Despite turning over the ball twice as many times, host Roosevelt slipped-and-slided to a 21-7 win against 'Anuenue last night at a muddy Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

The win keeps the Rough Riders in contention in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White and sets up next week's showdown against division leader Kaimuki, which has a bye this week. Roosevelt (4-1 overall, 4-1 White) can pull into a tie with the Bulldogs (4-1, 4-0) with a win.

Heavy rain during the junior varsity game left Roosevelt's field in a mud bog, putting all ball carriers in peril. Roosevelt lost the ball six times, five on fumbles. One was returned 42 yards by Makaio Liua for Na Koa's only score that tied the game at 7 in the second quarter.

"It could go either way, this kind of game," Roosevelt coach Lester Parrilla said. "You make so many mistakes, it's over. We got away lucky."

'Anuenue (3-3, 2-3) lost two fumbles and was intercepted once.

The passing game was pretty much nullified by the conditions and that hampered pass-oriented Na Koa, who had three completions go for lost yardage and two more for no gain. The two quarterbacks — Ka'ehukai Nauka and Kamaki Sherman — were a combined 8 of 20 for 9 yards.

"We're a passing team and our quarterbacks couldn't get a handle of the ball, so we had to run," 'Anuenue coach Kealoha Wengler said. "That hurt us."

Moreover, Zach Hamasaki's 60-yard interception return for a TD late in the third quarter secured the Rough Riders' lead.

But running the ball wasn't exactly safe, either. Roosevelt running back Ranson Tuitama led all with 101 yards on 24 carries, including a one-yard TD run. But even he was victimized by the mud, losing a fumble.

"It was horrible, terrible," Tuitama said of the field. "Couldn't cut, wet. Not good."

The mud affected the game early. Na Koa's first series ended with a high snap in punt formation from their 25 that gave Roosevelt possession at its 11. Three plays later, Tuitama scored his TD to give Roosevelt a 7-0 lead after Alex Fowler's PAT.

Roosevelt threatened early in the second quarter, but Lowen Furuta-Harada fumbled after a 14-yard reception and Liua returned it 42 yards for a TD with 8:07 left in the half. 'Olu'olu Naone's PAT tied the game at 7.

The Rough Riders scored on their first series in the second half when Furuta-Harada took a pitch on an option to the left and scored on a 7-yard run to cap an eight-play, 62-yard drive. The PAT was missed, but Roosevelt had a 13-7 lead with 8:15 left in the third quarter.

With Roosevelt threatening again later in the quarter, Liua returned an interception from the 'Anuenue 1 for 41-yard return. But two plays later, Hamasaki's 60-yard interception return put Na Koa in a deeper hole.

'ANUENUE (3-3, 2-3) 0 7 0 0— 7

ROOSEVELT (4-1, 4-1) 7 0 14 0—21

Roos — Ranson Tuitama 1 run (Alex Fowler kick)

'Anue — Makaio Liua 42 fumble return ('Olu'olu Naone kick)

Roos — Lowen Furuta-Harada 7 run (kick failed)

Roos — Zach Hamasaki 60 interception return (Tuitama pass from Lowen Kahooilihala)

RUSHING — 'Anuenue: Ka'ehukai Nauka 9-12, Kanani Armitage 4-5, Naone 5-10, Team 1-(minus 14), Kamaki Sherman 7-41, Lopena Kamana 1-(minus 5), Kekoa Sitarek 3-(minus 3). Roosevelt: Kahooilihala 1-(minus 1), Tuitama 24-101, Team 2-(minus 19), Fowler 3-16, Furuta-Harada 1-7, Tyler Kila 2-11.

PASSING — 'Anuenue: Nauka 8-17-1—9, Sherman 0-3-0—0. Roosevelt: Kahooilihala 5-15-1—73, Tuitama 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING — 'Anuenue: Naone 1-0, Armitage 1-(minus 6), Sherman 5-(minus 2), Keli'i Kon 1-17. Roosevelt: Furuta-Harada 2-28, Justin Otaguro 2-29, Victor Kapihe 1-16.

JV SCORE — ROOSEVELT 14, 'ANUENUE 7

KAISER 3, WAIALUA 0

Kyle Niiro kicked a 45-yard field goal in the second quarter and the host Cougars made it stand up in their OIA White victory over the Bulldogs.

WAIALUA (2-4, 1-4) 0 0 0 0—0

KAISER (2-3, 2-2) 0 3 0 0—3

Kaiser — FG Kyle Niiro 45.

RUSHING — Waialua: Donovan Matas 13-99, Adrian Foster 6-21, Scott Endow 2-minus 2, Justin Lopez 2-6. Kaiser: Jesse Kauhola 12-63, Nainoa Kam 12-45, Kalua Noa 4-28, Cal Tashiro 4-minus 6, Laakea Awong 1-1.

PASSING — Waialua: Shayne Peiler 2-6-0-13, Matas 4-10-1-26. Kaiser: Tashiro 7-15-2-71, Awong 2-5-0-33.

RECEIVING — Waialua: Matas 2-13, Foster 2-7, Lopez 1-12, Michael Montgomery 1-7. Kaiser: Kauhola 2-13, Noa 5-49, Kam 1-22, James Hastie 1-20.

JV SCORE — KAISER 36, WAIALUA 0

Reported by Ceara Kaakimaka

WAIPAHU 49, PEARL CITY 26

Keo Palimo'o rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and Troy Matautia passed for three touchdowns — two to Atu Loua — as the host Marauders rallied past the Chargers in an OIA White game.

PEARL CITY (2-2, 2-2) 12 6 0 8—26

WAIPAHU (3-2, 3-1) 0 22 13 14—49

Pearl City — Skye Kaapuni 64 pass from Kawika Borden (kick failed)

Pearl City — Antoin Dewalt 7 run (run failed)

Waipahu — Keo Palimo'o 8 run (Palimo'o kick)

Pearl City — Dewalt 26 run (kick blocked)

Waipahu — Atu Loua 11 pass from Troy Matautia (Palimo'o run)

Waipahu — Loua 50 pass from Matautia (Palimo'o kick)

Waipahu — Tyler Martin 35 run (Palimo'o kick)

Waipahu — Gordon Cox 17 pass from Matautia (kick failed)

Waipahu — Palimo'o 2 run (Palimo'o kick)

Pearl City — Kaapuni 30 pass from Borden (Borden run)

Waipahu — Kaimi Haina 44 fumble return (Palimo'o kick)

RUSHING — Pearl City: Jared Cudiamat 8-50, John Yamada 2-minus 3, Dewalt 14-120, Borden 8-29, Joe Moe 1-minus 4, Kodie Frank 1-3. Waipahu: Matautia 7-24, Palimo'o 27-191, Martin 3-40, Mike Poscablo 1-2.

PASSING — Pearl City: Borden 6-6-0-125, Frank 1-1-0-10. Waipahu: Matautia 4-6-0-111.

RECEIVING — Pearl City: Kaapuni 3-103, Dewalt 1-minus 3, Aaron Puahala 2-25, Moe 1-10. Waipahu: Loua 3-94, Cox 1-17.

JV score — Waipahu 7, Pearl City 0.

Reported by Tats Hikiji

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.