Nanakuli coach Kili Watson makes his coaching debut for the Golden Hawks against Waipahu, which looks to build off a runner-up finish in OIA Division II last season.
Waipahu Marauders
Last year: 8-3
Head coach: Bryson Carvalho, third season, 9-10
2017 Marauders roster
VS.
Nanakuli Golden Hawks
Last year: 0-8
Head coach: Kili Watson, first season, 0-0
2017 Golden Hawks roster
4Q
Waipahu 51, Nanakuli 14, FINAL
And that does it. Alfred Failauga runs for 149 yards and three scores, while Braden Amorozo tosses for 258 and two scores and runs for another. For Nanakuli, Kili Watson is dealt a loss in his debut.
Waipahu 51, Nanakuli 14, 7:33 4Q
Well, that escalated quickly. Alika Ahsing recovers a blocked punt and returns it 12 yards to push this thing fully into rout territory.
Waipahu 44, Nanakuli 14, 10:16 4Q
Waipahu takes over at midfield after a short Nanakuli punt and Failauga soon rumbles in from 5 yards for his third score of the night. He’s up to a buck-fifty rushing.
3Q
Waipahu 37, Nanakuli 14, 1:42 3Q
Fatigue seems to have set in on the defenses. Failauga is anything but tired, though. He and Amorozo come right back down and Failauga goes in from 12 yards for his second TD of the night. The quarter ends with Nanakuli trying to get something going in its own territory.
Waipahu 31, Nanakuli 14, 3:06 3Q
Don’t count out the Hawks just yet. Nahum Kipi orchestrates a 9-play, 73-yard drive capped by Joey Vea-Quitog’s wildcat-style keeper touchdown from 2 yards. The kick is low and deflects away. It’s a 17-point game with time to spare in the third.
Waipahu 31, Nanakuli 8, 8:18 3Q
Things unraveling here fast for the Golden Hawks, who back themselves up with a sequence of bad snaps resulting in losses. It’s capped with one more wide snap from the 3 that results in a safety.
Waipahu 29, Nanakuli 8, 9:35 3Q
The Marauders come out of the break with a bang, marching 78 yards on six plays, with Alfred Failauga going 35 yards and 9 yards on the last two plays to punch it in with minimal resistance.
Braden Amorozo with an even 200 yards passing, with two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground against a pick for Waipahu. Third quarter is underway with Waipahu receiving the kick.
HALF, 22-8 Waipahu
2Q
Valiant effort by Nanakuli to try to make something happen in the final minute of the half. Pi‘ilani gets it up to the Waipahu 45 with an 18-yard run but Kipi can’t find anyone as time expires and Waipahu goes into the break with a 14-point lead.
Waipahu 22, Nanakuli 8, 52.4 sec 2Q
The Marauders have begun to separate behind Amorozo and Failauga. When Failauga has a 5-yard touchdown wiped off because of holding, Amorozo promptly tosses a 19-yard pass to Matthew Fiesta for a contested touchdown grab.
Waipahu linemean Kealii Barrett is a beast on consecutive snaps, sacking Kipi twice and single-handedly stuffing a Hawks drive.
Waipahu 15, Nanakuli 8, 4:47 2Q
Braden Amorozo’s justice is swift. After Alfred Failauga has a big return, Amorozo pegs a couple of targets then heaves it deep to Alika Ahsing for a 44-yard bomb of a touchdown. The 2-point conversion is a no-doubter when Failauga darts up the middle, and the Marauders reclaim a one-touchdown lead.
Nanakuli 8, Waipahu 7, 5:58 2Q
Kipi follows with a 13-yard strike to Joey Vea-Quitog. After a short gain by Pi‘ilani, Kipi finds Chayce Morgan in the endzone for an 8-yard strike. It’s a busted play on the extra-point, but Kipi, the holder, scoops it up and darts to the pylon on a bang-bang play and gets the 2-point conversion. Kipi is shaken up on the play but makes it back to his bench after a few minutes.
Whatchu talkin’ bout Willis? Nanakuli DB Willis Yin comes up huge with the night’s first pick of Amozoro, and returns it 39 yards to the Waipahu 23.
Nanakuli was going three-and-out but an offsides call extends the drive. However, Nanakuli can’t capitalize and punts it out of bounds at Waipahu’s 34.
Yamashita’s big grab goes for naught as Waipahu’s drive is derailed by a holding call a few plays later. Nanakuli takes over on its 35.
The possession ends with disappointment for Nanakuli, which is a victim of a bad snap on a field-goal attempt and Waipahu recovers it on its 25. Amorozo promptly heaves it deep to Isaac Yamashita for 45 yards.
Q1
The first period ends with the Golden Hawks on the march. Kipi has guided his team into the red zone.
Hawks with their first incursion into Marauder territory, thanks to the legs of Po‘okela Pi‘ilani, who’s picked up a big first down.
Nanakuli is pinned back on its 2 on the kickoff, and is forced to punt out of its endzone. But Waipahu muffs the return and the Hawks recover on their 33.
Waipahu 7, Nanakuli 0, 6:16 1Q
The Marauders strike quickly, led by Amorozo, who finds targets in rapid succession. Amorozo runs it in himself on an option keeper from 6 yards for the first score of the game, and boots it through the uprights for the extra point, no less.
The Golden Hawks’ first possession ends on a pick thrown over the middle by QB Nahum Kipi, into the arms of DB Tarynce Antolin, who returns it a little more than 15 yards to near midfield.
Nanakuli is set to receive after the alma maters commence. Waipahu quarterback Braden Amorozo is the kickoff man. Anddd …. 2017 football is underway with a touchback at Nanakuli.
The 2017 season for Waipahu and Nanakuli kicks off at the Golden Hawks’ field, complete with scenic view of the Leeward Coast. Waipahu has won the last six in the series and is unbeaten in the last seven (there was a 7-all tie in 2006), with the Golden Hawks’ last win coming in 2003. Waipahu prevailed here 20-12 in last season’s opener for both teams.
JV score — Nanakuli 19, Waipahu 13
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