By Wes Nakama

WAIALUA — Making the most of their second chance, Waialua kicker Kaies Demello drilled a 27-yard field goal and the Bulldogs defense held firm to preserve a thrilling 37-34 victory over visiting Kalaheo at iconic Toshi Nakasone Field.

Demello, who had narrowly missed an extra point that would have given Waialua the win just minutes earlier, booted his second opportunity strong and true to help improve the Bulldogs to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the OIA Division II standings. Kalaheo, which had led 28-14 in the fourth quarter, fell to 2-3, 1-3.

Waialua scored two touchdowns in the final seven minutes of regulation and Demello’s PAT tied it at 28-28 with 4:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Mustangs struck quickly on the first play of overtime, when quarterback Jude Weber connected with receiver Nainoa Barbiento on a 20-yard touchdown pass. After an encroachment penalty moved the ball to the 1-yard line, Kalaheo chose to go for the two-point conversion but their running play was stopped short of the goal line, leaving the score at 34-28.

The Bulldogs then needed five plays to reach the end zone on the ensuing possession, capped by Rayden Wilson’s 4-yard run on fourth-and-goal. Demello’s extra point attempt went high above the right-side upright, and the officials ruled it wide.

“It felt like it was good,” said Demello, a 6-foot, 220-pound junior. “I’m not fully sure, but (from) where I was, it went through and sailed up. In my eyes, I swear it went in.”

Waialua took the first possession of the second OT and gained one first down but then faced fourth-and-goal from the 10. 

“As soon as I missed the first one, I was like, ‘OK, all I know is, if I get one more, I’m not missing,’ ” Demello said. “I’m glad I was able to get a second (chance). I had confidence in our defense, everybody had a hand in this win, even the people who didn’t go in. They motivated us, and so did the coaches who gave us the training we needed mentally and physically. It was everybody.”

There certainly was no shortage of action throughout the game, which featured the thrills of riding a North Shore wave.

The Bulldogs took an early 7-0 lead after taking the opening kickoff and marching 74 yards in just seven plays, capped by Emery Abilla’s 14-yard quarterback keeper. Bubui Buqui then returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to the Waialua 16, setting up Bubz Pyne’s 16-yard TD run two plays later. Loch Moorman’s PAT tied it at 7-7.

The Bulldogs took the lead back midway through the first quarter after a seven-play, 59-yard drive culminating in Abilla’s 13-yard scoring pass to Sky Hirota. Demello’s extra point made it 14-7.

The Mustangs answered with a 13-play, 74-yard march capped by Pyne’s 4-yard run, but the extra point attempt failed, leaving the score at 14-13.

Kalaheo took the second half kickoff and quickly covered 80 yards in just three plays, with Weber throwing a 25-yard touchdown strike to Baqui. Pyne then ran in the two-point conversion to put the Mustangs ahead, 21-14.

The Mustangs extended the lead to 28-14 early in the fourth quarter, after Barbieto’s interception and return gave them possession at the Waialua 28. Pyne ran it in from two yards out four plays later and Moorman tacked on the extra point.

The Bulldogs responded with a 10-play, 61-yard drive culminating in Wilson’s 4-yard run to paydirt, and Demello’s PAT cut it to 28-21 five minutes into the fourth quarter. Waialua then tied it up at 28-28 after another 4-yard scoring run by Wilson and Demello’s extra point with 4:32 left.

Wilson, a 5-10, 170-pound sophomore, finished with 202 yards rushing on 26 carries, with 23 rushes for 137 yards coming after halftime.

“He showed a lot of heart and grit,” Bulldogs coach Gary Wirtz said.

Neither team could score on their final possession of regulation, forcing overtime.

On Kalaheo’s final play in the second OT, facing fourth-and-9 from the 19, a pass to the right back corner of the end zone was broken up by Germaine Bagasol.

Wirtz said the Mustangs’ unpredictable offense was tough to defend all night.

“Fortunately we had a bye last week, so we had an extra week to prepare and we watched a lot of film on them,” Wirtz said. “But it was still tough — they come out in Wildcat (formation), Winged-T, Trips bunch … That’s impressive coaching, to get them to learn all that and execute. I don’t want to play them again (in the playoffs).”

That being said, Wirtz said the biggest difference in his team this year is the players’ confidence.

“Last year we were lacking in that,” Wirtz said. “This year, no matter who we play, they believe we can win.”