For the first time since 1971, Waipahu brought home an O'ahu Interscholastic Association football championship trophy to the former sugar plantation town.

The Marauders rallied past Kaimuki, 22-6, last night for the OIA White Conference title at Aloha Stadium, their first crown since winning the overall league championship 35 years ago.

Waipahu (7-2-2) will travel to the Big Island next week for the first round of the Division II state tournament against the winner of last night's game between Kamehameha-Hawai'i and Konawaena.

Kaimuki (6-3-1) will play at Radford on Friday against the winner of tonight's Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II playoff game between Damien and 'Iolani.

But for at least one night, Waipahu could celebrate a hard-earned championship just one year after a trying 1-7 season.

"It feels great to win this, because we worked for it as a family," said senior defensive lineman Aaron Pa'ahana, who kicked a first-half field goal and helped the Marauders hold the Bulldogs to 35 total yards in the second half. "The offensive line stepped up, the defensive line plugged holes, the secondary played great ... everything the coaches preach, we put into effect."

Pa'ahana's 27-yard field goal gave the Marauders a 3-0 lead with 46 seconds remaining in the first quarter, but Kaimuki responded with a nine-play, 71-yard drive culminating in Maua Tuitele's 1-yard touchdown plunge with 7:31 left in the half. The extra-point attempt failed, but the Bulldogs took the 6-3 lead into the locker room.

"We have a lot of two-way players, so our (position) coaches didn't really get a chance to speak to them during the first half," Waipahu coach Sean Saturnio said. "They finally got to make some adjustments for the kids."

The Marauders took a 10-6 lead with 4:34 remaining in the third quarter on Gil Fernandez's 5-yard quarterback keeper and Pa'ahana's extra point.

Kaimuki then lost a fumble on its first play following the ensuing kickoff, and Waipahu cashed in with 19 seconds left in the quarter on a 6-yard TD run by Keo Palimo'o on fourth-and-3. The extra-point attempt failed, but the momentum clearly shifted in the Marauders' direction.

"We kind of knew at this point that the team that makes the least mistakes will win," Bulldogs coach Daniel Mafua said. "I think Waipahu was more disciplined than we were. We were still making mistakes on offense and we weren't executing like we're capable of. But give Waipahu credit, they did a wonderful job."

The Marauders used a spread option attack run by Fernandez to grind out 188 yards rushing against a Kaimuki defense that featured several two-way players.

"Knowing they have a lot of starters who play both ways, our game plan was to play very physical," Saturnio said. "I always thought Kaimuki was the most athletic team in the White, and we knew it was going to be a hard-hitting, knock-down, drag-out kind of game. But we were still strong in the fourth quarter."

Waipahu sealed the victory with Jesse Doctolero's 26-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds remaining, setting off a loud celebration on their sideline and in the stands.

"It was a team effort," Fernandez said. "It feels good."

KAIMUKI (6-3-1) 0 6 0 0 — 6

WAIPAHU (7-2-2) 3 0 13 6 — 22

Wai — FG Aaron Pa'ahana 27

Kai — Maua Tuitele 1 run (kick failed)

Wai — Gilbert Fernandez 5 run (Pa'ahana kick)

Wai — Keo Palimo'o 6 run (kick failed)

Wai — Jesse Doctolero 26 run (kick failed)

RUSHING — Kai: Stephen Harris 4-33, Tuitele 1-1, Joshwa Salvador 4-29, Perry Faleao 1-0, Chase Nanod 6-27, Keone Reyes 1-0, Kapono Kaiwi-Barrenuebo 2-(minus-5). Wai: Palimo'o 12-41, Fernandez 8-32, Matt Soueira 5-2, Doctolero 5-42, Tyler Martin 1-5, Dayton Duff-Domingo 3-50, Tauave Vili 3-19.

PASSING — Kai: Harris 2-5-0—19, Kaiwi-Barrenuebo 2-9-1—19. Wai: Fernandez 4-7-0—52.

RECEIVING — Kai: Romnick Paguryan 1-2, Nanod 1-17, Christopher Etuale 2-19. Wai: Duff-Domingo 3-22, Soueira 1-30.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.