KAILUA, KONA — Kealakehe took another step closer toward advancing past the football state tournament first round last night, but still fell four points short to Wai'anae, 21-17, before a vocal home crowd of about 2,300.

Danny Kekoanui rushed for 198 yards and one touchdown to help the O'ahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Seariders improved to 9-3 and advance to next week's semifinals against Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Saint Louis (10-0) at Aloha Stadium.

Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Kealakehe ends its season at 10-3 after dropping its fourth straight first-round game, including its third in a row to Wai'anae.

"I don't know what happened in the past," said first-year Waveriders coach Gary Clark, "but all we can do is try to control our future. We need to be more consistent, but we're excited about next year. We expect to be here again and move on past the first round."

The BIIF Division I champion has yet to advance in the nine-year history of the state tournament, but Kealakehe had gotten closer in each of the previous three years. Last night, Waveriders quarterback Kawai Kanuha completed 23 of 44 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns, and Kealakehe cut it to 21-17 after a 14-yard TD pass from Kanuha to Jeffrey Marks and Kanuha's two-point conversion pass to Kenneth Whiting with 5:43 remaining.

But the Seariders, who finished with 450 yards rushing, ran out the clock with a 10-play drive which ended with quarterback Ben McQuown taking a knee at the Waveriders' 6-yard line.

"Our line did a good job tonight, but we had a hard time getting into the end zone again," said Wai'anae offensive coordinator Bryant Ginoza. "(Kealakehe) is a tough, good team and their quarterback is real good. We had to try to keep them off the field."

Wai'anae struck on its first possession with a 10-play, 55-yard drive culminating in McQuown's 15-yard quarterback keeper. Vernon Ceno's extra point made it 7-0 with 6:52 left in the first quarter.

The Seariders drove 80 yards on their second possession, but a 22-yard field-goal attempt was wide left with 2:03 left in the quarter.

Kealakehe then marched 66 yards in nine plays before Lanakila Ynigues' 32-yard field goal cut the lead to 7-3 with 11:43 remaining in the half.

Wai'anae rushed for 273 yards in the first half, led by Kekoanui's 147 yards on 11 carries. Kanuha completed 13 of 28 passes for 157 yards in the first half; he started the game with four straight incompletions.

The Seariders took a 14-3 lead with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter on sophomore Eleu Wilson's 1-yard touchdown plunge and Ceno's extra point. It was set up by Bronson Panui's interception which he returned 34 yards to the Waveriders' 31.

After the teams traded turnovers, Kealakehe cut the lead to 14-9 on Kanuha's 12-yard TD pass to Whiting early in the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete.

Wai'anae answered with an eight-play, 80-yard drive finished off by Kekoanui's 6-yard touchdown run. Ceno's extra point made it 21-9 with 8:25 left.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

WAI'ANAE (9-3) 7 0 7 7—21

KEALAKEHE (10-3) 0 3 0 14—17

Wai — Ben McQuown 15 run (Vernon Ceno kick)

Kea — FG 32 Lanakila Ynigues

Wai — Eleu Wilson 1 run (Ceno kick)

Kea — Kenneth Whiting 12 pass from Kawai Kanuha (pass failed)

Wai — Danny Kekoanui 6 run (Ceno kick)

Kea — Jeffrey Marks 14 pass from Kanuha (Whiting pass from Kanuha)

RUSHING — Wai'anae: Kekoanui 23-198, Jonathan Abell 15-95, Justin Kauwalu 4-16, Toagamalu Brown 2-3, McQuown 8-92, Shawn Brooks 1-8, Keoni Napierala 3-7, RJ Tacgere-Bailey 3-9, Wilson 4-10, Glenn Wain 1-12. Kealakehe: Keoki Limahai 7-23, Kanuha 3-(minus-3).

PASSING — Wai'anae: McQuown 2-6-1—27, Kekoanui 0-1-0—0, Brown 1-1-0-33, Matt Ibanez 0-1-0—0. Kealakehe: Kanuha 23-44-2—336, Limahai 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING — Wai'anae: Wain 2-54, Kekoanui 1-6. Kealakehe: Jordan Ursua 9-94, Jacob Kimi 1-11, Joshua Fulton 6-155, Marks 4-37, Limahai 1-(minus-1), Whiting 2-40.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.