The Mike Fanoga era opened with a splash.
And a boom. The Waianae Seariders rushed for 220 yards and passed for 216 more in a 35-20 upset of No. 7 Waipahu on Friday night at Raymond Torii Field. It was the season opener for both teams, a nonconference matchup between Open Division Waianae and Division I Waipahu, and a rematch of last year’s tilt, won by Waipahu.
“I wanted to come out here and try to make something happen, bring the fans back in the game, bring them back into the stands,” said Fanoga, who credited offensive coordinator Michael Ulufale. “He did a great job calling the plays. I feel at ease with our staff.”
Fanoga’s debut as Seariders head coach began with lots of aerial fireworks. Quarterback Sheldon McLeod, a senior transfer, was nimble and mostly wise with his choices. He passed for 212 yards, including 171 in the first half. Running back Kolu Quisquirin-Sabagala was a monster in the second half and finished with 150 yards on 14 carries.
Waipahu got a mammoth effort from running back Alfred Failauga, who finished with 234 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Waipahu nearly overcame a 21-point deficit despite missing eight defensive starters due to academic probation.
“We came up empty two or three times inside the 20. We turned it over with bad decisions. We’ve got a lot to build off of. I’m proud of our guys for fighting through adversity,” Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho said. “Waianae is much improved. They’re always very physical, and when you add discipline, they’ll have good things happen here.”
The first half was a tidal wave by Waianae, which jumped to a three-touchdown lead in the first quarter. Then Waipahu swamped the Seariders in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 21-14 before halftime.
Quisquirin-Sabagala scored on a 2-yard end-around to the left, capping an eight-play, 61-yard drive, and the Seariders led 6-0 with 7:36 to go in the opening quarter
After a Waipahu three-and-out, McLeod launched a bomb to Kaai Tambaoan-Kaeo for a 75-yard touchdown. Fanoga had his offense throw the ball on first down on Waianae’s first two series.
After forcing another Waipahu punt, the Seariders got a 29-yard return by Saege Ayala to the Waipahu 41. A personal foul on Waipahu helped Waianae, which scored on a 23-yard TD pass from McLeod to Ayala on a jump-ball pass down the right sideline. That gave Waianae a 21-0 lead with 2:27 left in the first quarter.
Waipahu’s hurry-up offense got into a groove with a seven-play, 72-yard march. Cody Marques operated a perfect option pitch to Failauga, and the accomplished ballcarrier shredded tacklers along the left sideline for a 46-yard TD. The visitors were finally on the scoreboard with 11:50 to go in the second quarter.
Waianae’s defense seized momentum from the Waipahu offense with four sacks in the half, but two muffed punt returns, recovered by the Seariders, cost the Marauders opportunities. Waianae used different punters on each occasion.
Despite the special teams miscues, Waipahu’s defense stepped up. Diesel Tuinei intercepted a McLeod pass at the Waipahu 18-yard line. The Marauders remained in their four-wide hurry-up and then switched to their elephant formation on third and short. Failauga gained 8 yards to the Waianae 32. They stayed in smashmouth mode, going 16 yards with Failauga up the middle, and then Marques kept around left end for a 16-yard TD run to bring the Marauders within 21-14 with 4:16 remaining in the first half.
By halftime, Waianae had nine penalties for 78 yards.
“We talked at halftime. We have to stay calm as coaches for our kids to stay calm, too,” Fanoga said.
—
Waianae 35, No. 7 Waipahu 20
At Raymond Torii Field
>> Waipahu 0 14 6 0— 20
>> Waianae 21 0 7 7 — 35
Waianae —Kolu Quisquirin-Sabagala 2 run (kick blocked)
Waianae — Kaai Tambaoan-Kaeo 75 pass from Sheldon McLeod (Saege Ayala run)
Waianae — Ayala 23 pass from McLeod (Joshua Centino-Cid kick)
Waipahu — Alfred Failauga 46 run (Brycen Amorozo kick)
Waipahu — Cody Marques 16 run (Amorozo kick)
Waipahu — Failauga 1 run (kick blocked)
Waianae — Ayala 46 run (Centino-Cid kick)
Waianae — Delson Cordeiro 22 pass from McLeod (Centino-Cid kick)
RUSHING — Waipahu: Failauga 24-234, Marques 9-20, team 1-(-33). Waianae: McLeod 16-21, Quisquirin-Sabagala 14-150, Ayala 4-51, Tambaoan-Kaeo 1-2, team 1-(-4).
PASSING — Waipahu: Marques 12-22-1-134. Waianae: McLeod 10-19-2-212, Shaydon Lopes 1-1-0-4.
RECEIVING — Waipahu: Failauga 1-20, Solofa Setu 4-19, Branden Tsuchiyama 2-35, Jeff Badua 2-41, Justin Reyes 1-9, Aston Contado 2-21. Waianae: La‘akea Lapastora 2-47, Ayala 2-20, Cordeiro 5-78, Tambaoan-Kaeo 2-71.
