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Saturday, November 18, 2000

Waianae wins battle
on Maui

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By Dana McBratney
Special to the Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- The Waianae defense had something to prove at War Memorial Stadium last night in the quarterfinals of the 2000 Chevron State Football Championships.

The Seariders stopped the Maui Sabers twice inside the 5-yard line to preserve a 21-0 victory. Waianae advances to the semifinals where the Seariders (12-1) will play top-seeded St. Louis on Friday at Aloha Stadium.

Waianae had allowed more points in the OIA playoffs (45) than it did during the regular season (42). The Seariders came to Maui still stinging from a 32-13 loss to Kahuku last week.

The defense responded by holding a good Maui offense to 177 total yards and recording its fourth shutout of the season.

"This was a gut check for the defense," said Searider coach Danny Matsumoto. "We had our worst defensive game of the year last week. It's good to come back and play this way."

While the Searider defense was stopping Maui, the Waianae offense provided just enough to win the game. After a scoreless first quarter, the Seariders scored twice in a two-minute span to lead 14-0 with 7:59 left before halftime.

Brandon Lopes scored the first Searider touchdown on an 18-yard run. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball was popped in the air and muffed by Maui. Brian Lave recovered the ball for the Seariders and three plays later, Peter Sarono scored on a 25-yard run.

The only other score came in the third quarter when Jonah Nunuha threw a 31-yard scoring pass to Shawn Bebeau.

Lono Manners led the Seariders with 103 yards on 17 carries.

"Our defense played tough most of the night," said Maui coach Curtis Lee. "Offensively, we went up against a real, tough defense. They are quick and strong. We had three opportunities where we could of scored but we just couldn't get it in. If we could of gotten one of them in, it might of changed things."

Maui finishes the season with a 10-1-1 record.

Waianae (12-1)	0	14	7	0--21
Maui (10-1-1)	0	0	0	0--0

Scoring summary

Wai--Brandon Lopes 17 run (Shawn Bebeau kick)
Wai--Peter Sarono 25 run (Bebeau kick)
Wai--Bebeau 31 pass from Jonah Nunuha (Bebeau kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing--Wai: Jonah Nunuha 2-29, Lono Manners 19-112, Peter Sarono 10-39, Brandon Lopes 2-minus 2, Thomas Gualdarama 2-15, Kawena Rosario 1-4, Parris Kawaauhau 1-0. Maui: David Tufaga 9-16, Tualau Malafu 8-29, Saia Lotulelei 4-5, Chad Gerard 10-24.

Passing: Wai: Nunuha 4-6-0-60, Lopes 1-2-0-9. Maui: Tufaga 9-21-2-102.

Receiving: Wai: Sarono 1-5, Graen Enriquez 1-9, Kawika Alana 1-14, Manners 1-10, Shawn Bebeau 1-31. Maui: Justin Cabico 1-9, Malafu 3-20, Cody Loui 2-23, Lotulelei 1-0, Kenneth Carroll 1-39, Travis Abac 1-11.