KAPOLEI — Lyle Santiago intercepted two passes in the final two minutes, the second one with 22 seconds remaining, to help Kapolei rally past Kailua, 14-7, last night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association first-round playoff action.

The Hurricanes improved to 6-3 and will travel to defending state champion Kahuku (6-2) for a quarterfinal game on Friday.

Kailua's season ends at 3-6.

With the score 7-7 midway through the fourth quarter, the Surfriders blocked a 41-yard field-goal attempt and gained two first downs running the ball, advancing to near midfield. But on second-and-11 from their 43, the Surfriders tried a pass over the middle that was overthrown. Santiago caught the ball at his 40, then zig-zagged his way 35 yards to the Kailua 25.

"We were in a three-man zone, and I was the only safety back there," said Santiago, a junior. "I was just looking, looking for the opening, and then I saw it."

Four plays later, fullback Cyril Ontai ran into the end zone on a dive play from 4 yards out. Jason Tanaka's extra point made it 14-7 with 56 seconds left.

Kailua returned the ensuing kickoff to its 36, then gained 33 yards on the first play when quarterback Kale Sumner completed a 10-yard pass near the right sideline to Jackie Uemoto, who then lateraled the ball to Brandon Adviento.

Adviento ran it all the way to the Kapolei 31 before being tackled.

But after an incompletion on first down, Santiago stepped in front of a short pass to the left sideline and the Hurricanes took over with 22 seconds remaining. The Surfriders had only one timeout remaining, and Kapolei took a knee to run out the clock.

"We just had to stick together and not give up," Santiago said. "After the (hook and lateral), we said, 'Forget it, just stop them now.' "

The Hurricanes' defense had been opportunistic all night, allowing 193 yards rushing but also coming up with four turnovers.

"I think our defense had one of those 'bend-but-don't break' nights," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "They played tough and made big plays when they had to."

Kailua marched 64 yards in just seven plays on its first possession, scoring on a 25-yard catch-and-run from Sumner to Bubu Naki. Kaimi Sarkissian's extra point made it 7-0 with 7:29 left in the first quarter.

But the Surfriders would not get near the end zone again.

Late in the second quarter, Sumner was hit just before releasing a throw and linebacker Maverick Satele scooped up the loose ball and ran it about 25 yards to the Kailua 5. On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Mason Koa completed a play-action pass over the middle to Shayden Akuna. Tanaka's extra point tied it with five seconds remaining.

"Our defense did an admirable job, but we weren't able to finish drives on offense," Surfriders coach Gary Rosolowich said. "It's the same problem we've had before, but unfortunately this is the playoffs and you don't get another chance."

KAILUA (3-6) 7 0 0 0— 7

KAPOLEI (6-3) 0 7 0 7—14

Kai — Bubu Naki 25 pass from Kale Sumner (Kaimi Sarkissian kick)

Kap — Shayden Akuna 1 pass from Mason Koa (Kevin Tanaka kick)

Kap — Cyril Ontai 4 run (Tanaka kick)

RUSHING — Kailua: Kaleo Wong 9-41, Brandon Adviento 10-82, Sumner 4-14, Lowen Tynanes-Perez 8-34, Kenny Ellis 1-14, Joshua Ferrigno 1-8. Kapolei: Chad Lopati 2-(minus 2), Keli'i Aki 3-17, Tim Brown 1-2, Bryan Tabion 4-36, Koa 10-36, Jason Racamara 7-48, Chase Alcott 4-37, Ontai 5-10, Moore 1-1.

PASSING — Kailua: Sumner 6-13-2—91. Kapolei: Koa 4-5-0—60, Noah Pascua 2-2-0—9.

RECEIVING — Kailua: Ferrigno 1-10, Naki 2-53, Ellis 1-17, Kaimi Sarkissian 1-1, Jackie Uemoto 1-10. Kapolei: Koa 1-9, Tyler Kukahiko 1-6, Akuna 1-1, Nate Dixon 1-15, Moore 1-0, Kalani Omoto 1-38.

OIA WHITE

KAIMUKI 53, KALANI 7

The Bulldogs rolled past the Falcons last night at Kaiser to finish 8-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Division. Game statistics were unavailable.

Kaimuki earned the top seed in the OIA tournament and will play the fourth seed, while Waipahu, which finished second at 7-1, will play the third seed. Pearl City and Roosevelt were 5-2-1, and a coin toss will be held tomorrow with the winner getting the third seed and the loser the fourth seed.waialua 22, nAnAkuli 8

Donovan Matas completed just five passes, but two went for touchdowns, one to Kaleo Lopez, who also ran 33 yards for another score as the host Bulldogs beat the Golden Hawks in an OIA White game at Toshi Nakasone Field.

Matas threw an 8-yard TD pass to Joseph Kaululaau and a 35-yarder to Lopez.

NANAKULI (2-7, 2-6) 8 0 0 0— 8

WAIALUA (3-6, 2-6) 6 9 7 0—22

Nana — Solo Sausi 5 run (Koa Tuafale pass from Lalo Respicio)

Wai —Joseph Kaululaau 8 pass from Donovan Matas 8 (kick failed)

Wai — FG Reggie Carillo 15

Wai — Kaleo Lopez 35 pass from Matas (pass failed)

Wai — Lopez 33 run (Kaikala Carvalho kick) RUSHING — Nanakuli: Respicio 6-48, Sausi 9-44, Tuafale 4-14, Chadez Alvarado-Williams 5-33, Nalu Garcia 1-1. Waialua: Matas 10-100, Kaululaau 10-74, Lopez 2-33, Adrian Foster 4-22.

PASSING — Nanakuli: Respicio 4-5-2—39. Waialua: Matas 5-23-1—105.

RECEIVING — Nanakuli: Alvarado-Williams 3-35, Troy Alana 1-4. Waialua: Lopez 2-48, Kaululaau 1-8, Foster 1-43, A.J. Hernandez 1-6.

JV SCORE — NANAKULI 21, WAIALUA 0

Reported by Salvie Alsanta

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.