Good thing for 'Aiea, Keenan Naeole played Friday night.

Naeole threw for 251 yards on 23-of-32 passing for three touchdowns and no interceptions as host 'Aiea upset then-No. 6 Wai'anae, 30-20, in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West football game.

"He's coming off the flu so we were kind of unsure because at the beginning of the week, he was really sick," 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "He came back and didn't miss a beat in practice."

Naeole threw a 28-yard pass to Aldodius Colquitt for the game's first touchdown. Naeole also threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Echalas and a 6-yard TD pass to Colquitt.

"Against Wai'anae, he threw well," Say said. "At the beginning, he was trying to get his timing back. Once he got it back, the timing went well."

Say said Naeole has been consistent as of late, which comes at an opportune time as Na Ali'i make a push for the OIA playoffs.

"The last few weeks, he's been consistent," Say said. "We need that because he's the quarterback and we need that since we throw the ball a lot.

"He needs to keep everybody positive and keep everything going, keep the flow going."

Say credits his offensive line for protecting Naeole and giving him time to throw, and his receivers for making the connection with Naeole. Colquitt had eight catches for 112 yards. Mason Puckett also nailed three field goals for 'Aiea, including one from 44 yards.

"It all starts with our line," Say said. "We told Keenan, everything starts with the offensive line."

'Aiea finishes the regular season at Leilehua Friday. Na Ali'i (4-3, 3-2) are currently in third place in the competitive OIA Red West and the top five teams from each division make the playoffs.

"The way the league is going, all the teams in the West, on any given day, anybody can beat each other," Say said. "We just got to focus on our execution and minimizing our mistakes."

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.