Mililani, HI
Waianae showed the entire island what resilience looked like Tuesday night, storming back from a 13-point deficit late to take down defending champion Moanalua 31-25 in overtime to win the OIA Division I Girls Flag Football Championship. In a game that had momentum swinging all night long, the Seariders never folded, even with previously undefeated Na Menehune looking in control heading into the final minutes. With the crowd packed into John Kauinana Stadium, Waianae continued to fight possession after possession until they finally broke through late. The win capped off an emotional night for the Seariders and secured the program’s spot in the upcoming state tournament with a first-round bye.
Moanalua looked sharp for most of the night behind quarterback Breidi-Ann Higa, who continued to show why she has been one of the top playmakers in the state all season. Higa connected multiple times with Jodie Keo, including three touchdown passes that helped Na Menehune build momentum throughout the second half. Keo constantly found openings downfield and made Waianae pay whenever the Seariders' defense slipped up. After another touchdown connection between the two stretched Moanalua’s lead to 25-12 late in the game, it looked like the defending champs were on their way to another title.
That was when Waianae flipped the switch. Sophomore quarterback Kawena-Lynn Kaluna led a huge late-game push, keeping plays alive with her legs and making clutch throws under pressure to slowly bring the Seariders back. A touchdown pass to Shyzelle Baron-Riveira cut the deficit down before Waianae struck again moments later when Makayla Gaston turned a short catch into a huge touchdown down the sideline. Kaluna then fought her way into the end zone on the conversion attempt to tie the game at 25, capping one of the biggest momentum swings of the season.
The defensive side of the ball began to change the game for Waianae as the pressure started getting to Moanalua late. Cadence Lau came up huge off the edge with multiple sacks that disrupted the rhythm of the Na Menehune offense and forced difficult situations in overtime. Madison Rodrigues also stepped up in key moments with several pass breakups after halftime, including a huge defensive play in overtime that gave the Seariders a chance to win the game themselves. After Moanalua failed to score in overtime, the momentum fully shifted to the Waianae sideline.
With the championship on the line, Kaluna delivered one final drive that the Seariders community will remember for a long time. After escaping pressure near the goal line, Kaluna found Chevylen-Brooke Beebe-Lee for the game-winning touchdown in overtime to complete the comeback and send the Waianae crowd into celebration. The touchdown was Beebe-Lee’s only catch of the game, making the moment even bigger as the senior came through in the biggest spot of the season. Waianae closed the night, scoring the final 19 points of the game and handing Moanalua its first loss of the year in dramatic fashion.
For Waianae, the victory was more than just a championship win. After finishing last season with a 9-4 record, the Seariders completed one of the biggest turnarounds in the state by taking down the defending champions and capturing the OIA Division I title. The grit, toughness, and belief Waianae played with all season were on full display Tuesday night as the Seariders proved they could battle through adversity against one of Hawai‘i’s top teams. Now with the OIA crown secured, Waianae shifts its focus toward the state tournament with hopes of bringing even more history back home to the coast.
Final Score: Waianae 31 - Moanalua 25 (OT)
For more pictures, head over to our photo gallery.
Pictures taken by: Alan Velasco - @oscalev_
Waianae Thriller
Video by: Alan Velasco - @oscalev_
