Aiea stays unbeaten with convincing 32-7 league win over Nanakuli

RADFORD — League play is finally off and rolling. 

Aiea (3-0) continued a strong start to the year into the first OIA Division I matchup of the season on Friday night, taking down Nanakuli (1-4) at Radford High School, 32-7. Aiea wide receiver Ezra Kila Spencer powered Na Ali’i to the win with a trio of touchdowns catches in the 2nd quarter, putting the hosts in the driver’s seat heading into the second half and beyond. 

Both teams started slowly offensively, seeing a scoreless opening quarter fly by as the teams traded possession changes. Aiea would finally start the scoring with just under five minutes left in the 2nd quarter after a roughing the passer penalty on Nanakuli set up Na Ali’i at the Golden Hawks’ 33-yard line and Hiki Kim Choy Ken Ahlo connected with Spencer on a trick play for a 33-yard score. 

Things got even worse for Nanakuli after the play as two-way player AJ Letua was assessed a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and disqualified for the remainder of the game with 4:33 left in the opening half. 

After the PAT was blocked, Aiea recovered the ensuing kickoff and capitalized on the growing momentum a few plays later as a wide-open Spencer brought in his second touchdown of the night on a 15-yard pass from starting QB Elijah Mendoza, pushing Na Ali’i’s lead to 13-0 with three minutes left in the 2nd quarter. 

Things quickly continued to unravel for Nanakuli as Aiea forced a fast punt by the Golden Hawks, allowing one more possession for Na Ali’i before the end of the half. Again, Spencer hauled in another Mendoza pass, broke loose and dashed 45 yards for his third TD in the quarter and made it a commanding 19-0 lead. 

Nanakuli would not leave the opening half without any points after Tamalii Namulauti-Auau ripped off a massive kick return to set up the Golden Hawks with great field position with under a minute left in the half. Nanakuli QB Kingston Salausa finished the drive and the 2nd quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run to provide some life for his team heading into the locker room trailing 19-7.  

Unfortunately for Nanakuli, Aiea would snatch the momentum right back to begin the 3rd quarter as Na Ali’i recovered the opening kickoff of the half. Nanakuli’s defense settled things down, forcing a turnover-on-downs at the Hawks’ own 3-yard line to keep the deficit at 12. 

Nanakuli, with help of three personal foul penalties on Aiea, drove down the field with hopes to flip the scales back towards their favor before a trick play was intercepted by Na Ali’i’s Mariano Sison to end a 10-minute drive into Aiea territory. 

While Na Ali’i starting quarterback Elijah Mendoza left on the drive hurt, Aiea did not skip a beat as running back Jhermie Cacpal hauled in a 7-yard TD on a pass from Kim Choy Keb Alho right after injury to go up, 26-7, with eight minutes left to play. 

Cacpal added a 42-yard TD run less than two minutes later to put the cherry on top of the win, posting 135 yards of total offense (42 rush, 93 receiving) in the contest for Aiea. 

Nanakuli’s Kingston Salausa finished the night going 12-for-16 passing for 63 yards, adding another 32 yards and the lone Golden Hawks’ touchdown with his legs. Malosi Muaau led Nanakuli with 33 yards across four catches. 

Aiea QB Elijah Mendoza completed 24-of-34 of his passes for 287 yards, tossing a pair of touchdowns and an interception in the win. Ezra Kila Spencer tallied 133 yards receiving to go along with his three 2nd-quarter scores on his way to HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, presented by Timmy T’s Sandwich Shop. 

Nanakuli will hit the road next week, visiting Pearl City for a Friday clash of teams looking for their first OIA Division I win of the season. Aiea will travel to Leilehua next Saturday for a matchup of some of the top teams in the league.