Saturday, October 31, 1998

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Waipahu quarterback Nefu Mageo looks for some running
room against Farrington's Lance Samuseva (99) and Ikaika
Solomon (1) during last night's OIA playoff game at Aloha
Stadium. The Governors won and will meet Waianae
in the semifinals.

Govs, Seariders
advance

Farrington defeats Waipahu
to advance to OIA semifinals

By Jerry Campany
Special to the Star-Bulletin

They say that the mark of a good football team is its ability to win even when it doesn't play its best game.

Farrington is a good football team.

The Governors overcame 12 penalties and a couple of turnovers to beat Waipahu, 26-12, in an Oahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinal game last night at Aloha Stadium.

"This was a well-earned team victory," Farrington head coach Skippa Diaz said. "It showed that we could rectify our mistakes often enough to win."

Most of the offensive penalties came in the first half when Governor quarterback Anthony Gerber tried to run the seldom-used no-huddle attack.

"He was nervous but got better as the game went along," Diaz said.

On its first possession, Farrington ran the ball down to the Waipahu 7-yard line on five plays before successive penalties backed the Governors to the 29. But running back Nicholas Tiqui got some of that yardage back on a 14-yard sweep to the 10. Then on a halfback pass, Tiqui hit Mark Baliza on fourth down to give Farrington an early lead.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Waianae's Elai Evaimalo, left, and Castle's Brandon Young,
right, dive for a loose ball during last night's Oahu Interscholastic
Association quarterfinal game at Aloha Stadium.

After the teams traded interceptions, Waipahu scored on a fourth-and-17 from the 23 when Chaz Ramos beat his defender and caught a pass from Nefu Mageo.

Farrington went three and out on its next possession, and after a shanked punt gave Waipahu good field position, Tyson Leslie vaulted into the end zone after grabbing a short flair from Mageo.

But Farrington went into halftime on an up-note when Tiqui scored on an 11-yard reverse for a 14-12 lead with two minutes left.

The Govs started the second half by forcing Waipahu to punt after three plays. After getting the ball back, the Governors ran 10 consecutive times before Kenneth Gasilos outleaped Ramos in the corner of the end zone to snare a Gerber pass.

Ryan Rosa-Lasco recorded the first of his two interceptions on the ensuing possession and fullback Tuaila Onosai bulled in from the 1 for the final score of the game.

"We knew we could run the ball," Diaz said. "We were able to alternate our running backs and the offensive line played great."

Waipahu was in the midst of a comeback when Mageo got hurt and left with four minutes left in the game. Waipahu's hopes went with him.

Waipahu		0	12	0	0--24
Farrington	7	7	12	0--26

Far--Mark Baliza 10 pass from Nicholas Tiqui (Tuaila Onosai kick)
Wai--Chaz Ramos 23 pass from Nefu Mageo (kick failed)
Wai--Tyson Leslie 10 pass from Mageo (pass failed)
Far--Tiqui 11 run (Onosai kick)
Far--Kenneth Gasilos 15 pass from Anthony Gerber (kick failed)
Far--Onosai 1 run (kick failed)

Rushing--Waipahu: Armond Kalani 5-8, Mageo 17-40. Farrington: Tiqui 11-81, Onosai 13-56, Fuavaa Fuamoli 12-90, Mark Paleafea 6-75, Gerber 4-(-19).

Passing--Waipahu: Mageo 8-23-3 for 129 yards, Kalani 3-10-0 for 36 yards. Farrington: Gerber 3-6-1 for 48 yards, Tiqui 1-1-0 for 10 yards.

Receiving--Waipahu: Ramos 4-111, Michael Menor 3-18, Gerald Dorsey 2-13, Leslie 2-23. Farrington: Gasilos 2-36, Baliza 1-10, Kennan Young 1-12.