Amorozo, Failauga help Waipahu rout Nanakuli

The value of experience was on full display for the Waipahu Marauders in their first game of the 2017 season.

Waipahu, like opponent Nanakuli, missed several players due to academic probation. But the Marauders had key players back, most notably quarterback Braden Amorozo and running back Alfred Failauga. Once they got going at the Golden Hawks’ field, there was no stopping them en route to a 51-14 rout on Friday night.

Amorozo tossed two touchdowns and ran for another, while Failauga ran in three scores.

“We felt more experienced as a team,” said Amorozo, who was 17-for-28 for 258 yards and a first-half interception. “We were a little more calm coming in. Another year under our belt.”

They spoiled the coaching debut of Kili Watson, the younger brother of former Nanakuli coach Keala Watson. The older Watson assisted via headset from the press box. Nanakuli lost its 10th straight game going back to 2015.

Waipahu senior Alika Ahsing caught a 44-yard bomb from Amorozo in the second quarter, reclaiming the lead for the Marauders after Nanakuli edged ahead 8-7 on a Chayce Morgan 8-yard strike from Nanakuli sophomore quarterback Nahum Kipi in the first, plus the 2-point conversion on a busted-play effort by Kipi.

Ahsing added a 12-yard runback of a blocked punt to cap the scoring in the fourth. It was five points off the Waipahu scoring record set in 2007 against Kalani.

The result compared favorably to a 20-12 Marauders win at Nanakuli to open 2016.

“It feels really good. Not to compare it to last year, but this is like the most points (this group of guys) has ever scored or put on the board,” Ahsing said.

The biggest question for third-year Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho coming in was his offensive line. But they were able to protect Amorozo and eventually opened up lanes for Failauga. On the other side of the ball, the Marauders got to Kipi eight times for losses.

“I’m proud of the entire team the way they played tonight,” Carvalho said. “They’re talented, but more than that they don’t take it for granted. They put in work after practice, on the weekends. That, I think, showed tonight. All the extra work that they do. They’re not just satisfied with being gifted.”

KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI 35, KALAHEO 28

With three minutes left in the preseason opener, Kainoa Sanchez ran in a 3-yard touchdown to lift the Warriors over the visiting Mustangs.

Sanchez finished with four touchdowns for Kamehameha-Maui, two rushing and two passing. Kalaheo’s Justus Neufeldt rushed for three touchdowns in the loss.