WAI'ANAE — The O'ahu Interscholastic Association's wild, wild Western Division regular season finally came to a conclusion last night, with Wai'anae steamrolling visiting Kapolei, 28-7, before a crowd of about 2,200 at Raymond Torii Stadium.

The victory locked up second place in the West for the Seariders, who are ranked No. 8 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media. Wai'anae, 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the West, earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and probable home field advantage in the quarterfinals week after next.

The loss knocked No. 8 Kapolei (5-3, 3-3) down to fourth place, meaning the Hurricanes will host a first-round game next week against either Castle, Kailua or Kalaheo.

It also means the end of the season for 'Aiea, which also is 3-3 in the West but ends up sixth after head-to-head tiebreakers with Campbell, Kapolei and Leilehua.

Campbell, which would have been eliminated with a Kapolei victory, now ends up third and earns a first-round bye via the tiebreakers.

A loss last night would have pushed Wai'anae down to fifth and forced the Seariders to travel for a first-round game next week. But punishing work on the line of scrimmage wore the Hurricanes down and helped stretch a 7-0 lead through three quarters into a 28-0 advantage with 3:30 remaining in the game.

"Like our coaches always say, the game is usually won on the line of scrimmage," said Wai'anae senior guard Richard Nansen, who helped the Seariders grind out 210 rushing yards. "Whoever dominates that will probably win the game."

Wai'anae established its running game early, marching 63 yards in nine plays and scoring on BJ Jelf's 8-yard quarterback keeper with 1:58 left in the first quarter. Glenn Wain's extra point made it 7-0.

Kapolei hung tough and that's how the score stood until early in the fourth quarter, when Jelf scored on a 9-yard keeper. The extra point attempt was blocked.

Fullback Jonathan Abell scored on a 17-yard run up the middle to help put the Seariders up, 21-0, with 7:53 remaining, and tailback Justin Kauwalu's 9-yard TD run and Wain's extra point made it 28-0 with 3:30 left.

Kauwalu led a balanced rushing attack with 88 yards on 16 carries.

"They're very physical in the trenches, more physical than us," Hurricanes coach Darren Hernandez said of the Seariders. "We made a valiant effort, but our defense was on the field way too long and eventually they wore us out. Their line did a hell of a job, and they just played old-school Wai'anae football and ran right at us. And even on offense, we couldn't muster anything."

Kapolei, which was held to 126 total yards, finally scored on Noah Pascua's 13-yard run with under a minute remaining.

"It's fun to watch our players execute what we practice during the week," Seariders coach Danny Matsumoto said. "I thought BJ stepped up and did a good job in his first start, too. Hopefully we can keep up the intensity for the playoffs."

KAPOLEI (5-3, 3-3) 0 0 0 7 — 7

WAI'ANAE (6-2, 4-2) 7 0 0 21 — 28

Wai — BJ Jelf 8 run (Glenn Wain kick)

Wai — Jelf 9 run (kick blocked)

Wai — Jonathan Abell 17 run (Jelf run)

Wai — Justin Kauwalu 9 run (Wain kick)

RUSHING — Kapolei: Chase Alcott 3-27, Keli'i Aki 6-36, Mason Koa 11-(minus-35), Noah Pascua 5-33, Bryan Tabion 4-13. Wai'anae: Abell 3-21, Jelf 9-48, Kauwalu 16-88, Danny Kekoanui 9-50, Shawn Brooks 2-3.

PASSING — Kapolei: Koa 4-8-1—18, Pascua 5-12-1—34. Wai'anae: Kekoanui 0-1-0—0, Jelf 6-15-2—83.

RECEIVING — Kapolei: Aki 3-9, Kalani Omoto 2-13, Cyril Ontai 1-6, Alcott 3-24. Wai'anae: Abell 1-19, Kauwalu 2-20, Kekoanui 2-9, Wain 1-35.

JV score: Wai'anae 23, Kapolei 7

OIA RED EAST

KALAHEO 24, MCKINLEY 21: The Mustangs defeated the Tigers to forge a three-way tie with Castle and Kailua for third in the OIA Red East. All three teams are 3-3. A coin toss will be held tomorrow to determine the third, fourth and fifth seeds for the playoffs.

OIA WHITE

PEARL CITY 35, WAIALUA 31: Anthony Dewalt rushed for 182 yards and scored on runs of 4, 28 and 30 yards as the Chargers rallied past the Bulldogs which led 28-14 at halftime behind Joe Kaululaau, who rushed for three touchdowns, and also caught a TD pass.

WAIALUA (2-6, 1-6) 9 19 3 0—31

PEARL CITY (5-2, 5-2) 0 14 0 21—35

Wail — Joe Kaululaau 4 rush (kick failed)

Wail — FG Carillo 35

Wail — Kaululaau 63 run (Carillo kick)

PC — Aaron Puahala 7 pass from Kawika Borden (Anthony King kick)

Wail — Kaululaau 7 pass from Donovan Matas (kick failed)

PC — Antoin Dewalt 4 run (King kick)

Wail — Kaululaau 5 run (two-point conversion failed)

Wail — FG Carillo 25

PC — Dewalt 28 pass from Borden (kick failed)

PC — Dewalt 30 run (Borden run)

PC — Borden 2 run (King kick) RUSHING — Waialua: Kaululaau 21-171, Matas 21-107, Kaleo Lopez 1-3, Donovan Langaman 1-2. Pearl City: Dewalt 14-182, Borden 3-20, Jared Cudiamat 5-35, Joe Moe 5-5, Troy Antoque 4-15, Kodie Frank 1-4.

PASSING — Waialua: Matas 11-28-1-111. Pearl City: Borden 8-13-1-96, Frank 4-8-0-39.

RECEIVING — Waialua: Kaleo Lopez 4-40, Kaululaau 5-53, Michael Montgomery 1-6, Adrian Foster 1-12. Pearl City: Sky Kaapuni 4-22, Puahala 4-41, Dewalt 1-28, Cudiamat 3-44.

JV score — Pearl City 35, Waialua 0

Reported by Reid Nonaka

WAIPAHU 27, 'ANUENUE 6: Keo Palimo'o ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns and Troy Matautia threw a 47-yard TD pass to Gordon Cox and also scored on a yard run to lead the Marauders past Na Koa.

'ANUENUE (4-5, 3-5) 0 0 0 6— 6

WAIPAHU (6-2, 6-1) 0 6 14 7—27

Waip — Gordon Cox 47 pass from Troy Matautia (kick failed)

Waip — Matautia 1 run (Keo Palimo'o run)

Waip — Palimo'o 1 run (kick failed)

Waip — Palimo'o 4 run (Palimo'o kick)

'Anue — Ka'ehukai Nauka 1 run (kick failed)

RUSHING — 'Anuenue: Nauka 15-27, Kanani Armitage 2-(minus 3), 'Olu'olu Naone 3-32, Keli'ipio Adams 2-3. Waipahu: Matautia 15-89, Palimo'o 20-104, Brandon Sahagun 1-0, Freemont Aguinaldo 1-10, Tyler Martin 4-24, Kaimi Haina 2-(minus 2).

PASSING — 'Anuenue: Nauka 10-24-0—166. Waipahu: Matautia 2-6-0—53.

RECEIVING — 'Anuenue: Kamaki Sherman 3-70, Makaio Liua 4-30, Kainoa Keana'aina 2-10, Kekoa Sitarek 1-56. Waipahu: Martin 1-6, Cox 1-47.

JV score — Waipahu 35, 'Anuenue 0

Reported by Tats Hikiji

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.