Waipahu protected its home field one last time to earn a historic trip to Aloha Stadium next week.

Playing on campus for the last time this season, the Marauders held off Lahainaluna 19-14 Friday night in the Division II semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championship.

“For our community, for our fan base, our school, it was something that was awesome,” Waipahu head coach Eric Keola said after the Marauders secured the program’s first appearance in a state final.

Waipahu running back Gregorio Alip ran for 134 yards and two TDs, including the go-ahead score in the third quarter.

The Waipahu defense took over from there, coming up with two takeaways in the fourth quarter to secure the win and a date against ‘Iolani or Kapaa next Friday at Aloha Stadium in the D-II final.

The four-time defending state champion Raiders and Warriors meet today at 2 p.m at ‘Iolani for the other spot in the final.

“It means a lot because with all our first-year coaches, everyone doubted us,” Alip said. “‘They’re going to struggle, they’ve got a brand new offense, brand new coaches.’ But we stuck though adversity and pushed hard and we’re going to the state championship.”

Lahainaluna (6-4) lost two fumbles in the first quarter, and the late turnovers were particularly painful. The Lunas drove to the Waipahu 9 on the 10th play of a fourth-quarter drive that included a 16-yard gain on a fake punt. But a fumbled exchange on second and goal was recovered by Waipahu linebacker Mark Failauga to preserve the Marauders’ lead.

Lahainaluna’s next possession ended with an interception by Joseph Kahele Ayau.

The Marauders were without starting linebacker Wesley Nagaseu, who was limited to short-yardage plays on offense due to an ankle injury suffered in Waipahu’s win over Pearl City in the OIA White final. But they managed to shut out the Lunas in the second half.

Both teams got off to a shaky start as Waipahu had a punt blocked on its first possession, but recovered a Lahainaluna fumble on the next play.

Alip then burst through the middle of the line and outran the defense for a 74-yard touchdown.

“(The offensive linemen) said, ‘We’ve got you,’” Alip said. “We’re all brothers, so we all work hard for everybody. I had to take it to the house for them. I give all the credit to the O-line. I can’t go anywhere without their block.”

Lahainaluna scored on consecutive possessions in the second quarter to take a 14-6 lead and took a 14-13 lead into halftime.

After forcing a punt to open the third quarter, Waipahu took seven plays to drive 43 yards, with Alip scoring the go-ahead TD on a 1-yard plunge.

Waipahu held on from there, although a fumble deep in Lahainaluna territory gave the Lunas one more opportunity in the final minute. But the Lunas couldn’t get past their own 16 and Waipahu ran out the final 15 seconds.