PEARL CITY — Kailua rallied past Aiea, 21–19, to win the OIA Division I championship Friday night at Pearl City’s Edwin “Bino” Neves Stadium.
After trailing by six entering the fourth quarter, the Surfriders scored twice in four minutes and made two crucial defensive stops to secure the championship win. The Surfrider’s Micah Sua rushed for two touchdowns, and Marquez Mellor added another as Kailua earned its seventh straight win and first league title since 2001.
Aiea’s freshman quarterback Caizel Jesus-Kapesi threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns, including a 68-yard strike that nearly tied the game late. Kailua’s defense, led by senior edge rusher Benjamin Honebein, made key plays in the final minutes to preserve the win. The Surfriders improved to 9–3 and will carry their momentum into next week’s HHSAA Division I State Tournament, where they’ll need to face Aiea once more, this time with each other’s season on the line.
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