Waianae walks over Kailua

The Road Warriors of the OIA Red are a smashing hit, once again.

Waianae relied on simplicity and an occasional dose of surprise in a 29-6 playoff win over Kailua on Saturday night at Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium.

Running backs Jemery Willes and Alakai Kealoha combined for 202 yards and two touchdowns as Waianae (5-4 overall) won for the fourth time in its past five games. The winning roll traces back to a re-establishment of the ground attack out of the Seariders’ wing-T and I sets, but their ascent in the late season has happened despite a schedule without a home game. Their facility has been under renovation all fall.

Willes had 116 yards on 14 carries with two fumbles, and Kealoha tallied 86 yards on eight attempts with one giveaway.

"The fumbles, it’s a simple thing to correct on that second effort," coach Danny Matsumoto said. "Give credit to Kailua. They hit hard."

Willes and Kealoha, a fullback, have combined for 837 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the five-game span. Quarterback Kekoa Kaluhiokalani’s drop backs have been reduced, if highly efficient, but he’s happy with another win. His skill on the edge with the triple option is matched by only a few statewide. Waianae’s first touchdown came on a keeper by the senior.

"We just do what we’re capable of. If we run more, it brings more guys into the box," he said. "I get to run more, too. We have plenty of options, and our running backs are maturing and understanding more."

Defensively, the Seariders were brutish in the trenches. Kailua, with leading rusher Jarrin Young out of the past four games, didn’t have a playmaker to deal with an imposing Waianae defense, led by Kennedy Tulimasealii. The Surfriders didn’t have many holes to work with, either. They finished with minus-39 yards rushing.

"We just had to be fundamentally sound and do nothing fancy," Waianae defensive coordinator Jason Hussey said. "The kids did a good job. We’re going to have to tighten it up for Kahuku."

Waianae meets defending state champion Kahuku next weekend in the quarterfinal round.

Waianae’s defense kept a lid on Kailua quarterback Kahaku Iaea, who was pulverized and left ailing twice. The second time, he was sandwiched by pass rushers off either edge and sacked by Brandon Johnston, not long after completing a 44-yard pass. It turned out to be the final play of his high school career, all-star games notwithstanding.

"I was a little shaken up. Waianae’s a good team with a good, all-around defense," said Iaea, who finished 11-for-22 for 148 yards.

Waianae finished with four sacks (Cleghorn Borge, Sheaven Ferreira-Delima, Kekoa Aila-Levi and Johnston).

The home team, Waianae, drove 54 yards in six plays on its opening series. Kaluhiokalani’s 10-yard option keeper around right end gave the Seariders an early 7-0 lead.

Kailua’s offense sputtered (63 first-half yards), but the defense came up with a big play. Kaliko Kaimana returned a fumble 53 yards for a touchdown, but officials conferred and decided the play was dead when a whistle was blown inexplicably once Kaimana recovered the ball. That negated Kailua’s only scoring threat of the first half.

A muffed punt return by Kaimana on a high bounce near the sideline was recovered by Waianae at the Kailua 13-yard line. Kealoha rumbled through the middle on the next play for a touchdown and Waianae led 13-0 with 8:51 left in the second quarter.

Jacoby Cid’s 28-yard field goal opened the margin to 16 points with 1:01 left in the first half. Moments later, Seariders defensive back Justin Kila picked off a pass by Iaea and returned it 39 yards to pay dirt. Waianae led 22-0 at the half. Willes and Kealoha had a combined 177 rushing yards and three fumbles before intermission.

Bad snaps plagued Kailua in the third quarter, and Waianae cashed in with a 15-yard scoring run by Willes for a 29-0 lead late in the stanza.

Kailua avoided a shutout when Junior Ronolo pulled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from backup Noah Auld with 1:23 remaining.

OIA WHITE

Radford 49, Anuenue 13

Cody Lui-Yuen connected with four different receivers for five touchdowns as the Rams smashed Na Koa.

Anuenue held a brief lead with a 19-yard touchdown by Kainalu Kaleo in the first quarter, but the Rams quickly countered with a score by Chris Jackson.

Radford’s Zach Tinao-Rabellizsa finished with two TD receptions for 100 yards.