There are championship games and there are final battles to survive. Seventh-ranked Farrington (7-3) and sixth-ranked Waianae (7-3) are simply doing this: playing for the right to play in the state tournament. The loser is done for the season.
These programs go back a long time, all right. But playing each other in an ELIMINATION GRIDIRON BATTLE? Brother-in-arms Jerry Campany examined this earlier today in this post.
FYI, the OIA junior varsity game is over. Kahuku 27, Waianae 7. That game was televised — pretty dang awesome for these young players. That also means the varsity game won’t start until roughly 8 p.m.
FIRST QUARTER
Farrington’s game-opening series stalls in the red zone. Waianae then gets a TD on its first play from scrimmage, a 69-yard bomb from RB Kade Ambrocio to Isaiah Freeney on a halfback option pass (trick) play. WAIN 7, FAR 0, 8:20.
(Note: Corrects the passer on Waianae’s first TD.)
Farrington answers on its second play of the ensuing series with a 69-yard bomb from Bishop Rapoza to Kingston Moses-Sanchez. FAR 7, WAIN 7, 7:51.
The Governors convert on a key fourth-and-1, handing the ball to Challen for a run up the middle. Faamatau later hauls in a 16-yard TD pass from Rapoza in the left corner of the end zone. PAT: Govs start in the muddle-huddle formation and attempt to run it in, but it’s stonewalled. FAR 13, WAIN 7, :15.
The quarter ends and Waianae already has 62 yards of penalties. Farrington has 40 penalty yards.
SECOND QUARTER
The Govs got a 50-yard pass from Rapoza to Moses-Sanchez on third-and-26, but Faamatau fumbled on a nice run to end the threat.
Turnovers and an avalanche of yellow flags in this second quarter.
Final seconds of the first half: Ulu finds Kana‘i Mauga in the left corner of the end zone for a 9-yard TD pass. Clutch play by the Seariders. The PAT kick is blocked by Farrington senior Chippa Ulugalu-Sula. WAIN 13, FAR 13, :01.6.
HALFTIME
What started with a lot of promise has turned into game halted almost consistently by penalties. The saving grace is that it’s tied at the half, and both teams have some great playmakers to keep an eye on.
Moses-Sanchez has six receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown. The single-game school record for receiving yardage belongs to Elijah Lesu, who had 234 yards in a 61-14 win over Moanalua (Aug. 26, 2006).
Waianae has nine penalties for 67 yards. Farrington nine flags for 98 yards.
Faamatau has 89 rushing yards on 11 attempts to go with his 16-yard TD reception. Freeney has three catches for 143 yards.
THIRD QUARTER
Javen Towne returns the kickoff 62 yards and Waianae drives to the 1-yard line, but Farrington comes up with a goal-line stand on fourth down. The big play was at the 1 on third when Towne leaped but was met by a Governor in mid-air and fumbled. Waianae recovered but lost three yards.
Waianae gets the ball at the FAR 43 after a punt, but a fumble at the line of scrimmage is recovered by Farrington (21-yard line). That’s two huge stops by the Governors defense. Now they’re driving past midfield with Faamatau left, right and up the middle.
FOURTH QUARTER
Govs had second and 2 at the Waianae 39. Then another illegal procedure. Then an 11-yard loss on a sack. Then a lateral (backward) pass goes astray again, and this time Waianae recovers at the FAR 44. This time, the Govs are out of stops. Waianae calls time out on third down and then gives the ball to Towne. The left side has sealed Farrington off and he sprints to the pylon for a 36-yard touchdown. WOW. WAIN 20, FAR 13, 9:47.
Governors trying to establish a drive, but self-destruction via penalties keeps happening. Then a 20-yard loss on a sack. Punt.
Huge play here for Farrington’s defense. Waianae has fourth and 10 at the FAR 31. Despite 131 yards of penalties, the Govs can start a game-tying drive with a stop here. Waianae has not committed a penalty in the second half. (There were offsetting personal fouls earlier.)
Govs get a near-penalty free drive and Faamatau scores on an 8-yard run. But the PAT kick by Rapoza is way off. Waianae still leads. WAIN 20, FAR 19, 2:54.
Waianae has its hands team on the kick return. After another FAR penalty (offside), the Seariders receive the kick and run out of bounds. Smart move. Three and out, WAIN will punt with 1:29 left.
Farrington takes over at its 30 after the punt angles past Faamatau, the punt returner. Nice kick. But the Govs go four and out, hampered by a holding penalty on a first-down completion. Waianae runs out (kneels) the final :32.
Waianae goes to states.
At John Kauinana Stadium
Farrington (7-4) 13 0 0 6 — 19
Waianae (8-3) 7 6 0 7 — 20
Wai—Isaiah Freeney 69 pass from Kade Ambrocio (Tate Ebel kick)
Far—Kingston Moses-Sanchez 69 pass from Bishop Rapoza (Rapoza kick)
Far—Challen Faamatau 16 pass from Rapoza (run failed)
Wai—Kana‘i Mauga 9 pass from Jaren Ulu (kick blocked)
Wai—Javen Towne 36 run (Ebel kick)
Far—Faamatau 8 run (kick failed)
JV—Kahuku 27, Waianae 7.
RUSHING—Farrington: Faamatau 26-202, Freedom Alualu 3-16, Rapoza 9-(-29), T.J. Taumua 2-6. Waianae: Royce Carrick 3-7, Jurick Valdez 12-54, Kade Ambrocio 3-9, Towne 7-51, Ulu 9-(-35).
PASSING—Farrington: Rapoza 10-17-0-203. Waianae: Ulu 7-12-1-111, Ambrocio 1-1-0-69.
RECEIVING—Farrington: Kingston Moses-Sanchez 6-165, Faamatau 1-16, Jathen Chaffin 1-5, Kingsley Moses-Sanchez 1-11, Taumua 1-6. Waianae: Freeney 3-143, Mauga 2-18, Ambrocio, 2-18, Jorell Pontes-Borje 1-1.
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How weak is the OIA RED?????? #1 and #3 in the OIA!!!
@ohreally
Weak as hell I would say!! Should have been #1 & #2 like the JV!!! But that’s ok there’s always next year…..
Congrats to Waianae they played a hard fought game… Good luck the rest of the journey!
Yep. Good job Waianae. First year coach Walter Young on both JV and varsity sidelines. Good to see these coaches mentor these young men of Waianae. They are giving back what was given to them when they played, PRIDE! Hope the DOE steps up and provide $$ to their programs. The end of the road, remote schools like Waianae and Kahuku always get left out of $$$s. I could never see neighboring schools like Mililani and Leileihua getting field turf.