'Aiea beats Lahainaluna, plays Damien for title

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Energized by a second-half pep talk, No. 8 'Aiea rallied to defeat Lahainaluna, 24-14, with a relentless fourth-quarter running attack in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank Division II Football Championships last night.

'Aiea trailed 14-10 in the third quarter before scoring 14 unanswered points in the final quarter at The Kamehameha Schools' Kunuiakea Athletic Stadium.

"Our coaches came out and said if we didn't want it, just pack up our stuff and leave," 'Aiea running back Ben Ah Mook Sang said. "But I guess everybody played with heart, desire and 110 percent effort. We won as a team."

'Aiea will play Damien, a 17-13 winner over Waimea, for the championship Friday at 5 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

'Aiea, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Division II champion, improved to 9-2. Lahainaluna, the Maui Interscholastic League's Division II representative, finished the season at 2-8-1.

"Lahainaluna's record is no indication on how well they play," 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "They really gave us a hard time."

'Aiea regained a 17-14 fourth-quarter lead when Raymond Tauala took a pitch from Ah Mook Sang, who also plays quarterback, and ran for a 5-yard touchdown with with 11:10 left in the game.

'Aiea added a final touchdown on a 3-yard run by Lawrence Leovao for a 24-14 lead with 2:33 remaining.

"We came out and played hard, but they overpowered us in the fourth quarter," Lahainaluna coach Bobby Watson said. "They were bigger than we were, and they just wore us out."

A miscue by Lahainaluna's special teams led to 'Aiea's first touchdown. On fourth-and-11 from its own 35, 'Aiea was forced to punt. The Lahainaluna returner misplayed the ball and 'Aiea's Josh Lau recovered the loose ball at the Lahainaluna 12.

After two runs by Tauala to the Lahainaluna 5, 'Aiea quarterback Kali Kuia hit Ah Mook Sang for a 5-yard touchdown with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, 'Aiea's Brandon Puckett booted a 49-yard field goal to increase the lead to 10-0 with 5:23 left in the half.

The Lunas responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mahi Medeiros to Rylan Ancog with 8 seconds remaining in the half.

Lahainaluna took a 14-10 lead in the third quarter on a three-play, 62-yard drive capped by Medeiros' 19-yard touchdown pass to Ancog with 3:18 left.

" 'Aiea played a great game," Ancog said. "But we gave it our best. The seniors tried their best and we'll come back next year and play again."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458