Roosevelt, the East No. 5 seed, fell to 2-7, 2-5.

Na Ali'i, the West No. 4 seed, allowed an average of 157.2 yards per game during the regular season.

Led by senior defensive back CJ Tausaga, who had two interceptions, 'Aiea held Roosevelt to 178 total yards and forced three turnovers.

"After the coin flip, when we saw we were going to defend first, we thought 'What a way to start the game,' " Tausaga said. "We're ranked No. 1 (in defense) and we wanted to prove it."

'Aiea scored in the first quarter, a five-yard strike from Kali Kuia to slot back Ian Dela Cuesta at 7:58, after receiving excellent field position from its special team.

Senior linebacker RJ Kiesel-Kauhane blocked a Roosevelt punt and Na Ali'i recovered the ball on the 11-yard line to set up the score.

"RJ has always done good for us," 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "We kind of expected to do it (block a punt) more."

Na Ali'i scored again in the second quarter when Tausaga returned an interception for a 37-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 with 3:12 left in the half.

"Who wouldn't dream of it? It's the playoffs," Tausaga said.

'Aiea's final score came on a safety when Roosevelt's Rudy Artuyo was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, giving Na Ali'i a 16-0 lead with about eight minutes left in the third.

"Sixteen points is not a comfortable lead," Say said, calling Roosevelt a "quick-scoring offense."

Artuyo, who was the top passing quarterback in the Red East with 1,115 yards in the regular season, finished with 150 yards.

"He felt the pressure," Roosevelt coach Lester Parrilla said. "As far as the reads go, they were sitting back on us."

Roosevelt's best play of the game might have been a fake punt attempt with about five minutes left in the game, when La'akea Moikeha completed a 25-yard pass to Alex Seguritan, but the play was called back because of an ineligible receiver downfield penalty, and Roosevelt had to punt on the ensuing play.

Roosevelt (2-7, 2-5) 0 0 0 0— 0

'Aiea (5-4, 4-3) 7 7 2 0—16

'Aiea—Ian Dela Cuesta 5 pass from Kali Kuia (Kurt Nishi kick)

'Aiea—CJ Tausaga 37 interception return (Nishi kick)

'Aiea—Safety, intentional grounding in the end zone

RUSHING—Roosevelt: Rudy Artuyo 11-28, Makaea Salis 5-0. 'Aiea: Donny Mapusaga 21-100, Tausaga 4-17, Kuia 5-(minus 15), Aleni Loa 3-19.

PASSING—Roosevelt: Artuyo 16-36-2—150. 'Aiea: Kuia 12-20-1—74.

RECEIVING—Roosevelt: Tui Richter 7-54, Kory Wong 1-1, Cory Takata 2-28, La'akea Moikeha 1-16, Salis 1-(minus 5), David Rivers 1-21, Dennis Terry 1-8, Keenan Loo 1-10, Del Onaga 1-17. 'Aiea: Lahaina Olsen-Kuroda 3-16, Dela Cuesta 4-28, Teavaiki Vaa 2-9, Mapusaga 2-15, Terrance Blakemore 1-6.