Roosevelt senior Kaeo Akana gives chase to Waipahu receiver Joseph McKenzie in an OIA Division I contest at Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex Saturday night. Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 1 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 2 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 3 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 4 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 5 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 6 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 7 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 8 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 9 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 10 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 11 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 12 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 13 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 14 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 15 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 16 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 17 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 18 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 19 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 20 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 21 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 22 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 23 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 24 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 25 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 26 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 27 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 28 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 29 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 30 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 31 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 32 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 33 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 34 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 35 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 36 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 37 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 38 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 39 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 40 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 41 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 42 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 43 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 44 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 45 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 46 of 47

Leighland Tagawa | SL

Purchase image 47 of 47

Sat, Dec 4, 2021 @ Waipahu [ 6:30 pm ]

---

Roosevelt

17

Waipahu

16

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Roosevelt (2-4-0)	10	0	7	0	17
Waipahu (2-3-0)	0	16	0	0	16

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Liatama Uiliata 167 yd 2 TD

Kayman Lewis 208 yd 1 TD

Liatama Uiliata 112 yd

Kalua Nahale 21 yd

Aston Contado 75 yd

George Matsunaga 149 yd 1 TD

Senior edge rusher Kaeo Akana had five sacks with three additional tackles for loss and a blocked field goal led to the go-ahead score as Roosevelt outlasted Waipahu, 17-16, at Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex Saturday night in both teams' final game of the season.

Dean Mizutami was responsible for the heads-up play that gave the Rough Riders the game-winning score in the final minute of the third quarter. A 30-yard field goal attempt by the Marauders' Connor Wittig had a low trajectory that bounced off the scrum near the line of scrimmage. Mizutami scooped up the loose ball near the right sideline and returned it 88 yards for the touchdown.

Porter Ellis, who kicked a 27-yard field goal to give Roosevelt a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, booted the PAT after Mizukami's return to make the score 17-16 in favor of the Rough Riders.

Roosevelt's special teams unit also set the stage for the game's opening score.

Sophomore Landen Kalani received the first half kickoff and nearly scored before losing his footing at the Waipahu 42-yard line for a 56-yard return. After a defensive pass interference penalty against Waipahu on the next play, Kayman Lewis threw a 27-yard scoring strike to George Matsunaga for an early TD. Ellis' PAT made it a 7-0 game 20 seconds into the contest.

While special teams lived up to its namesake, Akana was simply special.

The Boise State-commit consistently lived in the Marauders' backfield and led the team with 13 total tackles with three quarterback hurries. Akana, who stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 215 pounds, also came up big in crunch time to derail Waipahu's comeback attempt.

On the Marauders' first drive that started in the fourth quarter, Akana had a 10-yard sack on third-and-4 to force a Waipahu punt.

When Waipahu reached Roosevelt territory on its penultimate drive, Akana had two quarterback hurries in three plays before registering his fifth sack of the game on fourth-and-10.

Akana may have even finished with even more gaudy stats if it weren't for the escapability of Waipahu's Liatama Uiliata behind center.

Uiliata, who normally plays cornerback, got the start at quarterback and nearly willed his team for the victory. He led the team in rushing with 112 yards and threw for 167 yards and two TDs. Uiliata also completed his first seven passes and recorded an interception on defense that led to the score that gave Waipahu a 16-10 halftime lead.

Both teams were already mathematically eliminated from playoff contention heading into the matchup. Roosevelt improved to 2-4 overall and 2-3 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I play while the Marauders suffered their third straight loss and finished with a 2-3 record.