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Radford rallies to beat Moanalua

Paul Honda
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Radford's TJ Reid pulled in a touchdown pass in front of Emilio Mendoza of Moanalua last night.

This time, the Radford Rams got past their neighborhood rivals.

T.J. Reid had the game of his life, catching six passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and tossing one more as Radford rallied past Moanalua 29-22 to advance in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference football playoffs last night.

A testy crowd of about 1,500 at John Velasco Field saw Moanalua rally from 14 points down to take a 22-14 lead in the second half. Radford then summoned enough firepower to come back, thanks to Reid and a defense that permitted just 165 total yards by the visitors.

"Our offense wasn’t really clicking in the beginning, but we made it work," said Reid, a two-way player who missed playing time this season due to a sprained MCL. "Dorsey (Norris) was out (concussion) this game, so we had to pick it up."

It was nearly as close as last year’s meeting between the rivals, when Moanalua won in two overtimes, 34-33.

Now Radford (5-4) advances to the quarterfinals and visits No. 1-ranked Kahuku next week. Moanalua closed the season at 3-6 overall despite 121 rushing yards on 21 attempts by running back Charles Spencer.

"I was stressing out, but coach kept telling me to keep my head in the game," said quarterback Maika Ulufale, who threw three touchdown passes.

The winning drive, a six-play, 67-yard march, began with 3:28 remaining. Ulufale (19-for-31, 183 yards) threw five completions in five attempts, including a 9-yard strike to Andrew Togiailua. The senior tight end leaked out after an initial block, crossed right as Ulufale rolled left and scored from 9 yards out with 1:26 to go for a 29-22 Radford lead.

Moanalua’s ensuing possession ended on first down when Dillion Turk’s long heave was picked off by Reid, and the Rams ran out the remaining time.

If not for some special plays by Radford’s Reid and Moanalua’s Darren Apo, the first half would have been painful to endure, thanks to a multitude of penalties and referee conferences.

Radford made a break of its own by sacking Turk on the sixth play from scrimmage. Rams linebacker Cy Salanoa recovered the fumble at the Moanalua 41-yard line.

Three plays later, Ulufale found Reid open on a third-and-1 play-action pass for a 32-yard touchdown.

 

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At John Velasco Field

Moanalua 0 8 14 0 22
Radford 7 7 0 15 29

Rad–T.J. Reid 32 pass from Maika Ulufale (Cayman Conley kick)
Rad–Reid 30 pass from Ulufale (Conley kick)
Moa–Darren Apo fumble recovery (Martin Taulele pass from Dillon Turk)
Moa–Charles Spencer 27 run (Lee Arakawa kick)
Moa–Spencer 3 run (Arakawa kick)
Rad–Andrew Togiailua 33 pass from Reid (Troy Evans pass from Ulufale)
Rad–Togiailua 9 pass from Ulufale (Conley kick)
Junior Varsity–Moanalua 30, Waianae 14

RUSHING–Moan: Chasen Hamasaki 4-8, Spencer 21-121, Turk 2-(-14), team 2-(-11). Rad: Phil Hogan 16-24, Ulufale 8-(-26), team 1-(-10).

PASSING–Moan: Turk 4-12-1-44. Rad: Ulufale 19-31-2-183, Cayman Conley 1-1-0-29, Reid 1-1-0-33.

RECEIVING–Moan: Tayler Tanaka 2-13, Richard Villasenor 1-18, Keven Amaral 1-13. Rad: Reid 6-104, Hogan 6-37, Togiailua 5-68, Zach Tinao-Rabellizsa 4-36.

 

OIA White regular season

Waipahu 49, Anuenue 28
Victor Moananu rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns as the Marauders rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat the visiting Na Koa.

Mark Bumanglag had 116 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown for Waipahu, while Ikaika Gante rushed for 171 yards and two scores for Anuenue. Gante also scored on a 35-yard fumble return.

At Waipahu

Anuenue (3-6, 3-5) 8 14 6 0 28
Waipahu (6-2, 6-2) 6 13 15 15 49

Anu–Ikaika Gante 34 run (Makamae Otani-Wengler run)
Wai–Tydro Ate-Taito 24 run (kick failed)
Anu–Kamea Kahiapo 2 run (run failed)
Anu–Gante 35 fumble return (Gante fun)
Wai–Victor Moananu 1 run (run failed)
Wai–Jahlove Amadeo 23 pass from Drake Yoshioka (Brysen Kaseli kick)
Wai–Moananu 12 run (Kaseli kick)
Wai–Ja. Amadeo 4 run (Justice Amadeo run)
Anu–Gante 67 run (run failed)
Wai–Devin Kaneshiro 1 run (Mark Bumanglag run)
Wai–Bumanglag 14 run (Kaseli kick)

RUSHING–Anu: Gante 18-171, La’akeo Mano’i-Hyde 7-70, Kahiapo 11-59, Otani-Wengler 8-36, Kainoa Keli Nahaku 3-11, Mahuka Cullen 3-6, Kakela Lee 1-3, Kapena Robinson 1-1, team 1-(minus 11). Wai: Moananu 18-124, Bumanglag 11-116, Ate-Taito 4-32, Kaneshiro 7-32, Ja. Amadeo 2-23, Eraeji Au 3-22, Davin Paahana 2-10, Yoshioka 1-0.

PASSING–Anu: Cullen 1-6-0-4. Wai: Yoshioka 5-5-0-74, Bumanglag 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING–Anu: Gante 1-4. Wai: Ja. Amadeo 2-55, Ju. Amadeo 1-11, Ate-Taito 1-5, Kaseli 1-3.

 

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