Aiea’s rugged defense got the job done on Saturday night.
Na Alii (4-2) led by 10 points until the late stages when they gave up a second touchdown to the powerful Moanalua offense in a 17-14 victory at Na Menehune’s home field.
That win gave Aiea the OIA Division I championship and a spot in the semifinals of the D-I state tournament next Friday.
It’s the first time Na Alii have been to states since 2009, when they won a D-II first-round game 20-12 over Lahainaluna before dropping a 21-7 decision to ‘Iolani in the semifinals.
“It’s great to be back,” Aiea coach Wendell Say on Sunday morning. “It’s been a few years. I’m happy for our kids and so glad they get this opportunity to continue their season.”
Friday’s semifinal game for Aiea will be against ILH D-I champion ‘Iolani (9-0), with the winner playing in the state D-I final on Thursday, Dec. 23, against either MIL D-I champion Lahainaluna (6-0) or BIIF D-I champion Konawaena (6-0). All state tournament games are at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium.
Another apropos term for the upcoming Aiea vs. ‘Iolani game is the “Wendell Bowl,” where Say’s head coaching counterpart with the Raiders is also named Wendell — Wendell Look.
“After the win (over Moanalua), the coaches stayed up late, talking about how we’re going to prepare for ‘Iolani,” Say said. “They’re a well-disciplined team, and like I told our line coaches, they’re technicians. They’re smaller, they put body on body and make you work. And they’re smart. We’ve got to be able to figure out how we’re going to do this (beat the Raiders). Wendell (Look) does a good job year in, year out. It’s been a while for us and they seem to make it every year.
“Maybe they’re tired of being there,” Say joked.
Tumama Auvaa was a stalwart on defense for Na Alii against Na Menehune, with five tackles, including a sack, and teammate Kaimana Lale-Saole rushed for 94 yards.
Say’s Na Alii squad also made the D-II state tournament in the first year of multiple state tourney divisions in 2003. That’s when Aiea stopped Lahainaluna 24-14 in the semis before edging Damien 9-7 for the championship.
‘Iolani is the owner of eight Division II state championships. Since moving up to D-I, the Raiders made it as far as the final twice, losing to Mililani 31-20 in 2016 and to Hilo 20-17 in 2019.
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CHECK OUT this Hawaii Prep World story about Wendell Say and Wendell Look after ‘Iolani’s 30-3 win in 2018: Did You Hear? Say and Look Go Head To Head
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ALSO At BedrockSportsHawaii.com:
>> Kahuku And Lahainaluna Are Top Seeds In Open And D-I State Football
>> Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s Saturday High School Football Scores And Weekend Wrap-up
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