WAI'ANAE - Backup quarterback Chucky Kaahanui's 64-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Taliulu with one minute, 39 seconds left rallied 'Aiea to a stunning, 9-6 win against Wai'anae in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West football Friday night at Raymond Torii Field.

Kaahanui, who has been playing QB since starter Freddy Taliulu injured his collarbone against Roosevelt two weeks ago, hit Taliulu on a post over the middle on fourth-and-8 from 'Aiea's 36 after calling a timeout with 1:49 left. The long pass came after a series of screens and short passes to the flats most of the night.

"When we saw the screen the first time, we saw the safety was jumping," 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "We wanted to run it again and get Taylor on the field."

Kaahanui was 11 of 17 for 158 yards for Na Alii (3-1 overall, 1-1 Red West). His longest completion of the night spoiled Wai'anae's homecoming crowd. Like Taliulu, Kaahanui played defensive back.

"You couldn't ask for a better performance," Say said Kaahanui. "We put him in a situation where he hardly practiced and he just came through. He's playing ironman football for us right now."

Wai'anae (1-4,1-2) received the ball at its own 37 on the ensuing kickoff after the TD. But after a no gain run by QB Puletua Wilson and two incomplete passes, Na Alii sealed it when Max Maafala-Maiava intercepted Wilson's fourth-down pass with 54 seconds left.

'Aiea got the ball back with Kaahanui taking a knee three consecutive downs with the first two stalled by Wai'anae timeouts. Na Alii milked the clock down to eight seconds before calling time out. Instead of punting on fourth down, Kaahanui dropped back deep, scrambled a bit and threw an incomplete pass with no time left.

Na Alii, who lost 7-0 to Kapolei last week, got another stellar performance from their defense, holding the Seariders to 190 yards in total offense. QB Puletua Wilson was the Seariders' leading ground gainer with 43 yards on seven carries. RB James Wilson, who had five carries for 19 yards, did not play until the second half because of disciplinary reasons, Wai'anae coach Danny Matsumoto said.

"After watching (Wai'anae) last week, we wanted to make sure we covered all our reads," Say said.

The Seariders rolled over Mililani, 42-28, last week.

"'Aiea's defense was super," Matsumoto said. "They played us tough. Their defense did a great job on us."

'Aiea scored on its first series of the game, consuming 6:31 with an 11-play drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal by Ezra White.

The Seariders did not score until their first series of the second half. Eldridge Kuiee's 35-yard kickoff return to the Wai'anae 44 helped the Seariders' seven-play drive that culminated with Wilson's 20-yard TD pass to Brian Paul Manuel to make it 6-3.

But the Seariders could not add to their lead. Before 'Aiea's game-winning drive, Wai'anae punted from midfield.

"We prepared all week for this," 'Aiea running back Otto-Titan Salausa said. "We wanted to come out with a win. Everybody just did their part."

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