[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
McKinley's Isaiah Iaea scored a touchdown on this 70-yard pass play against Waipahu last night.
McKinley dominated by land and by air to cruise to a 27-7 victory over Waipahu in the first round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association football playoffs last night at Aloha Stadium. Balanced McKinley
beats Waipahu 27-7
By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comMcKinley quarterback Abel Werner passed for 308 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a quarterfinal matchup with OIA West Red Conference champion Waianae next week.
"I told the guys during the week that we want to be on the side that's proud to have won," Werner said, "because it's win or die in the playoffs and I knew Waipahu wasn't going to roll over for us."
McKinley improved to 5-3 in the OIA and 6-3 overall with the win.
Tiger receiver Isaiah Iaea caught four passes for 146 yards and a touchdown, while slotback Joshua Bumanglag grabbed eight passes for 108 yards and a score.
Running back Michael Vasconcellos provided balance for the McKinley offense with 105 rushing yards.
Werner started slow, but heated up in the second half, completing 11 of 15 throws for 155 yards.
"I thought Abel did a good job making good decisions and check-offs that resulted in touchdowns," McKinley coach David Tanuvasa said.
On the other side of the ball, a McKinley defense that finished last in the OIA East Red Conference against the rush held Waipahu to 48 yards on the ground and 194 in total offense.
"It was a tough loss because I thought we had a team that could go far," Waipahu coach Sean Saturnio said. "We had trouble moving the ball, McKinley played us well. We had some sustained drives, but couldn't punch it in."
Waipahu, the fifth seed from the OIA West Red, closed its season at 3-5 in the OIA and 4-5 overall.
McKinley used big plays in the passing game to open a 21-7 lead at halftime.
McKinley's first drive was extended by an illegal substitution penalty on Waipahu on fourth down and four, and the Tigers capitalized as Werner hit Iaea on the fly pattern down the right side for a 40-yard gain.
On the Tigers' next play, Werner flipped the ball to Bumanglag, who weaved through the Waipahu defense to the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown.
McKinley extended its lead to 14 late in the first quarter when Werner hit Iaea on a slant and the senior receiver sprinted away from the Marauder defense for a 70-yard score.
"Abel saw there was no free safety, he recognized that and knew to go to (Iaea)," Tanuvasa said.
At Aloha Stadium
Waipahu (3-5, 4-5) 0 7 0 0 -- 7 McKinley (5-3, 6-3) 14 7 3 3 -- 27 McK -- Joshua Bumanglag 19 pass from Abel Werner (John Mai kick)
McK -- Isaiah Iaea 70 pass from Werner (Mai kick)
Waip -- Todd Dickerson 32 pass from Val Ventura (Howard Howell kick)
McK -- Michael Vasconcellos 15 run (Mai kick)
McK -- FG Mai 34
McK -- FG Mai 40RUSHING -- Waipahu: Andrew Hale 11-17, Ventura 8-8, Dickerson 3-12, Travis Atualevao 1-(-1), Austen Benito 3-12. McKinley: Vasconcellos 17-105, Werner 7-18, Iaea 1-8, Quinton Sayers 2-1.
PASSING -- Waipahu: Ventura 7-8-0-69, Benito 10-18-0-77, Atualevao 0-1-0-0, Sandy Bishop 0-1-0-0. McKinley: Werner 17-30-0-308.
RECEIVING -- Waipahu: Dickerson 5-76, Hale 3-12, Braddon Varde 3-26, Atualevao 6-32. McKinley: Iaea 4-146, Bumanglag 8-108, Iama Lauvao 1-28, Iakopo Taumua 2-13, Vasconcellos 1-16, Sayers 1-(-3).
Att: 3,007
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