Running back Chris Lave rushed for two touchdowns and 50 yards as the Seariders snapped a three-game losing streak — all shutouts dating to last year's playoffs — to even their record in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division at 1-1 (1-2 overall).

The Golden Hawks (1-1, 2-1 overall), promoted to the Red West for the first time after winning the White title last year, had the wind sucked from their sails after winning their first two games of the season.

"This was very important because during preseason and our regular-season game (last week against Kahuku), we didn't show anything that we (had the potential) to do," Lave said. "We had to prove to everybody that we could still go."

Although the Golden Hawks are natural rivals as the teams share the Leeward Coast, Lave said that had nothing to do with his team playing better.

"This is how we're supposed to play every single game," he said.

For the Seariders, all it took to snap the losing streak was a little more enthusiasm.

"I just asked them to be a little more quicker in responses, hustling a little bit more on the field," Wai'anae coach Dan Matsumoto said.

But at the outset, it appeared the Seariders were going to be in for a long night. Nanakuli scored on its second play of the game on 56-yard option keeper to the left by quarterback Albert Distajo. Alex Maiava ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 8-0 just 44 seconds into the game.

But turnovers took the momentum from Nanakuli. An interception by Seariders defensive back Ryan DeSoto gave Wai'anae the ball at its 20. Following a 77-yard pass on first down from quarterback Uilau Faliuga to James Robinson, the Seariders scored two plays later on a three-yard run by Jared Laa. The 2-point try failed, so the Golden Hawks still led, 8-6 with 6:21 in the first quarter.

On Nanakuli's ensuing series, it was forced to punt from it's 42. When punter Dommic Gomes fielded the ball, his knee touched the ground at the 29 for a 12-yard loss. Although the Seariders failed to capitalize on that series, a 26-yard fumble return by Oha Savini on Nanakuli's next possession gave Wai'anae the ball at the 4. Two plays later, Faliuga scored from the 1 to give Wai'anae a lead it would not relinquish at 14-8.

In all, the Golden Hawks lost three fumbles and were intercepted twice.

"We got lucky with the turnovers," Matsumoto said. "That was a big deal."

Added Nanakuli coach Al Beaver: "We had one mistake after another. The big one was when our punter went on his knee. That really deflated us. It was hard to recover (from that.). But you can't take anything away from Wai'anae. They were prepared. Their players came to play and their coaches out-coached us. Period. Simple."

Beaver had a long lecture with his players after the game.

"I told them the truth," he said. "It's a reality gut check. We have to evaluate where each of our players are and they have to evaluate themselves, if they want to play this game at the Red level mentality. Right now, we're still flapping our lips and not performing."

Beaver said Wai'anae's defense secured the inside on runs to stall the Golden Hawks' option game.

"We just couldn't adjust," Beaver said.

The Seariders got another score from Lave on a 12-yard run in the second quarter to give the Seariders a 20-8 half-time lead.

Lave got his second TD on a four-yard run in the third quarter to make it 26-8. Dillon Guzman's 16-yard TD reception from Faliuga make it 32-8 before Baker's interception return capped the Seariders' scoring.

NANAKULI (1-1, 2-1) 8 0 0 0 — 8
WAI'ANAE (1-1), 1-2) 6 14 6 13 — 39

Nanakuli—Albert Distajo 56 run (Alex Maiava run)
Waianae—Jared Laa 2 run (pass failed)
Waianae—Uilau Faliuga 1 run (Faliuga run)
Waianae—Chris Lave 12 run (kick blocked)
Waianae—Lave 4 run (run failed)
Waianae —Dillon Guzman 16 pass Faliuga (kick blocked)
Waianae—Bryson Baker 33 interception return (Faliuga kick)

RUSHING—Nanakuli: Distajo 7-78, Kyle Beck 8-4, Maiava 3-13, Jaycee Alapai7-(minus 32), Dommic Gomes 1-(minus 12), Keikikalani Kolii 5-17, Team 1-(minus 1). Wai'anae: Faliuga 9-4, Maka Tanele 15-38, Lave 13-50, Peter Carba 2-5, Laa 4-13, Tafilele Pauulu 4-19, Kala Honda 1-0. Team 3-(minus 5).

PASSING—Nanakuli: Distajo 0-3-2—0, Alapai 2-9-0—56. Wai'anae: Faliuga 9-17-0–162.

RECEIVING—Nanakuli: Jimmy Afamasaga 1-26, Beck 1-30. Wai'anae: James Robinson , Dillon Guzman 3-31, Tanele1-6.

JV: Wai'anae 34, Nanakuli 14