By Wes Nakama

MILILANI — In another wild and crazy First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I Football State Championship game reminiscent of last year’s thriller, Waipahu pulled away from Konawaena Saturday night, 53-28.

A vocal crowd of 2,024 at John Kauinana Stadium watched the Marauders outscore the Wildcats 28-7 in the fourth quarter to finish their season at 8-4. Konawaena, which won last year’s meeting, 38-28, ended its season at 11-2.

Saturday night’s rematch was also an exciting back-and-forth show, with a forced fumble by sophomore linebacker Wyatt Oneill early in the fourth quarter finally shifting the momentum into Waipahu’s direction for good.

The Wildcats had struck first, when Keawe Navas-Loa scooped up a fumble and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown, with Nakoa Ige’s extra point making it 7-0 with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter. The Marauders responded immediately, with Eric Stephens returning the ensuing kickoff 75 yards back to paydirt, and Ezekiel Stewart’s PAT tied it at 7-7.

Waipahu then went up, 15-7, a minute into the second quarter after Elijah Mendoza’s 17-yard TD strike to Tai Aipia-Barrett followed by Aipia-Barrett’s two-point conversion pass to Chazen Rodillas-Vesido. Stewart kicked a 19-yard field goal on the last play of the first half to make it 18-7.

Konawaena responded on the first series of the second half, with Navas-Loa scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run followed by Ige’s extra point which cut the lead to 18-14.

The Wildcats then struck again with Keoki Alani’s 55-yard TD pass to Navas-Loa, after Alani scrambled to his right under pressure and threw to Navas-Loa, who caught the ball in stride on a crossing pattern and then darted toward the end zone untouched. Ige’s PAT put Konawaena ahead, 21-18, with 4:24 left in the third quarter.

But the Marauders took the lead back less than four minutes later after Mendoza connected with Jayden Chanel on a 22-yard scoring pass followed by Stewart’s extra point, making it 25-21 with 9:47 still remaining in the game.

The Wildcats looked like they would take the lead back on the ensuing possession, but Oneill forced the fumble inside the 10-yard line and Chanel recovered it in the end zone for a touchback.

Waipahu then pushed the lead to 31-21 and 38-21 after touchdown passes from Mendoza to Stephens (37 yards) and running back Fa’afetai Failauga (7 yards), the second one coming with 5:49 left.

But the Wildcats struck back quickly one last time, with Ali’imalu Tan returning the ensuing kickoff 71 yards back to the house just 12 seconds later, and Ige’s PAT closed it to 38-28.

But the Marauders responded with Failauga’s 32-yard TD scamper, and then sealed the game with Aaron Dumaslan’s 27-yard pick-six in which he jumped the route and sprinted down the right sideline untouched to seal the victory with 3:07 on the clock.

Mendoza finished with 39 completions in 59 attempts for 415 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions. Failauga ended up with 153 yards rushing and one TD on 29 carries.

Stephens had 220 all-purpose yards, including 12 catches for 117 yards and one touchdown,  and Aipia-Barrett grabbed nine receptions for 127 yards and one TD.

Alani finished 21 of 39 for 254 yards and one touchdown, but he was intercepted three times.

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Photos: Lori McKeown + Aiden Manutai

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