[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
McKinley quarterback Abel Werner, who passed for 203 yards, picked up some yardage against Kailua last night in a 41-28 loss.
The Oahu Interscholastic Association's football championship trophy will call Windward Oahu home yet another year. Kailua outguns McKinley
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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comKailua running back Nathan Leaver rushed for 121 yards and scored four touchdowns as the Surfriders advanced to the OIA title game with a 41-28 victory over McKinley last night at Aloha Stadium.
The Surfriders, who shared the title with Kahuku last year, will face Castle for the OIA title Friday at Aloha Stadium.
McKinley will meet Farrington for third-place next Saturday at a school site.
Leaver was held to 11 yards in the first half, but exploded for 110 in the second to lead Kailua back to the championship game. As a team, the Surfriders generated 397 yards in total offense, 276 on the ground.
"We wanted to be balanced and, with the offensive line blocking well, we were able to run a lot and get the job done that way," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. "The running game has been getting better and better all year."
Said Leaver: "Any running back can run behind that offensive line."
The Kailua defense gave up 324 yards to McKinley's offense, but came up with four turnovers and seven sacks for 34 yards in losses. Vili Fonokalafi led the Surfrider onslaught with four tackles for losses and three sacks.
McKinley quarterback Abel Werner was under pressure all night but completed 15 of 22 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, before leaving the game with a concussion in the fourth quarter. But his effort wasn't enough for the Tigers to keep up with the Surfriders.
"Not a lot of teams are going to beat them," McKinley coach David Tanuvasa said. "They're simple, but effective."
The teams traded blows in the first half, with Kailua going into the locker room with a 21-14 halftime lead.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kailua's Nathan Leaver brushed McKinley's Tony Mareko aside as he scored last night.
McKinley gave the ball away on its first play from scrimmage as Kailua defensive end Ikaika Naki recovered a Michael Vasconcellos fumble.
Kailua capitalized as quarterback Ranson Kepa converted on fourth-and-seven with a bootleg around the right side for 20 yards to set up Leaver's 3-yard touchdown run.
McKinley responded immediately as Werner completed his first three passes for 61 yards and Vasconcellos scored on a 9-yard run.
Kailua regained the lead early in the second quarter when Leaver capped a 12-play drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.
McKinley tied the game at 14 on its next possession as Werner tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to Iama Lauvao.
Kailua receiver David Kaihenui gave the Surfriders the lead again with a remarkable catch and run for a 50-yard touchdown reception.
Kaihenui took a screen pass over the middle and cut to the left side before veering back to the middle of the field at the 20. He then slipped through the hands of four McKinley defenders at the 18 to break into the clear and into the end zone.
The Surfriders extended their lead to 28-14 on Leaver's 11-yard run at the 7:08 mark of the third quarter.
McKinley threatened later in the quarter moving the ball to the Kailua 9, but Sol Cuban intercepted a Werner pass in the end zone.
The Tigers forced Kailua to punt and closed the gap to 28-21 with a 23-yard strike from Werner to Isaiah Iaea.
But the McKinley celebration was brief as Leaver gave Kailua a comfortable cushion again with his fourth touchdown of the night, a 46-yarder behind the left side of his offensive line.
The Surfriders got the ball back when Fonokalafi hammered Werner, forcing a fumble. Naki recovered and Kailua scored on Bronson Kamaka's 12-yard run to seal the win for the Surfriders.
At Aloha Stadium
McKinley (7-4) 7 7 0 14 -- 28 Kailua (9-1) 7 14 7 13 -- 41 Kai -- Nathan Leaver 3 run (Mike Sakaba kick)
McK -- Michael Vasconcellos 9 run (John Mai kick)
Kai -- Leaver 4 run (Sakaba kick)
McK -- Iama Lauvao 7 pass from Abel Werner (Mai kick)
Kai -- David Kaihenui 50 pass from Ranson Kepa (Sakaba kick)
Kai -- Leaver 11 run (Sakaba kick)
McK -- Isaiah Iaea 23 pass from Werner (Mai kick)
Kai -- Leaver 46 run (kick failed)
Kai -- Bronson Kamaka 12 run (Sakaba kick)
McK -- Michael Vasconcellos 3 run (Mai kick)RUSHING -- McKinley: Vasconcellos 13-73, Werner 13-23, Anapuni Coleman 2-(-2). Kailua: Leaver 19-121, Kamaka 13-93, Ranson Kepa 8-45, Kealii Kalahiki 1-17.
PASSING -- McKinley: Werner 15-22-1-203, Coleman 3-8-0-41. Kailua: Kepa 8-21-2-121, Kalahiki 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING -- McKinley: Lauvao 6-81, Joshua Bumanglag 2-30, Iakopo Taumua 2-16, Vasconcellos 3-16, Iaea 5-101. Kailua: Leaver 1-0, Brad Ching 2-32, Kekoa Sua 2-15, Kalahiki 2-24, Kaihenui 1-50.
Att: 5,519
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