After seeing three visiting teams leave Raymond Torii Field victoriously, Waianae protected its home field on Friday to earn its first win of the season.
Seariders linebacker Kanai Mauga led a spirited defensive effort and scored on both sides of the ball as Waianae knocked off No. 7 Campbell 27-14 in an OIA Blue matchup on the west shore.
“It means a lot. We have a lot of motivation now to keep this going,” said Mauga, who finished with 10 tackles.
“My motivation is to play for the joy of it and have fun.”
FOLLOW ALONG
A game of interest not on the radio or TV? Then follow our live blogs on HawaiiPrepWorld.com. Here are the bloggers for today’s games:
>> Kaimuki at ‘Iolani, 3 p.m. — Jason Kaneshiro
>> Kalani vs. McKinley at Roosevelt, 5:30 p.m. — Christian Shimabuku
>> Kapolei at Farrington, 6:30 p.m. — Nick Abamo
>> Mililani at Castle, 6:30 p.m. — Billy Hull
>> Nanakuli at Kailua, 6:30 p.m. — Brian McInnis
* Hawaii high school football scoreboard, Aug. 25
After Waianae was shut out in losses to Kapolei and Kahuku the previous two weeks, the Seariders took the lead on the first of Rico Rosario’s two touchdown runs and went ahead for good on Mauga’s 46-yard fumble return in the second quarter.
“Kanai plays with his team, and for his team,” Waianae coach Walter Young said. “He’s a great leader and comes out and makes plays for us.”
Waianae managed just 2 yards in total offense and didn’t complete a pass in the first half but took a 14-7 lead into halftime on the strength of its defense and special teams.
Skyler Kaleiohi sparked the Seariders with a 67-yard punt return to the Campbell 15 and Rosario capped a six-play drive with a 2-yard plunge.
The Seariders came up with a fourth-down stop at their 27, but an errant pitch back to Rosario was scooped by Campbell linebacker Chanse Hoopili-Tafili for a 6-yard fumble return.
Waianae’s defense reclaimed the lead when Kawika Samenti-Nakoa forced a fumble on a sack. The Seariders recovered initially but lost the ball again. Mauga picked up the loose ball at the 28 and went the distance for a go-ahead touchdown.
The Seariders protected the lead when Dayne Evangelista recovered a fumble on Campbell’s next possession and Mauga stuffed Tafai on fourth-and-goal from the 2 with 28 seconds left in the first half.
“That changed the complexion of the game,” Young said. “Instead of going (into halftime) tied, we go in with the lead and get the ball first (in the second half).”
Rosario broke loose for a 40-yard touchdown run and finished with 95 yards on 18 carries.
Mauga added a 1-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter to give Waianae a 27-7 lead.
Campbell quarterback Krenston Kaipo cut into the deficit with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Etrata-Daite early in the fourth quarter. But Waianae allowed the Sabers no closer and closed out the win to improve to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in OIA play.
Click here to see more photos of the game between Waianae and Campbell.
