"Trick'O'Treat" Waipahu #2 Marauders "vs" Pearl City #2 Chargers 20-13

Trick 'O' Treat came early at today's JV Football White Conference Championship Playoffs between the #2 Pearl City Chargers and the #3 Waipahu Marauders at Waipahu High School. I had a chance to speak with both coaches prior to the start of the game. Waipahu coach, Sean Saturnio related that they had some serious injuries earlier, but most of his starters are fresh and ready to go. "As for our defense, we have been strong all year and added some coverage package of 4 deep and 4 shallow because of the Chargers passing ability and we're looking for a better game today." Chargers coach, Kai Kamaka, just summed it up by saying "we'll continue to do what's best as we always have, and have fun and a great game today."

It was a "tug of war" during the first quarter, with neither side scoring. In the second quarter, the Chargers QB #10 threw a pass that was intercepted by Waipahu's #45 Lilo Faasipa who ran it in for the first TD of the game. A few plays later, Waipahu's #42 Mataio Fualema intercepted another Chargers pass to give them the lead at the half, 14-0. Besides the two inceptions, penalties plagued the Chargers throughout the first half.

In the second half, the Marauders continued to put on a good defense, but into the fourth quarter, Pearl City's #2 T. Kamaka, put the Chargers on the board with 9 minutes, 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Waipahu wasted no time on their next play when QB #9 Lavatai, ran in for their 3rd TD bringing the score to 20-7 with 7 minutes, 23 seconds remaining in the game. Not giving up, the Chargers QB with 3 minutes, 2 seconds left threw a bomb to #1 making the score 20-13, with the Marauders still leading by 7. Talk about a nail biter. Then came fumble after fumble between the two teams, and the Chargers had the last opportunity to tie the game, but in the final 30 seconds of the game, #7 Mark Failuaga (photo above) of the Waipahu Marauders intercepted the Chargers pass, ending the game 20-13. Congratulations to Coach Kai Kamaka of the Pearl City Chargers, his asst. coaches and to his team for a great game. What a "treat" for Coach Sean Saturnio of the Waipahu Marauders and his team, with special mention of #3 Matapua Tulufale, #33 Jason, #45 Lilo Faasipa, #42 Matapua Tulufale and #7 Mark Failuaga for great teamwork and their victory in the OIA JV Football White Conference Championship Playoffs. "Click here to see photos".

Moanalua Na Menehune Varsity "vs" Radford Rams 22-29 - "What a Heart Break" and "Congratulation" to the Moanalua JV over Waianae 30-14.

What a break for the Moanalua Varsity Football team. After losing their last three games and thinking they were out of the playoffs, call it what you like, but what a "break" for the Na Menehune who will be playing the Radford Rams on Friday, October 15, 2010 at Radford High School at 7:30 pm. This opportunity comes from the game they played against Roosevelt on October 1, 2010 which they lost 18-0. After this game, it was learned that Roosevelt had an ineligible player. Hopefully, they will take advantage of this second chance and come off with a win to continue on to the playoffs, especially for the 42 seniors. It's going to be a great game and a great challenge for the Moanalua football team.

Just to sum up tonight's game, what a "heartbreak" for the Na Menehune Varsity football team, and for the 42 seniors who played their last game tonight. The Rams took the lead 14-0, but with 57 seconds left in the first half, the Rams fumbled the ball and Moanalua #30 Darren Apo (photo above) took it into the end zone for a TD and a fake field goal passed to #43 Martin Taulele added two points ending the half 8-14. In the third quarter, the Na Menehune came back fired up with two interceptions and scored twice to take the lead 22-14. The Moanalua crowd was on a high, but just when you thought the Na Menehune would come through, Radford pulled out their hidden playbook and came back from behind to take the game 29-22. Congratulations to Coach Arnold Martinez, his coaches and especially to #20 Charles Spencer, #99 Jordan Tanioka, #4 Joel Talaro and the rest of team for a well played game and to #41 Kahanu Puulei-Auld, #20 Zarin Augus, #7 Sheldon Pagba, #3 Chad Aragon and #5 Aaron Kim of the Moanalua JV over Waianae 30-14. Good luck to the Moanalua JV who will be playing Campbell at Campbell Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 2:00 pm and to the Varsity Radford Rams in their next game against Kahuku. Click here to see the Varsity & JV photos.

Moanalua JV Na Menehune "Take On The Farrington JV Govs" (20-12)

What a big disappointment for the Farrington JV who were 5-1 in the OIA East Red Division. They played the Moanalua Na Menehune JV team on Saturday at the Roosevelt High School field. From the start, Moanalua took advantage of the errors by the Governors, and came out fired up to play. They were tough on defense as well as their offense, and their first TD came when #10 QB Max Fiatoa threw a bomb to #7 Sheldon Pagba who took it all the way down the makai sideline to score the first TD. Their replacement kicker (DB) #5 Aaron Kim (photo above) substituting for #88 Domonique Banta, fired away on his first kick to give Moanalua the lead 7-0. Aaron Kim said he found out three days before the game that he would be their kicker for this game. I asked him how he felt and he said "nervous, especially during the first attempt." In the second quarter, the Governor's QB #23 threw a pass to his receiver #87 which was a little high and #14 Branen Oliveros of the Na Menehue covering the pass play, intercepted the ball. Branen ran like there was no tomorrow down the mauka sideline for the 2nd TD of the game, and again #5 Aaron Kim drilled that extra point to continue the lead 14-0, with 7 minutes left on the game clock. In the third quarter, Na Menehune QB #10 threw another great pass to #3 Chad Aragon who had to jump high for it, but managed to run it in for another TD to make it 20-0 with 7 minutes and 29 seconds left on the clock. The final score was Moanalua JV over Farrington Governors JV 20-12. Awesome job to JV coach Kelvin Kusano, his coaching staff and the JV players for giving their QB the needed protection. Special recognition to #7 Sheldon Pagba, #14 Branen Oliveros, #3 Chad Aragon and their backup kicker #5 Aaron Kim. Congratulations to Farrington JV coach Roger Boyd for his first year coaching, to his assistant coaches and to his JV players, great effort. More action photos "click here".

Na Koa 'O Anuenue (Homecoming) "vs" Kalaheo Mustangs (24-35)

I previously covered the Na Koa O Anuenue Football team under head coach Kealohamakua Wengler. Besides tonight's game against the Kalaheo Mustangs, it was also their Homecoming game. Nine seniors were honored, #7 Makamae Otani-Wengler, #25 Ikaika Gante, #36 Imaikalani Keama, #51 Kamea Kahiapo, #52 Pono Vegas, #54 Wili'oho Ka'awa, #75 Olino Kaleopa'a, #76 Kalanikoa Ahquin and #78 Iokepa Waiwai'ole and their home court from 1st grade to 12th grade. Click here to see the photos. As for the game, it was hard fought to the finish. From my past coverage of the Na Koa O Anuenue football team, it is one of the smallest high school teams. For the first time, they had twenty players suited up tonight and they showed so much energy, dedication, loyalty, and heart. Anuenue scored the first TD by #43 La'akea Mano'i-Hyde (photo above) and the extra 2 points by #5 Mahuka Cullen to take the lead 8-0. One of players got injured early in the 1st quarter and he shouted, "oh no not now, the game just started." Before I knew it, he was back in the game playing. Into the third quarter, Anuenue had several injuries and talk about dedication, I could see some of them limping back into the game and they just kept fighting on. This I call, "going beyond the call of duty." It was heartbreaking to see them fall behind on their homecoming night, but in the end they were still standing tall. The game ended 24-35 with Kalaheo coming out on top. Congratulations, to coach Kealohamakua Wengler, his coaches and to his football players. Special recognition to the nine seniors and to Kaleheo coach Chris Mellor, his coaches and his team.