Waialua hangs on to earn thrilling double OT win over Kalaheo

Brian Bautista | SL

In a game dominated by offensive prowess, special teams and defense proved to be the difference.

Kaies Demello kicked a go-ahead 27 yard field goal in Waialua's turn in the second overtime, and Germaine Bagasol's pass break up in the endzone on a 4th and 9 play by Kalaheo sealed the 37-34 win for the home team.

After trailing by a single point at the half, Kalaheo wasted little time in taking its first advantage in the third quarter, scoring at the 10:44 mark on a 25 yard pass play from Jude Weber to Chance Baqui and extending it to seven points on Matthew Pyne's two-point conversion via the run.

Pyne, who rushed for 121 yards and scored three times in the contest, extended the lead to 28-14 for the Mustangs on a two-yard plunge on the first play of the fourth quarter, the largest lead by either team in the contest.

Waialua battled back behind running back Rayden Wilson, who scored three times down the stretch, twice in the fourth on a pair of four yard runs to help the home team equalize, and the other a clutch one-yard dive on a fourth and goal play to extend the game to another overtime.

Wilson, carried the ball 26 times for 202 yards, both game-highs, and added five total tackles and a fumble recovery on offense.

In the first half, Bulldogs' quarterback Emery Abilla factored into both scoring plays, keeping the ball for a 14 yard TD on the game's opening drive and adding a 13 yard pass for another to Sky Hirota.

Defensively, Sean Ucciardi had a monster game for the Mustangs in defeat, racking up 10 total tackles, five for losses and a forced fumble. Jeremyah Toilolo added 11 tackles of his own.

Waialua improved to 3-1 in league play with game against Kaiser, Kalani and Roosevelt still left on the slate. Kalaheo dropped to 1-3 in the OIA D2 standings.