OIA RED WEST FOOTBALL
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kapolei quarterback Mason Koa tried to elude Waianae defenders in last night's game.
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Kapolei clinches playoff spot
The Kapolei Hurricanes weren't about to put their playoff hopes in the hands of the other teams in the OIA Red West.
Kapolei's Kalae Parish intercepted a Ben McQuown pass with a minute left to stop Waianae's final drive and the host Hurricanes clinched a berth in the OIA football playoffs by upsetting No. 5 Waianae 17-13 last night.
Mason Koa scored on a 20-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to give the Hurricanes (3-5, 3-3) their first lead of the game at 14-13. Curtis Kiyabu added a 31-yard field goal in the final quarter and the Hurricanes defense had two key interceptions to hand the Seariders (5-3, 5-1) their first league defeat.
"I have been waiting all season for a game like this," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "Its been frustrating at times and we've been able to play a good quarter or a good half, but we never put it all together like we did tonight."
The Hurricanes were held to less than 200 total yards for the game, but didn't turn the ball over and committed very few penalties, which was the difference, as Waianae had three turnovers and many key penalties, including a holding call that wiped out a 42-yard pass from McQuown to Danny Kekoanui with 1:45 left that would have put the Seariders 1 yard away from the lead.
"We've got to realize that the mistakes we have been making all season can hurt us, especially in a game like this," Waianae coach Daniel Matsumoto said.
After a scoreless first quarter, Waianae's Tyson Ranada capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown catch from McQuown to give the Seariders a 7-0 lead.
It seemed that was all the points the Waianae defense would need, holding the Hurricanes to three plays and out on each of their first three drives. But a 47-yard run by Kamuela Foki on the opening play of their next drive helped move the Hurricanes deep into Seariders territory, and Foki capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to tie the game at 7 heading into halftime.
"(The offense) was about to doubt themselves, but I was yelling at them to keep it up and get this," Foki said. "After the play I told them this was the changing point."
"(Foki) plays ironman football for us," Hernandez added. "He plays on both offense and defense and with the run and the interception, really provided a spark."
The Seariders opened the second half with an impressive 61-yard drive that took 16 plays and more than 8 minutes before David Ferreira scored from a yard out to make the game 13-7. But in a flash, the Hurricanes answered right back a minute later as Koa scored on a 20-yard option keeper to put Kapolei in the lead for the first time all night.
Waianae opened the fourth quarter with the ball near midfield, but McQuown was immediately intercepted by Foki. After Kiyabu's field goal pushed the lead to four, Waianae drove 15 plays before Parish's pick iced the game.
"This was all about pride," Parish said. "I caught that ball and all I thought was just run, but make sure you don't fumble the ball."
No. 9 Leilehua 34, Campbell 7
Leilehua quarterback Bryant Moniz completed 18 of his 22 pass attempts for 253 yards and four touchdowns as the Mules destroyed the Sabers.
Moniz also ran in a score, the first of the game, from 8 yards out. Leilehua took a 21-0 lead into the half before Campbell scored.
Mililani 27, Radford 21
Rustin Funakoshi threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns on 14-for-20 passing as the Trojans defeated the Rams. Jordan Torres ran for 74 yards, and Isaiah Lawelawe added 70 for Mililani.
Epa Maika threw for 433 yards for Radford.