This might be Waialua’s best shot.
The Bulldogs (5-2), who have never played a game in the state tournament, can clinch a berth this season with a victory over the other Bulldogs (5-3) tonight at Kaiser in the semifinals of the OIA Division II playoffs.
The two teams return to the site of their Aug. 13 battle that was, perhaps, the most exciting game of the season. Kaimuki survived in overtime, 22-20, when Waialua overthrew the two-point conversion trailing by two in the first OT period.
Kaimuki QB Jordan Solomon set a school record with 331 yards passing in that game. Waialua’s Lancen Kuni returned an interception for a touchdown with no time on the clock in the fourth quarter, but the winning TD was called back because of a penalty.
HISTORY: Kaimuki has won five of the last six meetings and leads the series 13-6 in the Prep Bowl and state championship eras.
Live updates of the 7:30 p.m. kickoff will follow below:
10:30 p.m.: Waialua takes two knees and it’s over. One final timeout by Kaimuki, 16.5 seconds left. Final: Waialua 19, Kaimuki 14. State berth for Waialua and shot at OIA D-II title
10:27 p.m.: Solomon absorbs a sack and gets called for intentional grounding on 1st down. It’s suddenly 4th and 17. The ball dribbles out of Solomon’s hand under pressure and it’s incomplete way, way short. Turnover on downs with 57.4 seconds left at the Kaimuki 33
10:25 p.m.: Waialua has 4th and 4 from its own 41. 1:49 to play, timeout. Short punt. Kaimuki needs a 60-yard drive with 1:42 on the clock. One timeout remaining.
10:22 p.m.: Julian Fely-Menor may have just punched Waialua’s ticket to states for the first time. He picks off Jordan Solomon at the goal line and returns it 35 yards. 2:46 to play
10:19 p.m.: Jordan Solomon picks up three big yards to earn a first down by inches on a keeper. Kaimuki gets fresh downs on the 25, 3:30 left
10:15 p.m.: Waialua marches backward when Toia is called for intentional grounding evading would-be sack men. Kaimuki has a chance at a comeback now, trailing 19-14 with 5:31. They start at their own 45. Daniel Nguyen was nearly gone with a go-ahead TD, but he stepped out of bounds at the 36.
10:08 p.m.: 7-yard punt this time by Kaimuki, and Waialua has a chance to put this away starting the drive from the Kaimuki 34 with 7:14 left
9:59 p.m.: Howard Nahooikaika has put the Waialua Bulldogs back ahead with his second 2-yard TD score of the night. 19-14 Waialua pending the XP, 8:16 to play. Kick fails, it remains 19-14.
9:56 p.m.: All momentum belongs to Kaimuki entering the final period.
But a Kaimuki punt travels only 6 yards and Waialua is suddenly driving in hostile territory.
9:49 p.m.: Ieke Seei-Cleveland goes beastmode and lunges across the goal line for the 13-yd TD. XP is good, and Kaimuki has the lead at 14-13, 45.0 sec left 3Q. Waialua goes three and out and punts at the end of the third quarter
9:422 p.m.: Kaimuki is knocking again, this time from the 13
9:36 p.m.: No one can sustain a drive, let alone pick up a first down right now.
9:35 p.m.: Waialua three and out, Kaimuki driving from midfield under 5 min left 3Q. Kaimuki turns it over on downs again, 1 yard short of picking up the 1st
9:26 p.m.: Play slowing down here as Kaimuki players are down on the field twice in three plays, twice in four, rather. Kaimuki faces a 4th and 7 from the 11 …
Solomon has Mana Mahiai wide open in the end zone, but Mahiai can’t corral it as he hits the turf. TO on downs
9:22 p.m.: Third quarter underway at Kaiser Stadium
BIG sack on Toia, -16, for a turnover on downs. Kaimuki takes over at the 50 for its first drive of the 2H
Ricci Moon credited with his second sack of the game
Kaimuki knocking at the 14, aided by a 15-yard PF on Waialua
9:02 p.m.: At half, Tevesi Toia is 8-for-13 for 104 yards and a TD, no picks. Jordan Solomon is 9-for-20 for 102 yards, a TD and two INT. Lancen Kuni with a 51-yd TD rec, plus a pick on defense for Waialua
8:51 p.m.: Half: Waialua 13, Kaimuki 7
8:47 p.m.: That ended up being a very costly roughing kicker penalty on Waialua. Kaimuki given new life just before halftime.
8:45 p.m.: Kaimuki on the board! Solomon with a Bailey Uehara 54-yard TD pass. Uehara was in a field all to his own. XP is good with 1:23 left in the 2Q. Waialua’s lead trimmed to 13-7
8:42 p.m.: Roughing kicker penalty on Waialua keeps a Kaimuki drive alive, now up to Kaimuki’s 30
8:39 p.m.: And Solomon throws his second pick of the game. It’s No. 17, Daytin Zidad-Albeso, with this one. The Battle of the Bulldogs Part II has become a contest of punters’ legs.
8:32 p.m.: North Bulldogs have to punt again and Kaimuki takes over at the 50
8:29 p.m.: Kaimuki punts it away from near midfield. Waialua takes over at its 25. Toia 7-7 passing going into this drive. there’s his first incompletion, after a holding call pushes Waialua back to its 12.
8:19 p.m.: Solomon goes incomplete on fourth down and Waialua takes over again. Tevesi Toia, meanwhile, has been money every down for Waialua so far. He’s 6-for-6 and has his Bulldogs on the march again. Great punt by Waialua pins Kaimuki at its 4.
8:15 p.m.: Kaimuki into Waialua territory, but so far Jordan Solomon is 1-for-7 passing with a pick
8:11 p.m.: North Shore Bulldogs make it 13-0 on a 2-yard score by Howard Nahooikaika. XP is good. 3:46 1Q. Kaimuki keeps hurting itself with penalties
8:05 p.m.: Lancen Kuni comes up big for Waialua AGAIN, with a pick of Kaimuki QB Jordan Solomon. Waialua takes over near midfield
7:57 p.m.: A 15-yd PF penalty only opens the field up more for Waialua, which immediately scores from 51 yards on a strike from Tevesi Toia to Lancen Kuni. XP kick is no good. 6-0 Waialua, 9:04 1Q
7:52 p.m.: Kaimuki fumbles, recovers and gets tagged with a holding call on the opening return. Town-side Bulldogs go three-and-out and Waialua returns it from midfield.
7:30 p.m.: Kalaheo won the JV playoff game 13-12 over Pearl City.
COMMENTS