First Quarter
5:54 – The Tigers score on their second series, a 48-yard bomb from Mathias Tuitele-Iafeta to Tyrell Tuiasosopo. Two surprises here. One, Waipahu had solo coverage on Tuiasosopo, one of the best WR talents in the state. Two, MTI threw it a long, high ways. His arm strength is way beyond what I expected. I saw him throw a play-action lob for a TD recently, but this long stuff is a surprise.
PAT kick was blocked. Tigers 6, Marauders 0.
1:12 – Another TD for the Tigers. MTI rolls right, scrambles left, buys time and connects with Denzel Kalahiki-Gasper for a 52-yard catch and run. PAT pass from Chevas Pacheco to Malik Kuhia is good. Tigers 14, Marauders 0.
The TD came a moment after a third-down pass-interference call on WHS.
Second quarter
7:10 – Tigers fumble on a screen play, recovered by Waipahu LB Mark Failauga at the Tigers 24-yard line. Waipahu scores on a 1-yard run by Jacob Anae. Tigers 14, Marauders 7.
Marauders tried an on-side kick. Tigers recovered.
3:17 – They done it again. MTI to Tuiasosopo, this time on third and long, for a 28-yard touchdown pass. This came after an interception by Tyrell Tuiasosopo.
Bradley scored on the PAT, a power-I toss sweep. Tigers 22, Marauders 7.
2:48 – Bradley returned his second pick 29 yards to the Waipahu 15-yard line, but MTI fumbled on the next play. Waipahu LB Jonathan Nagaseu recovered at the 16.
1:16 – Bradley has his third interception of the first half, an underthrown ball down the right sideline.
:34 – MTI hits Bradley in the flat, and he cuts back and goes airborne over the goal line for a 13-yard touchdown play. MTI hits Pono Kini on the PAT pass. Tigers 30, Marauders 7.
Halftime – Well, it’s been a great first half for McKinley. Mathias Tuitele-Iafeta has three TD passes, all to Tyrell Tuiasosopo. And Gerime Bradley has three picks. Good things come in threes, right? Toward the end of the half, McKinley’s running backs were getting wide open in the flats.
Waipahu has struggled to move the ball with their spread option, and their passing game has struggled as well.
Third quarter
7:41 – Kai Mercado-Aiona keeps on a 13-yard option play for a touchdown. Waipahu runs the PAT in. Tigers 30, Marauders 15.
4:02 – Waipahu got the ball after a McKinley punt kept running well. They’ve probably averaged 7-8 yards per carry in this half. But as soon as they got second-and-long (after a penalty), back to the air, another forced pass and McKinley’s FOURTH interception of the game (Micah Kuhia).
Fourth quarter
5:09 – Tuiasosopo picks off a “double pass” attempt by Waipahu, the fifth Tigers pick of the game. Then a Waipahu lineman accidentally knee Tuiasosopo after the whistle. Then a Waipahu WR took the referee’s flag and threw it high over the sideline. Two personal fouls plus an ejection.
:47 – Tuiasosopo turns his second pick (McKinley’s sixth) into a 47-yard touchdown return. Tigers 36, Marauders 15.
FINAL: McKinley 36, Waipahu 15.
About as well as the Tigers will do with so many Ironmen. They controlled the clock and played their kind of football. The big surprises, again, are that Tuiasosopo had so much solo coverage rather than safety help for most of the game, and that Tuitele-Iafeta can wing it down the field a good distance.
MTI also returned punts tonight. That was a first for me seeing that.
McKinley will play Campbell in next week’s quarterfinal round.
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