WAI'ANAE — Fourth-ranked Wai'anae made big plays at crucial times on defense and offense to hold off 'Iolani, 22-19, last night in nonleague football at Raymond Torii Field.

Linebacker Nalu Hauhio sacked Kela Marciel on fourth-and-2 from the Seariders' 7 to stall a Raiders' comeback attempt with 3:59 left in the game. Later, Seariders' quarterback Ben McQuown completed a crucial third-and-2 pass play for six yards and a first down and then ran for 20 yards on third-and-17 to enable Wai'anae to keep control of the ball in the final minutes.

It was the last tuneup for both teams. The Seariders (3-0) resumed O'ahu Interscholastic Association West action in two weeks against Leilehua; they were to play Campbell next week, but they have already won that game by forfeit because of the game-ending scuffle between the Sabers and 'Aiea last week. The Raiders (1-2) draw a bye next week before opening Interscholastic League of Honolulu play Sept. 14 against Damien.

Running back B.J. Jelf, the last of four running backs to touch the ball for the Seariders, led the way with 131 yards on 10 carries, including a seven-yard TD run with 4:32 left in the third quarter for the go-ahead TD. That came right after the Raiders took the lead, 19-15 on Marciel's five-yard TD pass to Kellen Imada.

The Raiders twice had apparent touchdowns nullified by penalties in their last drive that ended with Hauhio's sack.

A 15-yard TD pass to Yamada was called back when he was ruled an ineligible receiver by where he lined up and being that he touched the ball, a loss of down was added to the five-yard penalty. Two plays later, a 24-yard TD pass to Lionel Fujioka was recalled because of an ineligible receiver downfield penalty (another receiver was called, so there was no loss of down). On third-and-24 at the Wai'anae 29, Marciel hit Fujioka for a 22-yard pass play to the 7. But Hauhio fired through the center-guard gap and chased down Marciel for the nine-yard loss.

"My D-line went help me out," Hauhio said of the play. "I followed through and I got in. Our sam backer (contained Marciel) and I got him."

But it was far from over for the Seariders with 3:59 left. But McQuown saved the drive with his pass and long run to keep the ball away from the Raiders.

"The coach said if I see a crease to run and that's what I did," McQuown said of his 20-yard gain after dropping back to pass on third-and-17.

It was imperative that the Seariders hold the ball because the Raiders were able to move the ball on the Seariders' defense, which had given up just 16 points in its previous two games. The Raiders had 170 yards passing from Marciel that might have been expected, but also 97 yards from Justin Yamamoto that probably wasn't against a Seariders' defense usually reliable against the run.

"Our emphasis has been to run the ball, establish a running game," 'Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "Tonight, we did a good job of it."

The Raiders came out with Marciel picking apart the Seariders' secondary, completing 4 of 6 passes for 60 yards en route to an 11-play, 74-yard drive that ended with running back Yamamoto's five-yard TD run. Christopher Otani's PAT made it 7-0 with 8:27 left in the first quarter.

The Seariders used brute force on their ensuing series with a 10-play drive — all runs — with running back Justin Kauwalu going off right guard for the final two yards. Glenn Wain's PAT tied the game at 7 with 3:32 left in the first quarter.

The first turnover of the game came when Bronson Panui intercepted Marciel at the Seariders' 8 with 1:50 left in the first quarter.

A 70-yard run by Jelf put Wai'anae at the 'Iolani 5. Two plays later, running back Danny Kekoanui scored on a two-yard run. An encroachment penalty on the Raiders during the PAT try changed the Seariders' mind to go for 2. McQuown hit Preston Cummings in the end zone to complete the conversion to make it 15-7 with 11:19 left in the second quarter.

But the Raiders came back on their next series, mixing some successful runs by Yamamoto with some nifty passes by Marciel to set up a four-yard TD catch by Fujioka at 6:23. But Otani's PAT was short and the Raiders trailed 15-13.

Despite an 'Iolani fumble at its 23, Wai'anae failed to score because of a sack by Matt Koyama and an incomplete pass broken up by Andrew Skalman on the final play of the half.

"We're not in midseason form yet," McQuown said. "We're still learning. But this was important, to get the 3-0 in the standings."

McQuown and Hauhio both said they welcome the off week to heal from injuries and the extra preparation for Leilehua.

"That will help us, the bye," Hauhio said. "We can lift weights, get strong, get ready for Leilehua."

"I'd rather earn the win, but a win is a win, so I'll take that," McQuown added. "We have homecoming the following week, so hopefully we'll be ready for Leilehua."

'IOLANI (1-2) 7 6 6 0—19

WAI'ANAE (3-0) 7 8 7 0—22

Iol — Justin Yamamoto 5 run (Christopher Otani kick)

Waian — Justin Kauwalu 2 run (Glenn Wain kick)

Waian — Danny Kekoanui 2 run (Preston Cummings pass from Ben McQuown)

Iol — Lionel Fujioka 4 pass from Kela Marciel (kick failed)

Iol — Kellen Imada 5 pass from Marciel (pass failed)

Waian — B.J. Jelf 7 run (Wain kick)

RUSHING—'Iolani: Marciel 6-7, Yamamoto 20-97

Wai'anae: Ben McQuown 7-36, Johnathan Abell 10-67, Kauwalu 14-54, Danny Kekoanui 7-'0, B.J. Jelf 10-131, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING—'Iolani: Marciel 17-22-1—170. Wai'anae: McQuown 5-8-0—39

RECEIVING—'Iolani: Ronnie HIrokawa 3-36, Fujioka 9-121, Aaron Fong 1-7, Yamamoto 1-1, Imada 1-5, Reid Furukawa 2-0. Wai'anae: Kekoanui 1-9, Jelf 1-1, Jahsiah Bales 1-18, Kauwalu 1-5, Ryan Manuel 1-6.

Reported by Kat Cadirao

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.