick after pick, but I got the support from my teammates and coaches to keep my head up and let anything bad go," Olie said, shaking off the turnovers.

Jayden Chanel, who is listed at 6-foot-2, took advantage of smaller defenders and caught five passes for 57 yards.

Aiea receiver Jayden Chanel hauls in a 12-yard TD in the corner of the end zone in the third quarter. Michael Lasquero | SL    Purchase image

"He's one of one, that's all I'm going to say," Olie said.

Kaimana Lale-Saole rushed for 94 yards on 17 attempts and averaged 5.5 yards per carry as Na Alii picked up seven of their 12 first downs on the ground.

Aiea led 17-7 until Andy Canencia returned the punt 69 yards to Na Alii 1 and Cameron Johnson rushed it in for the touchdown on the next play to trail by three.

Moanalua attempted the onside kick, but was moved back 5 yards on an encroachment penalty. Aizik Mahuka recovered the kick and Aiea kneeled it down three times to end the game.

"I thought to myself, ‘Please, don't have a let down," Say said.

Moanalua scored on their second offensive drive that started on their own 16. Taylor Malloe rushed for a 20-yard gain and two plays later completed a 36-yard pass to Dominic Tisalona. Ryson Lum set up a 17-yard touchdown pass from Malloe to Jayce Bareng for a 7-0 lead.

After Moanalua went three-and-out, Kane Lorenzana returned the punt 19 yards to the Na Menehune 48. Olie completed three passes for 45 yards and found the end zone two plays later with a 1-yard keeper to tie the game at 7 following Bryson Boyea Quiton's kick.

Malloe was injured at the 5:23 mark in the second quarter on a rush attempt and did not return until late in the fourth quarter. He went 7 of 14 for 70 passing yards.

"Losing your quarterback, it's a morale thing. Every game we were behind and we fought back. We had a chance at the end there. That's a good team, they deserve to win. They capitalized on our injury and our defense was on the field too long in the second half. That's football," Moanalua coach Vince Nihipali said.

Following the injury, Cameron Johnson and Gabe Wells gained first downs on the ground and got to the Aiea 45. Blayze Sumiye took the snap on a fake punt, but was stopped a yard short, turning it over on downs to Aiea.

Boyea Quito added a 35-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 8:44 to go in the third quarter.

Na Menehune turned to Johnson on the ground, who finished with 23 yards on 12 attempts, as the signal caller but their drive resulted in a punt.

Lale-Saole burst through with a 28 yard run to get into Moanalua territory and Olie kept it for 2 yards to convert a fourth-and-1 to the Moanalua 21. Olie completed a 9 yard pass to Jheremie Cacpal that set up a 12-yard touchdown to Chanel to put Na Alii up, 17-7.

With Malloe out, Moanalua turned to Johnson, Ethan Gomez and Emmett Kelly at quarterback and their drives resulted in punts in the third quarter.

"They got a guy who can run, number 5 (Johnson) and number 12 (Gomez) could pass and run. When the two were in the backfield at the same time, we had to be careful to make sure we're prepared for the run and the pass," Say said.

Aiea's Windsor Asing (8) comes down with his second interception of the night against Moanalua. Michael Lasquero | SL    Purchase image

Malloe came back five plays into a fourth quarter drive that started at the 5:24 mark and recovered a fumble that set Na Menehune back five yards and was dropped for a 8-yard sack by Tumama "Joel" Auvaa. Windsor Asing claimed his second interception of the night from Malloe's heave on a fourth-and-23.

"I thought he was out, but talked to the trainers and they cleared him so he went back in there. I was surprised. At that point he was immobile, you could see he was limping. When anybody loses their starting quarterback, that game could've gone bad, real quick. But the boys battled back to give us a chance in the end," Nihipali said.

Aiea's drive stalled and punted the ball back to Moanalua for Na Menehune's final score of the night.

Bishop Foumai and Macen Halemano each had seven tackles, Asing with two interceptions, and Auvaa had two tackle for losses and pass break up to lead Aiea's defense.

"Those guys held them down until the last quarter," Olie said.

Mesi Maae led Na Menehune defense with eight tackles, broke up a pass, Tisalona had six solo tackles, a pass break up, and Blayze Sumiye had five solo tackles and partially blocked a punt.

It was a rematch of the 2009 OIA Division II championship game under the two-division format.

Moanalua was seeking back-to-back titles and their third overall league title.