Aiea leaned on its defense throughout the regular season, and needed the unit to deliver one more stop to stay alive in the playoffs.

Na Alii came through with a late fumble recovery to protect a slender lead and send Aiea into the quarterfinals of the OIA Red playoffs with a 13-12 win over Kailua on Saturday.

Aiea jumped out to a 13-0 lead at halftime, gave up two third-quarter touchdowns, but denied the Surfriders in the fourth quarter to set up a quarterfinal matchup with Campbell.

"We’ve been in this situation before," said Aiea linebacker Jholy Mauai, who intercepted a pass in the first half and recovered the clinching fumble with 1:23 left in the game.

"Every game was a dogfight and we’ve always been in this kind of situation, backs against the wall and we have to step up. This was just another test, especially now when it’s do or die for all the seniors."

Aiea had been on the short end of some tight contests in a 2-4 run in the OIA Red West and qualified for the playoffs with the division’s sixth and final seed.

Aiea quarterback Isaiah Fonoti threw for a touchdown and ran for another in the first half and the defense managed to hold on in the second.

"The defense has been doing it all year for us," Aiea coach Wendell Say said.

"All our games have been like this, that’s why my hair’s white."

The Aiea defense set up Na Alii’s first score when Douglas Tautua recovered a Kailua fumble on the Surfriders’ first play from scrimmage to give Na Alii possession at the Kailua 39. Consecutive 17-yard completions by Fonoti set up a 4-yard touchdown pass on a screen play to Jarrel Chaviera to give Na Alii the lead.

Aiea opened the second quarter with an 87-yard, 14-play march that included a 19-yard reception by Chaviera on fourth and 15. A pass interference call on Kailua pushed Na Alii to the 12 and Fonoti eventually scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to give Aiea a 13-0 lead.

Kailua’s best scoring threat of the half came after a 64-yard punt return by Kai Gonda, but Mauai’s interception thwarted the drive.

Kailua’s Kaliko Kaimana contributed to both of the Surfriders’ scores in the third quarter as Kailua closed to within a point.

His punt return to the Aiea 3 set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Jarrin Young.

Aiea appeared poised to answer, but lost a fumble at the Kailua 1 and the Surfriders recovered for a touchback. Kaimana then ran down a deep pass from quarterback Kahaku Iaea for an 80-yard touchdown.

The Surfriders elected to go for the 2-point conversion and the lead, and were stopped on their first attempt. An Aiea penalty gave them another shot, but Young was stopped by Max Maafala-Maiava and Matthew Mendiola short of the goal line.

"It was a no-brainer. We had a fourth quarter to go; let’s go for 2," Kailua coach Gary Rosolowich said. "I wouldn’t second-guess that one. All the things put together, let’s go for the win."

At Kailua

Aiea (4-5) 6 7 0 0 — 13

Kailua (4-5) 0 0 12 0 12

Aiea—Jarrel Chaviera 4 pass from Isaiah Fonoti (kick failed)

Aiea—Fonoti 1 run (Ezra White kick)

Kai—Jarrin Young 1 run (kick failed)

Kai—Kaliko Kaimana 80 pass from Kahaku Iaea (run failed)

RUSHING—Aiea: Hunter Vaa 14-60, Trevaun Sparrow-Dennis 7-45, Duke Spencer 11-58, Fonoti 3-(-10), Ualesi Sale 1-(-3). Kailua: Young 22-134, Kaimana 2-11, Kai Gonda 1-2.

PASSING—Aiea: Fonoti 13-23-0-156, Spencer 0-1-0-0. Kailua: Iaea 8-16-1-127.

RECEIVING—Aiea: Jonavan Dias 3-33, Kamakana Apelu 5-47, Chaviera 4-75, Vaa 1-1. Kailua: Kaimana 2-100, Kirk Ronolo 1-6, Ryson Lee-Kealoha 3-30, Neami Tuifua 2-(-9).

JV—Aiea 22, Kaiser 7