Tuli Wily-Matagi was well aware of the criticism the Kahuku offense has taken over the past two weeks.
With the OIA Red Division on the line, Wily-Matagi and the Red Raiders opened up the playbook against Waianae on Saturday night.
The senior quarterback threw four touchdown passes, including three of at least 33 yards, to secure a 28-15 win over Waianae and the OIA Red’s top seed heading into the playoffs next week.
Kahuku (6-1) defeated Waianae for the 14th straight time dating back to 2000 and will have another week off before hosting an OIA quarterfinal game.
It means more time for Wily-Matagi to get comfortable with first-year coach Lee Leslie’s playbook that was used to its fullest extent against the Seariders (4-3).
"We got a chance to open it up this week," Leslie said. "I got a chance to spend a lot of time with Tuli, and for him to learn this new style of football has been hard on him. It’s something he’s really had to work at and he stepped up as a leader tonight and did some great things."
Wily-Matagi finished 11-for-17 for 215 yards, averaging close to 20 yards a completion.
Kahuku led 14-3 at halftime and broke it open in the third quarter as Wily-Matagi found Chance Maghanoy on touchdowns of 6 and 33 yards to take a commanding 28-3 lead.
"We had a lot of motivation to come out this week and perform," the BYU commit said. "Coach did sit me down at the beginning of the week and talked to me and we touched up some things and cleaned up some things."
Kahuku ran only 12 offensive plays from scrimmage in the first half but made them count, with two long gains through the air.
Wily-Matagi was sharp on his deep throws, hooking up with Likio Vea on a double move for a 57-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Red Raiders.
Waianae answered with a 12-play drive into Kahuku territory and got it all the way down inside the 20. The Red Raiders stuffed three straight running plays for 1 yard or less to force a 36-yard field goal by Niko Kala-Mahiai to cut the lead to 7-3.
Alohi Gilman’s 40-yard kickoff return set up a quick Kahuku answer as Wily-Matagi went deep down the sideline with another perfectly thrown ball that dropped right into the arms of a streaking Keala Santiago for a 42-yard touchdown to make it 14-3.
"Coach let me air it out and I just tried to take advantage of that," Wily-Matagi said.
Wily-Matagi connected on five of his first six throws for 124 yards but was intercepted late in the half by Salamanesa Taufi to keep the Seariders within 11 at 14-3.
Waianae will host a first-round playoff game next week after finishing third in the OIA Red.
"We’re excited for the playoffs and I know Waianae is too because they’ve got a good team," Wily-Matagi said. "We didn’t want to give up those touchdowns at the end, but they made some good plays and they’re going to be tough to beat if we play them again."
Waianae quarterback Ioane Kaluhiokalani scored on a 1-yard TD run and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jurick Valdez on the final play of the game.
Kaluhiokalani was 7-for-15 for 93 yards and ran for 58 yards on 19 carries.
Waianae rushed 50 times for 154 yards, averaging just over 3 yards a carry. Manaia Atuaia led the Kahuku defense with eight tackles and Soli Afalava added two of Kahuku’s five sacks.
At Aloha Stadium
| KAHUKU (6-1, 6-1) |
7 |
7 |
14 |
0 |
— |
28 |
| WAIANAE (4-3, 4-3) |
0 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
— |
15 |
Kah—Likio Vea 57 pass from Tuli Wily-Matagi (Gabriel Pinheiro-Alves kick)
Wain—FG Niko Kala-Mahiai 36
Kah—Keala Santiago 42 pass from Wily-Matagi (Pinheiro-Alves kick)
Kah—Chance Maghanoy 6 pass from Wily-Matagi (Pinheiro-Alves kick)
Kah—Maghanoy 33 pass from Wily-Matagi (Pinheiro-Alves kick)
Wain—Ioane Kaluhiokalani 1 run (run failed)
Wain—Jurick Valdez 11 pass from Kaluhiokalani
RUSHING—Kahuku: Kesi Ah Hoy 4-32, Wily-Matagi 8-23, Lisiate Tovo 3-14, Pena Fitisemanu 1-0, Michael Mauai 1-0, Jrue Williams 1-(minus 1), Alohi Gilman 1-(minus 1), Santiago 1-(minus 4), Samutea Avea 2-(minus 7). Waianae: John Barbieto 16-67, Kaluhiokalani 19-58, Valdez 4-13, Christopher-Dukua Passi 4-10, Javen Towne 5-8, Nicholas Keliikoa 1-0, Kala-Mahiai 1-(minus 2).
PASSING—Kahuku: Wily-Matagi 11-17-2-215. Waianae: Kaluhiokalani 7-15-0-93.
RECEIVING—Kahuku: Maghanoy 3-36, Vea 2-64, Williams 2-33, Pua Falemalu 2-26, Santiago 1-42, Ah Hoy 1-14. Waianae: Nayton Kuresa 2-31, Zeffaniyah Kauihana-Kaimimoku 2-27, Barbieto 1-14, Valdez 1-11, Robert Delenia 1-10.
Junior varsity—Kahuku 14, Waianae 7
