Ben McQuown ran for 135 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown to lead No. 3 Wai'anae past No. 6 Kapolei, 14-13, and back to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Division championship game.

The Seariders (8-2) will meet Leilehua — a 7-3 winner over Farrington last night — at 8 p.m. Friday at Aloha Stadium for a chance to win their first league title since 1997.

"We want to get this one for the seniors and give one back to the community," said McQuown.

Kapolei (7-4), which had lost in the quarterfinal round the past three years, plays Farrington in the third-place game Saturday. The winner gets the OIA's third — and final — state berth.

After holding Kahuku to just 195 yards of total offense in a 14-7 upset last week, the Hurricanes' defense allowed 255 rushing yards by the Seariders, including 143 in the first half.

"It's tough to key on any one aspect of the game," said Kapolei head coach Darren Hernandez of the Wai'anae rushing attack. "They have so many weapons, it's like the proverbial finger in the dike problem where you shut down the middle and they run around end. You shut down the end and they come off tackle."

Trailing 14-7, Kapolei orchestrated a nine-play, 73-yard drive, capped by a 35-yard touchdown pass from Mason Koa to Chase Alcott with 2:49 left in the third.

The Hurricanes appeared to tie it at 14 on the ensuing extra point, but a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 18 and negated the kick. The attempt from 35 yards hit the left upright and was no good.

Kapolei got the ball back with 8:43 left in the game and moved to the Wai'anae 30 before turning the ball over on downs.

"There were a lot of mistakes on our part, we got lucky with this one," said Wai'anae head coach Dan Matsumoto.

Wai'anae took a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. BJ Jelf found the end zone on a 4-yard option keeper, and McQuown scored on a 10-yard run just before the end of the opening quarter.

On the play, McQuown took the handoff from Jelf and cut to the inside of five Kapolei defenders. Glenn Wain added the extra point to make it 14-0.

Kapolei got seven points from its defense when linebacker Tim Brown recovered a fumble in the end zone at the 6:04 mark in the second quarter to cut the lead to 14-7 at halftime.

KAPOLEI (7-4) 0 7 6 0 — 13

WAI'ANAE (8-2) 14 0 0 0 — 14

Waian — BJ Jelf 4 run (Glenn Wain kick)

Waian — Ben McQuown 10 run (Wain kick)

Kap — Tim Brown fumble recovery in end zone (Kevin Tanaka kick)

Kap — Chase Alcott 35 pass from Mason Koa (kick failed)

RUSHING — Kapolei: Cyril Ontai 10-36, Keli'i Aki 2-1, Koa 14-64, Shenon Moore 2-(minus 4), Bryan Tabion 7-22, Alcott 1-3, Jason Recamara 1-(minus 3). Wai'anae: McQuown 11-135, Johnathan Abell 11-45, Jelf 6-24, Danny Kekoanui 4-23, Justin Kauwalu 7-4, Toagamalu Brown 1-8, Bronson Panui 1-17, team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING — Kapolei: Koa 5-9-1—86. Wai'anae: Jelf 4-10-1—30.

RECEIVING — Kapolei: Nate Dixon 1-10, Tyler Kukahiko 3-41, Alcott 1-35. Wai'anae: McQuown 1-9, Abell 2-17, Kauwalu 1-4.

Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.