[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
Aiea runs into
D-II title game
Not being able to run when it wanted to, Aiea settled for running when it needed to.
Aiea earned a spot in the state Division II championship game against Damien with a 24-14 win over Lahainaluna last night at Ku Nui Akea Stadium.
Aiea faces Damien for the Division II championship next Friday at Aloha Stadium.
State Division II football
Semifinals -- Yesterday>> Damien 17, Waimea 13
>> Aiea 24, Lahainaluna 14
Championship -- Friday
>> Damien vs. Aiea, at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
"They (Damien) are a tough team and getting better and better," Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "That is going to be quite a task to prepare for them."
Na Alii used 7 minutes, 19 seconds to go 79 yards with a slim three-point lead and extended it to 10 and leave only 2:33 on the clock. They did it with an entirely different team than the one that trotted out into the rain during the first three quarters.
"We were making a lot of mistakes, but we had to keep at it," Say said. "We had to establish the running game and forget about the mistakes. Ben (Ah Mook Sang) did a good job of executing the offense."
Before its final two possessions of the game, Aiea fumbled three times and committed 12 penalties for 120 yards, allowing a Lahainaluna squad that had thrown a pair of interceptions to remain in the game and take a 14-10 lead on Ryan Ancog's second touchdown reception.
The newly disciplined Na Alii drove 65 yards on their second-to-last drive, playing penalty-free football and being rewarded for it when Raymond Tauala raced around the end on an option pitch to give Na Alii a 17-14 lead with 11:10 to play. Aiea ran the ball five times and passed it six times on that drive.
After the defense held the Lunas to their third three-and-out, Aiea put the ball in its pocket.
Unafraid of possible holding penalties and not caring about the three previous fumbles, Say called 15 running plays on a 16-play drive to eat up the clock and win the game. It's not as if the passing attack couldn't be counted on, as Kali Kuia was 9-for-11 in the second half and 18-for-24 for the night.
Say didn't even mask his intentions, putting tailback Ben Ah Mook Sang under center and Kuia in the backfield. It paid off on the final play of the drive, as Lawrence Leovao bulled in from 3 yards out for the winning score. Aiea earned 81 of its 195 rushing yards on that drive.
Lahainaluna had its chances in the final two minutes, but Aiea defensive back David Hann picked off Lahainaluna quarterback Mahi Medeiros -- who finished the game 9-for-19 with three interceptions -- in the second play of the comeback bid. With Aiea's new running game, the rest of the contest was academic.
Na Alii scored on their first possession of the game, answering a Lahainaluna punt with a 10-play, 82-yard drive that ended when Kuia hit Ah Mook Sang with a flare out of the backfield for a 5-yard score. Brandon Puckett tacked on the extra point and both teams settled into a defensive struggle in the first half interrupted only by a 49-yard field goal by Puckett to put Aiea up 10-0 with 5:23 before intermission.
Aiea -- Ben Ah Mook Sang 5 pass from Kali Kuia (Brandon Puckett kick)
Lahainaluna (2-8-1) 0 7 7 0 -- 14 Aiea (9-2) 7 3 0 14 -- 24
Aiea -- Puckett 49 yard field goal
Laha -- Ryan Ancog 20 pass from Mahi Medeiros (Keith Molina kick)
Laha -- Ancog 19 pass from Medeiros (Molina kick)
Aiea -- Raymond Tauala 5 run (Puckett kick)
Aiea -- Lawrence Leovao 3 run (Puckett kick)
RUSHING -- Lahainaluna: Kaniela Tuipulotu 6-30, Paul Maielua 3-7, Mahi Medeiros 5-1, Nahe Akoi 1-0, Nahiku Phillips 2-0, Carson Chihara 1-(minus 2). Aiea: Raymond Tauala 10-70, Ben Ah Mook Sang 11-36, Donny Mapusaga 9-47, Kali Kuia 6-17, Lawrence Leovao 3-12, Alden DeMello 2-9, Ian Dela Cuesta 1-4, Jonathan Burgos 1-0.
PASSING -- Lahainaluna: Medeiros 9-19-133-3, Chihara 1-2-13-0. Aiea: Kuia 18-24-186-0.
RECEIVING -- Lahainaluna: Nahe Akoi 5-82, Patrick Oyama 2-15, Phillips 1-10, Ryan Ancog 2-39. Aiea: DeMello 6-63, Burgos 5-46, Jabez Armodia 2-32, Ah Mook Sang 3-26, Brandon Puckett 2-19.
Damien 17, Waimea 13: Lonomana Mikaele intercepted the potential game-winning touchdown with seven seconds left to play as Damien defeated Waimea to advance into the finals of the HHSAA Division II State Tournament.
Mikaele's interception capped off a strong defensive effort for the Monarchs at Vindinha Stadium. Damien intercepted Waimea quarterback John Palacio three times while Fehi Sevelo had 15 tackles.
Damien's Ranson DeCosta scored the game winner on his 8-yard run with 7:36 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Damien built a 10-0 first-half lead on DeCosta's 1-yard run and Cory Mullen's field goal. Waimea closed to 10-6 by halftime on a 27-yard pass from Palacio to Jordon Dizon.
Waimea led 13-10 on Justin Estes' 8-yard pass from Palacio with 9:21 left in the game.
DeCosta rushed 20 times for 113 yards while Monarchs quarterback Tevita Williams completed seven of 20 passes for 100 yards.
At Vindina Stadium
Dam -- Ranson DeCosta 1 run (Cory Mullen kick)
Damien (5-5) 7 3 0 7 -- 17 Waimea (6-3) 0 6 0 7 -- 13
Dam -- FG Mullen 28
Waim -- Jordon Dizon 27 pass from John Palacio (kick failed)
Waim -- Justin Estes 8 pass from Palacio (Brandon Agan kick)
Dam -- DeCosta 8 run (Mullen kick)
RUSHING -- Damien: DeCosta 20-113, Fehi Sevelo 3-8, Tevita Williams 2-2, Va'a Faualo 8-(-9). Waimea: Rhyan Parbo 3-53, Dizon 17-25, Gary Mata 4-24, Po'okela Chang-Wo 8-16, Thomas Batis 5-10, Palacio 2-8, Bully Emayo 1-2, Estes 1-(-2).
PASSING -- Damien: Williams 7-20-0-100. Waimea: Palacio 4-10-3-53.
RECEIVING -- Damien: Andrew Canoy 4-79, Faualo 2-18, DeCosta 1-3. Waimea: Dizon 2-48, Estes 2-5.
