Every small step counts in the hot OIA Red West football race, where all seven teams are considered contenders.

Waianae took one small step toward the top of the standings Friday night by defeating Aiea 35-20 in a rare run-oriented smash-fest.

“That’s always our game plan; run the ball as much as possible,” Seariders coach Danny Matsmoto said.
Two huge defensive plays led to two of the three first-half touchdowns for the Seariders (3-2, 4-3), who went into the break with a 21-7 advantage.

The Waianae lead ballooned to 35-7 before a spirited Aiea comeback came up short in the final 2 minutes.

“Too little, too late,” said Aiea coach Wendell Say, who added that about five of his key defensive players who suited up for Na Alii’s upset over Leilehua three weeks ago are out with injuries. “We have to believe and start and finish strong. It’s a matter of confidence.”

It didn’t take long for Waianae to strike. On the game’s second play from scrimmage, Seariders linebacker Brandon Johnston intercepted Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti’s pass and ran it back 10 yards into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

Na Alii (1-3, 3-3) took a while to get going offensively. Their first six drives ended with four punts, an interception and a fumble.

A short Aiea punt led to Waianae’s next score. This time, Jemery Willes’ 14-yard run led to Pookela Nakamoto’s 17-yard catch on a slant pattern from Kekoa Kaluhiokalani to make it 14-0.

Kennedy Tulimasealii, a monster all night for the Seariders, started his storm of destruction to help Waianae go up 21-0. Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti, the third quarterback used by Aiea and the older brother of the game’s starter, came in for his first snap and it wasn’t fun. Tulimasealii charged in and knocked the ball out of Hernandez-Fonoti’s hands as he was about to throw. The ball dropped to the ground about a second before the quarterback was thrown to the grass by Tulimasealii, who picked up the ball and ran it 26 yards. Four plays later, on fourth and 2 from the 2, Willes took a handoff and skittered into the end zone.

Tulimasealii finished the night with three sacks to go along with that fumble recovery. He also spearheaded the Seariders’ ornery pass rush that kept Na Alii on their heels.

“Tonight, we came out with the mind-set that we were going to have fun, with a good attitude and play as a family and do what we do best and that’s play together,” Tulimasealii said.

“Ohggh,” was the unintelligible sound that came from coach Say’s mouth when asked if Tulimasealii caused problems. “Major, major problems. We always gotta know where he is on the field. And his speed was so deceiving.”

After their slow offensive start, Na Alii finally showed signs of life at the end of the first half when Tama Iosefa recovered a fumble that led to a 42-yard drive. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Waianae, and quarterback Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti’s 13-yard, third-down pass to Jalen Medeiros set the stage for Mana Kaahanui’s 1-yard touchdown run. Albert Chricton, a  6-foot-3, 250-pound offensive lineman, lined up in a full-house backfield and cleared the way for Kaahanui.

Any momentum Aiea gained by halftime disappeared early in the second half, and the Seariders added two touchdowns for a 35-7 lead.

“It’s been a wild year in the Red West,” Matsumoto said. “You never know. Our boys have to always be mentally ready. That’s been our problem (in the losses).”