The fans showed up to Waipahu’s first game on campus since 2015, almost enough to fill the stands on Friday night.
So the Marauders returned the favor, giving their town the performance of a true OIA Division II contender in a 63-7 rout of Waialua.
“We just came out here and wanted to give this game to the community. We didn’t have a game for two years on this field and it’s just a blessing to get back on here,” quarterback Braden Amorozo said. “Just go all out every play. We didn’t want to slow down but we didn’t want anyone injured in the second half, but we’re still going all out.”
It was the first time the two teams met since last season’s OIA Division II championship game when Waialua won 36-35 at Aloha Stadium. It was the last time the Bulldogs (0-5, 0-4 OIA Division II) won a game.
Waipahu improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in OIA D-II play and hopes to finish the job this year.
“It was great and still a work in progress. From the beginning of the season, our big question mark was the offensive line. Today they were able to make some holes and give Braden some time,” Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho said. “They’re still a little undisciplined, I want to make sure that we clean up some things on the penalties. For me, it was too much for my liking. I want to make sure that we clean that stuff up moving forward as we get into the deeper part of our season if we make the playoffs.”
The Marauders fell behind 7-6 midway through the first quarter when Hunter Apau took a slant route from Kyler Dicion 79 yards to the end zone. After that, Amorozo and the rest of the offense caught fire, scoring 50 unanswered points in the first half.
Amorozo finished 19-for-29 with five touchdowns, 340 yards and no interceptions. It was his third career 300-yard game, tying Conie Obrero’s school record.
“He’s just a student of the game. His work ethic is outstanding. He watches film, constantly texts me over the weekend, telling me what he sees,” Carvalho said. “He’s just a very coachable kid and I just love coaching him. He wants to learn, he wants to get better. He takes criticism very well and I think that’s what makes him so good. He listens and he gets better from it.”
Convincing victory aside, Carvalho attributed the performance to those who came before him.
“Whenever we play for something more, I think it just makes it more special and meaningful,” he said. “For me, I dedicated this game to every head coach that had the opportunity to coach here. It laid the foundation for our school and for our football program. I’m blessed with the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and I love my community.
“I couldn’t be more proud of how the kids played tonight and represented the school. I love the fact that we had a lot of people here, a lot of alumni and former players and coaches. I’m just real proud that our kids could play to their potential tonight.”
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