HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Aiea's Jack Oliveros caught a pass before getting hit by Waianae's Marcus Fonoti last night.
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Naeole fuels Na Alii upset
Though still fighting off the flu, Aiea quarterback Keenan Naeole mustered enough energy to help the Na Alii seniors depart victorious in their final game on their home field.
Naeole passed for 245 yards and three touchdowns as Na Alii knocked off No. 7 Waianae 30-20 last night in an OIA Red West game.
The Aiea defense came up with four turnovers, with three leading to scores, and Na Alii improved to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the OIA Red West.
Waianae twice fumbled inside its 15 -- both recovered by Aiea's Kanekoa Asing -- and lost a muffed punt in falling to 5-2 and 3-2.
Naeole, who practiced just two days this week, connected with receiver Aldodius Colquitt eight times for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and kicker Mason Puckett drilled three field goals for Na Alii.
"We're a strong senior team this year and we wanted it," Naeole said. "I'm glad to walk off the field like that."
The win came a week after a loss at Mililani, the team's only defeat on the field in conference play. Na Alii forfeited a game early in the season as a result of an on-field fight in a game against Campbell.
"It was a great win," Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "After the incident, we had to find ourselves again. We were doing really well until we had to sit out and we had to refind ourselves, get back on the horse again."
Two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury, Waianae's Ben McQuown didn't start at quarterback for the Seariders last night but still ran for two 80-yard touchdowns as a receiver.
But it wasn't enough to overcome the turnovers and Aiea's passing game.
"Aiea played a great game," Waianae coach Daniel Matsumoto said. "They executed well and they took advantage of our turnovers, They followed through, so you have to give them credit."
After Aiea opened with three incomplete passes, McQuown mishandled a punt and Na Alii recovered at the Waianae 28. On the next play, Naeole hit Colquitt down the right side for a touchdown.
But a few seconds later, McQuown capitalized on his shot at redemption. Lined up as a slot receiver, McQuown went in motion to the left, took a handoff from RJ Tacgere-Bailey, turned the corner and outran the Aiea defense 80 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt went wide and Aiea held a 7-6 lead 52 seconds into the game.
Na Alii tacked on a 19-yard field goal by Puckett and took advantage of another Waianae miscue to stretch the lead to 17-6. One play after Asing recovered a fumble at the Searider 12, Naeole found Bryan Echalas in the right corner for a score at the 4:49 mark of the second quarter.
Waianae converted a mishandled punt by Aiea into a 1-yard plunge by BJ Jelf to close to 17-12. But another Waianae fumble led to Naeole's 6-yard pass to Colquitt, and Puckett hit field goals from 28 and 40 yards to seal the win.
Kapolei 21, No. 6 Leilehua 0
Mason Koa accounted for 153 yards in total offense and Lyle Santiago picked off two Leilehua passes to lead the Hurricanes to an upset of the visiting Mules.