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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 17, 2009

Moanalua runs past 'Aiea, 31-14


By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Moanalua secured the top seed for the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White playoffs with a 31-14 win against 'Aiea to finish the regular season unbeaten last night at Moanalua stadium.

Na Menehune (8-1 overall, 8-0 White) will play fourth seeded Kalaheo in one semifinal next week at Moanalua. Second-place Na Ali'i (7-2, 6-2) will play third-seeded Radford in the other semifinal at 'Aiea.

"We did this for the seniors," junior tight end/defensive end Rich Villasenor said. "It's senior night. We care about them."

Moanalua honored the seniors on the team after the game.

Running back Tahje Canyon rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yarder on the second play of the game, and quarterback Adam Francisco rushed for the other two TDs for Moanalua. Matt Blakeley booted a 26-yard field goal to round out the scoring.

Francisco was given a hard hat after the game for being the "hardest worker" of the game, a weekly ritual after each game for Na Menehune.

"I'm ecstatic," said Francisco of getting the hat.

"I'm happy for the kids," Moanalua coach Arnold Martinez said. "This is a very special group. They dedicated themselves by putting a lot of work in the offseason. They just love each other and they play hard together."

'Aiea played without defensive lineman Lawrence Lagafuaina, who injured his ankle in practice during the week, 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. Lagafuaina is a Division I prospect.

"It shouldn't have," Say said about it adversely affecting his team without Lagafuaina. "We have other guys."

As for seeding for the OIA playoffs, Say said it shouldn't matter that much because all of the four teams are competitive.

'Aiea added a late score when Douglas Tautua returned an interception 26 yards for a TD off backup quarterback Kevin Amaral to make it 31-10.

Martinez admitted he was upset by the interception, but said he would apologize to his team.

"I got on them because I told them, 'This is playoff time,' " Martinez said. "I have to apologize to them because these guys are playing hard. I called the pass play in there. It wasn't on the kids. We should've ran it out."

Moanalua wasted little time taking the lead. On its second play from scrimmage after taking the opening kickoff, Canyon went 65 yards just 55 seconds into the game. Blakeley's PAT made it 7-0.

'Aiea tied it later in the first quarter on an 8-yard TD pass from Freddy Taliulu to Bryson Gabriel after Na Ali'i took over at the Moanalua's 26 after a shanked punt.

But Moanalua stormed back early in the second quarter when Francisco faked a dive to Canyon and kept the ball for a 20-yard TD run to make it 14-7 with 10:48 left in the half. Francisco did the same thing later in the quarter, scoring on a 4-yard run to make it 21-7 at the half.

Like his first TD, it came after faking a dive to Canyon, who naturally drew 'Aiea's attention.

"They bit on him a lot," Francisco said of Canyon. "I ran to the weak side, so all I had to do was beat one guy."

After a scoreless third quarter, Canyon scored his second TD of the game to make it 28-7.

In the JV game, freshman Nalea Trujillo kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired on the clock to give lift Moanalua over 'Aiea, 17-14.

'AIEA (7-2, 6-2) 7 0 0 0—14

MOANALUA (8-1, 8-0) 7 14 0 10—31

Moan—Tahje Canyon 65 run (Matt Blakeley kick)

'Aiea—Bryson Gabriel 8 pass from Freddy Taliulu (Nicholas Hiraoka kick)

Moan—Adam Francisco 20 run (Blakeley kick)

Moan—Francisco 4 run (Blakeley kick)

Moan—Canyon 1 run (Blakeley kick)

Moan—FG Blakeley 26

'Aiea—Douglas Tautua 26 interception return (Hiraoka kick)

RUSHING—'Aiea: Taliulu 5-3, Otto-Titan Salausa 11-44, Anae Vaa 2-4, Phillip Madriaga 2-9. Moanalua: Francisco 7-30, Canyon 16-181, Xavier Peterson 4-35, Chasen Hamasaki 1-4, Michael Egami 6-47, Keenan Ragragola 2-5, Tayler Tanaka 4-47, Brady LaFortune 1-5, Team 1-(minus 2).

PASSING—'Aiea: Taliulu 21-33-1—217, Anae Vaa 0-1-0—0. Moanalua: Francisco 4-11-0—45, Kevin Amaral 0-1-1—0.

RECEIVING—'Aiea: Matt Faalele 1-17, Michael Williams 7-92, Kekoa Thompson 5-66, Gabriel 2-18, Phillip Madriaga 4-12, Salausa 2-12. Moanalua: Essaye Villaver 2-28, Rich Villasenor 2-17.

JV: MOANALUA 17, 'AIEA 14

'ANUENUE 61, KALANI 25

Chase Aki carried eight times for 155 yards and scored on runs of 63, 32, 25 and 25 yards, powering Na Koa past the Falcons at Kaiser's field. Ikaika Gante rushed for 185 yards and scored twice for Na Koa.

KALANI (0-9, 0-8) 7  6  12  0—25

'ANUENUE (3-6, 2-6) 20 14  7 20—61

'ANUE—Ikaika Gante 67 run (Kalani Pua'oi kick)

'ANUE—Chase Aki 63 run (Pua'oi kick)

KAL—Angelo Berardy 60 pass from Gavin Okada (Jun Cho kick)

'ANUE—Kanani Armitage 20 run (Pua'oi kick)

KAL—Cho 1 run (Cho kick)

'ANUE—Armitage 20 run (Pua'oi kick)

'ANUEuKekai Fernandez 13 run (Pua'oi kick)

KAL—Berardy 45 pass from Okada (kick failed)

KAL—Chancen Schutter 8 run (run failed)

'ANUE—Gante 23 run (Pua'oi kick)

'ANUE—Aki 32 run (Pua'oi kick)

'ANUE—Aki 25 run (Imaikalani Keama kick)

'ANUE—Aki 25 run (kick failed)

RUSHING — Kalani: Jensen Ames 1-47, Okada 6-(minus 13), Cho 11-60, Schutter 1-8, Nathaniel Lamar 3-35, Kaimi Cabacungan 1-9. 'Anuenue: Aki 8-155, Mahuka Cullen 1-5, Kaipo Cullen 6-49, Fernandez 2-11, Armitage 3-26, Keali'i Mokiao 1-3, Gante 9-185, Pua'oi 3-35.

PASSING — Kalani: Okada 15-33-1–274. 'Anuenue: Fernandez 2-4-0–38.

RECEIVING — Kalani: Berardy 11-241, Schutter 2-18, Cabacugan 1-3, Ames 1-12. 'Anuenue: Fernandez 1-12, Gante 1-26.

Reported by Kaonohi Borden

RADFORD 35, WAIALUA 6

Krix Hughley returned a fumble 81 yards to break a scoreless game in the second quarter and Doug Brown threw TD passes of 3 and 36 yards to Zach Lagier as the host Rams defeated the Bulldogs.

WAIALUA (2-7, 2-6) 0  0 0 6— 6

RADFORD (6-3, 6-2) 0 21 7 7—35


RAD—Krix Hughley 81 fumble return (Cody Spraker kick)

RAD—Zach Lagier 3 pass from Doug Brown (Spraker kick)

RAD—Lagier 36 pass from Brown (Spraker kick)

RAD—Phil Hogan15 run (Spraker kick)

WAIA—Christopher Gervacio 11 pass from Kyle Michael (run failed)

RAD—Chris Parmer 76 run (Zach Granger kick)

RUSHING — Waialua: Kamalei Rosa 7-5, Travis Duez 3-5, Branden Galapia 2-(minus 12), Gervacio 4-0, Michael 8-14. Radford: Hogan 18-129, Parmer 3-54, Lagier 1-1, Brown 1-17, Sidney Chandler 8-36, Tama Fiaseu 3-19, J.B. Fontenot 1-7, Noah Ekau 3-23.

PASSING — Waialua: Galapia 1-8-0—(minus 5), Matthew Abad 2-7-1—29, Michael 6-13-0—73. Radford: Fontenot 1-4-0—36, Brown 4-13-0—64, Parmer 3-4-0—38, TJ Reid 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING — Waialua: Anthony Saito 3-9, Duez 1-18, Pilialoha Tupou 1-3, Jake Kaysonphet 1-9, Galapia 2-47, Gervacio 1-11. Radford: Lagier 4-74, Warren Carter 1-14, Bobby Wolshlager 1-11, Hogan 1-17, Reid 1-22.

JV score — Radford 48, Waialua 13

Reported by David Lane

KAISER 25, PEARL CITY 16

No details of the game are available