OIA Red West FOOTBALL: Waipahu races past 'Aiea, 28-7

 

Photo courtesy Andrew Lee

By Wes Nakama
HHSAA

'AIEA -- Waipahu used a balanced attack (209 yards passing, 188 rushing) and hard-hitting defense Friday night to defeat 'Aiea, 28-7, in O'ahu Interscholastic Association football action.

The Marauders improved to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the OIA Red Conference Western Division. Na Ali'i fell to 3-2, 1-2.

Using a two-quarterback system by alternating between Kaimi Paredes and Kai Mercado-Aiona on every play, Waipahu's offense kicked into gear late in the first quarter after going three-and-out on its first two possessions.

Wesley Nagaseu, a ball-hawking and physical linebacker, came in to play fullback and capped a 10-play, 45-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge on the final play of the first quarter. Jayson Gonzalves' extra point made it 7-0.

After 'Aiea went three-and-out on the ensuing series, Mercado-Aiona found Dylan Pakau on a pass down the right sideline and Pakau raced in for a 76-yard TD. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed the PAT attempt back to the 25-yad line, and it failed.

The Marauders later made it 21-0 after an 11-play, 80-yard drive culminating in a 1-yard run by Mercado-Aiona and followed by Nagaseu's two-point conversion run with 1:35 remaining in the half.

Waipahu extended the lead to 28-0 late in the third quarter after Mercado-Aiona's 24-yard touchdown pass to Pakau, who finished with four catches for 162 yards and two TDs.

Na Ali'i did not get on the scoreboard until 1:19 left in the game, on Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti's 6-yard touchdown pass to Kamakana Apelu.

Mercado-Aiona finished with five completions in eight attempts for 170 yards, and Paredes ended up with 80 yards rushing on 15 carries.

 
WAIPAHU (2-4, 2-2) 7 14 7 0 -- 28
'AIEA (3-2, 1-2) 0 0 0 7 -- 7

Wai -- Wesley Nagaseu 1 run (Jayson Gonzalves kick)
Wai -- Dylan Pakau 76 pass from Kai Mercado-Aiona (kick failed)
Wai -- Mercado-Aion 1 run (Nagaseu run)
Wai -- Pakau 24 pass from Mercado-Aiona (Gonzalves kick)
'Aiea -- Kamakana Apelu 6 pass from Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti (Jae Won Huh kick)

RUSHING -- Waipahu: James Nunuha 5-0, Mercado-Aiona 7-9, Kaimi Paredes 15-80, Matapua Tulafale 8-30, Isaiah Alama 9-40, Nagaseu 5-25, Terrance Lauti 2-4. 'Aiea: Apelu 1-(minus-4), I. Hernandez-Fonoti 4-(minus-18), Mana Ka'ahanui 9-42, Jalen Medeiros 1-(minus-10), Samate Talia 3-12.

PASSING -- Waipahu: Mercado-Aiona 5-8-0--170, Paredes 2-3-0--39, Pakau 0-1-0--0. 'Aiea: I. Hernandez-Fonoti 13-21-0--113, Ka'ahanui 0-1-1--0, Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti 2-7-1--33.

RECEIVING -- Waipahu: Pakau 4-162, Mataio Fualema 2-33, Nunuha 1-14. 'Aiea: Jarrel Chaviera 4-57, Apelu 3-15, Jantzen Shinmoto 2-24, Kalei Li'ili'i 3-37, Ka'ahanui 1-(minus-1), Talia 2-14.