Campbell edges Waianae, but Nanakuli wins toss, top seed

Dhenz Agcaoili | SL

WAIANAE - Maya Gonsalves scored on a 9-yard run then passed for the game-deciding 1-point conversion and Campbell edged host Waianae, 7-6, Tuesday night in the Oahu Interscholastic Association girls flag football regular season finale at Raymond Torii Field.

In an earlier game, Nanakuli beat Dreamhouse, 32-0, to improve to 4-1 in the OIA West 1 division to share the regular-season title with Campbell (4-1) and Waianae (4-1).

Since Nanakuli beat Campbell but lost to Waianae; and Campbell beat Waianae, a coin toss was needed for seeding purposes. The Golden Hawks won the toss and became the top seed. The tie-breaking procedure reverts back to head-to-head so with the Saber's win, they became the second seed and the Seariders third. But all qualified for the 12-team OIA tournament, which runs Monday through Thursday with the top seven earning state tournament berths in his inaugural season of flag football. With the top seed Nanakuli draws a first-round bye.

"Any time the West-side teams play, it's always a great game," Campbell coach Will Naboa said. ‘Very competitive, so super excited (about the win)."

Had the Sabers lost, they would have fell to third.

Defense was the key. An interception by Kealohilani Akana late in the first quarter gave the Sabers possession at the Seasiders' 9. After an incomplete pass on first down. Gonsalves dashed into the end zone with about 11:06 left in the first half. Gonsalves then connected with Jyzelle Gorion on s short psss for the 1-point conversion that turned out to be the difference.

In their loss to Nanakuli, the Sabers' failure to convert the PAT was the difference in a 7-6 loss.

But the turnover set up Campbell's only score.

"Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships," Naboa said. "Our defense is heart and soul of this team, so definitely proud of each of these girls on defense."

Waianae scored just before the half when Kawenalynn Kaluna tossed s 6-yard pas to Madison Rodrigues. The Seariders then converted the apparent 1-point conversion, which was nullified by a penalty. The ensuing try failed as Campbell kept the lead.

The Seariders' Breilyn-Sophie Napoleon-Kealinohomoku intercepted a Gonsalves pass. The Seariders started at the 10, but failed to move the ball as time ran out into halftime.

Gonsalves, one of five seniors on the team, said her teammates felt down before the game.

"They were just scared," Gonsalves explained. "But I talked to them, Coach talked to them and told them to put their heads up and play our game and we ended up pulling it off."

In the inaugural season of the state's newest sport, Naboa said there is more to come.

"As this was the first season of flag in the state of Hawaii, it was super exciting," he said, "The girls were ecstatic and Ewa Beach was alive because of the atmosphere everywhere we went. It's not done yet. This is just the beginning. OIA and states here we come."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].