The Word of Life Academy football team doesn't try to confuse defenses with multiple formations or personnel changes.

The Firebrands, who won their first game in their two-year varsity history in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Friday, have a straight-forward, smash-mouth approach when it comes to offense.

"We have basically three run plays that we use over and over again," WOLA coach Joe Onosai said. "It's not a secret what we're going to do."

The Firebrands defeated Damien, 50-42, in triple overtime. Word of Life's only other victory was a nonleague win over Nänäkuli last year.

Junior running back Awa Poggi carried a workman-like 36 times for 203 yards and four touchdowns against the Monarchs — two in the fourth quarter and two in overtime.

"We didn't realize we gave him the ball 36 times, but he's heads and shoulders above everyone else on our team in terms of conditioning," Onosai said.

Poggi, who is 5 feet 8 and 150 pounds, also plays safety, cornerback and linebacker on defense as well as kickoff and punt returner on special teams.

"He's kind of like our ironman. So in the fourth quarter, we're just trying to put the ball in his hands and he's going to get the extra yards," Onosai said. "We knew he was going to score. He's so competitive that he doesn't like to lose."

Poggi rushed seven times for 32 yards on the Firebrands' first scoring drive. He had just 39 yards on 12 carries at halftime, but Word of Life racked up 119 rushing yards on 25 attempts.

"Our offensive line is a big reason why we're finding success running the ball. We probably have the biggest offensive line in the ILH," Onosai said. "We tried the spread and pistol offenses early in the season, but I didn't think we were using our strengths, so we've gone back to the double wing."

The offensive line averages more than 6 feet and 250 pounds.

Poggi carried 24 times in the second half for 164 yards.

His first touchdown run was for 3 yards and his second — a 5-yarder — tied it late in regulation. Poggi also ran in both two-point conversion attempts.

Poggi scored on a 2-yard run in the first overtime and made a pivotal reception — WOLA's only attempted pass of the game — in the second extra period.

Wide receiver Matthew Rojas threw an option pass to Poggi, who picked up 13 yards on third-and-12 to extend the drive. Richard Landford scored on a 7-yard run two plays later.

In the deciding third overtime, it was clear Onosai wanted the ball in the hands of his workhorse back.

After a false start on the first play, Poggi carried on first, second and third downs — the last resulting in an 11-yard, go-ahead, score. Poggi again got the call on the two-point attempt and he converted with a plunge through the right side.

"He's mentally tough and very strong," Onosai said of Poggi. "He's very deceptive, he doesn't look that strong, but it takes more than arm tackling to bring him down, you have to wrap him up."

Onosai hopes Friday's win is an indication of things to come next year.

"It took us three years to win an intermediate championship title and it's going to take us at least three years to compete on the varsity level for the title," said Onosai, who noted the sophomores and juniors on the team were on the intermediate title-winning team.

"I think this gives us confidence to finish off this season and hopefully we can take this into our offseason training and into next year. It gives our players reason to believe."