Posted on: Sunday, November 2, 2003
'Aiea, Kapolei reach OIA D-II final
| • | Saint Louis captures ILH crown again |
| • | 18th straight ILH crown is just as 'special' |
| • | Kalani, Moanalua advance to OIA girls title game |
| • | Photo gallery: OIA football |
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
'Aiea's defense played near flawless football after an opening stumble, and its offense broke loose for a late game-breaking play in a 21-7 victory over visiting Radford last night.
Na Ali'i allowed only 118 total yards and forced four turnovers in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Division II semifinal.
'Aiea (7-2) will play Kapolei, a 41-6 winner over Kalaheo, next weekend for the OIA Division II championship. Both finalists will play in the Division II State Tournament.
"The defense has been playing excellent for us," 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "They say defense wins championships and I think we have a championship defense."
The game was tied at 7 early in the fourth quarter when 'Aiea scored on a 79-yard pass from Kali Kuia to Alden DeMello down the left sideline with 7:01 left.
DeMello got behind the Rams' defense, caught the ball near midfield and sprinted into the end zone.
The pass was "on the money," DeMello said.
Up to that point, Na Ali'i had completed mostly short passes out of its run-and-shoot offense.
Kuia, one of four sophomores on 'Aiea's roster, completed 9 of 13 passes for 139 yards.
Radford's opening drive lasted nine plays, covered 65 yards and culminated with Chris Vitoritt's 1-yard wide receiver sweep to the left side with 7:54 left in the first quarter.
'Aiea responded on the next possession with a 10-play, 60-yard drive with Raymond Tauala scoring on a 10-yard draw play with 3:30 remaining in the quarter.
Radford (5-4) rushed 27 times for 28 yards and quarterbacks Stephen Baughn and Dennis Medina were sacked three times.
Baughn and Medina were a combined 12 of 24, but averaged only 7.5 yards per completion.
"We just weren't executing and doing the little things that we needed to do to move the ball," Radford coach Fred Salanoa said. "We overthrow, we underthrow, we throw interceptions, guys not catching the ball, guys not making key blocks."
Even when Radford did something right, things went wrong.
Medina, playing defensive back, intercepted a pass from Kuia over the middle late in the first quarter in 'Aiea territory, but Na Ali'i slotback Ben Ah Mook Sang ripped the ball away from him and gave possession back to 'Aiea.
Radford lost all hope of a comeback late in the fourth quarter when Sunny Belcher fumbled after a short reception and 'Aiea's Rocky Savaiigaea recovered the ball at the Radford 6.
Two plays later, Donny Mapusaga scored on a 1-yard run to put 'Aiea up by 14 with 3:34 remaining.
Rad—Chris Vitoritt 1 run (Eric Venglar kick)
RUSHING—Radford: Stephen Baughn 6-(minus 4), Aaron Perry 6-12, Roderick Price 8-8, James Armstrong 4-19, Dennis Medina 2-(minus 8), Vitoritt 1-1. 'Aiea: Tauala 13-18, Kuia 3-(minus 9), Mapusaga 6-24, Ben Ah Mook Sang 3-35.
PASSING—Radford: Baughn 7-10-1—56, Medina 5-14-1—34. 'Aiea: Kuia 9-13-1—139. RECEIVING—Radford: Venglar 2-15, Raymond Burciaga 1-37, Armstrong 1-5, Vitoritt 2-11, Sunny Belcher 5-26, Bruce Starks 1-(minus 4). 'Aiea: DeMello 4-93, Tauala 1-18, Jabez Armodia 1-11, Ah Mook Sang 2-11, Jonathan Burgos 1-6. • KAPOLEI 41, KALAHEO 6: All three of Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada's carries — of 12, 38, and 50 yards — led to touchdowns as he helped lead the Hurricanes into the finals of the OIA Division II Championship Tournament.
Kapolei's Kainoa Enhada and Bronson Pieper each had two interceptions, and Kalaheo gained just 146 total yards.
Kapo—Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada 12 run (Kerisiano Tuaniga kick)
RUSHING—Kalaheo: Jacobe Akiu 12-89, Neufeldt 15-1, John Reis 2-(minus 6), Gabe Padilla 1-2. Kapolei: Dela Rama 7-56, Brown 2-36, Medeiros 2-(minus 8), Kaheaku-Enhada 3-100, Lokahi Olayan 1-11, Brandon Hayashi 2-0, Raquedan 2-51, Chaves Gamboa 1-2, Brad Padayao 1-(minus 1), Justin Sarcey 1-(minus 3), Team 1-(minus 13).
PASSING—Kalaheo: Neufeldt 6-22-4—60, Padilla 0-1-1—0. Kapolei: Medeiros 7-17-2—135, Kaheaku-Enhadda 1-1-0—11. RECEIVING—Kalaheo: Neil Bowers 1-8, Shawn Forges 2-20, Akiu 1-30, Reis 1-10, Sean Tobera 1-(minus 8). Kapolei: Pieper 2-49, Kaheaku-Enhada 2-32, Charles Recamara 1-20, Dela Rama 1-18, Keanui Carmack 1-9, Brown 1-18.
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.
"The deep ball is actually part of our game package," Say said. "But scouting Radford, they defended it well with their safeties. The opportunity came up and they were taking away our short stuff so we tried to send Alden deep, and it was the right call at the right time."
OIA playoffs
Division I
Quarterfinal results
Game 1: at Kahuku 41, Wai'anae 8
Game 2: at Kailua 42, Nanakuli 6
Game 3: at Mililani 13, McKinley 12, OT
Game 4: Farrington 21, at Pearl City 7
SEMIFINALS
(All four teams qualify for Division I state berths)
Friday's results
Kahuku 42, Farrington 18
Kailua 20, Mililani 12
FINALS
Friday at Aloha Stadium
Third place
Farrington (6-3-1) vs. Mililani (9-1), 5 p.m.
Championship
Kahuku (10-0) vs. Kailua (8-1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Division II
Yesterday's games
Semifinals
'Aiea 21, Radford 6
Kapolei 41, Kalaheo 6
Championship
Nov. 14 at Mililani
(both earn Division II state berths)
'Aiea—Raymond Tauala 10 run (Brandon Puckett kick)
'Aiea—Alden DeMello 79 pass from Kali Kuia (Puckett kick)
'Aiea—Donny Mapusaga 1 run (Puckett kick)
Kapo—Gilbert Brown 39 run (kick failed)
Kapo—Kaheaku-Enhada 38 run (kick failed)
Kapo—Kaheaku-Enhada 50 run (Brandon Pieper pass from Jon Medeiros)
Kapo—John Dela Rama 8 run (Tuaniga kick)
Kapo—Radford Raquedan 30 run (Tuaniga kick)
Kalah—Jared Neufeldt 5 run (run failed)
