No. 11 Waipahu cash in on opportunities to beat Kailua, 29-14

KAILUA — The Waipahu football team’s first victory of the season was the epitome of a team win.

The 11th-ranked Marauders took advantage of their opportunities against Kailua to pull away for a 29-14 win Saturday afternoon in a non-league contest at Alex Kane Field.

Even with starting running back Faafetai Failauga having to leave the game during the team’s second series with a potential fractured wrist, Waipahu played complimentary football to secure the victory.

It started on first possession of the game with Kailua driving halfway across the field with a run-first approach. Miscommunication on a handoff ultimately ended the drive as Kaimana Sione recovered the loose ball for the Marauders’ first of three takeaways.

Waipahu was then able to recycle the turnover into a 3-yard touchdown run by Kealii Sione to give the Marauders a 7-0 lead at the 4:03 mark of the first quarter.

Kealii Sione carries the ball in the red zone against Kailua in the second half. | Michael Lasquero

The Surfriders struck back with Caysen Samson’s 5-yard TD run early in the second quarter and even took the lead on the 2-point conversion try with Isaiah Keaunui-Demello keeping the ball on an option play.

The visitors would retake the lead midway through the period on Tristan Pacheco’s 8-yard TD run. Pacheco, who took the bulk of the carries with Failauga sidelined, rushed 19 times for 61 yards and even caught two passes for 25 yards.

Waipahu would add another score just before the end of the half after a Kailua turnover-on-downs. The Marauders needed just two plays and eight seconds to drive 65 yards into the end zone, cashing in on David Vidinha’s 42-yard pass to Jayvren Pinera.

The Surfriders would hold Waipahu without any points on the opening drive of the second half, but Kealii Sione came up big with a forced fumble and recovery. This led to another scoring connection between Vidinha and Pinera, this time from 37 yards out.

Kailua would close out the scoring in the third quarter on Keaunui-Demello’s 23-yard TD pass to Aizek Kaanoi.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL LASQUERO