DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Farrington quarterback Royce Machado tried to get past Leilehua's Blake Furtado in a 41-8 win last night.

Govs easily
take care of Mules

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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

Last week, Farrington got the help it needed to qualify for the postseason.

Last night, the Governors took advantage of their good fortune with a 41-8 win over Leilehua in the opening round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs at Aloha Stadium.

The Governors (4-4 OIA, 5-4 overall) advance to face defending league and state champion Kahuku in next week's quarterfinals.

Farrington was the last team to secure a playoff berth, gaining the fifth spot in the OIA East Red Conference when Castle defeated Roosevelt last week.

"During practice this week the boys felt real excited," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "For the seniors it was their first time in the playoffs, so it was a good experience for them."

Leilehua, the fourth-place finisher in the OIA West Red, closed the season 3-5 in league and 4-5 overall.

Farrington running back Matt Bell rushed for 176 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Governors into the quarterfinals. QB Royce Machado completed 10 of 14 passes for 136 yards and three scores.

In a performance that Okimoto called their best offensive outing of the season, the Governors racked up 413 yards, 277 on the ground.

A young Farrington defense, which took its lumps in the regular season, did its part by holding Leilehua to 166 yards in total offense. Tino Uli led the Governors with nine tackles and an interception, while Andrew Moi had six tackles and a sack.

The Governors held Mules running back Jon Sanborn to 46 yards, 50 below his regular-season average.

"We've got some sophomores on the D-line, a sophomore at free safety, so it gives them a helluva lot of confidence," Okimoto said. This really helps."

Bell powered the Governors to a 21-0 halftime lead, carrying the ball 18 times for 147 yards in the first half.

The Farrington defense did its part by holding Leilehua to 59 total yards in the opening two quarters.

Bell set the tone on Farrington's first possession by carrying the ball on each of the Governors' first four plays from scrimmage for 75 yards.

Machado finished the drive by hitting Dionte Nomaaea on a 5-yard slant for a touchdown.

Machado, who completed 6 of 8 passes for 68 yards in the first half, hooked up with Bell for a 21-yard scoring pass to cap Farrington's next drive, giving the Governors a 14-0 lead.

Farrington extended the lead in the second quarter when offensive lineman Smith Lafaele picked up a fumble by Bell and rumbled 11 yards for a TD.

Bell continued to power the Governors' offense in the second half, scoring on an 8-yard run. He also set up a score with a 42-yard punt return. Two plays later, Machado hit Nomaaea on a fly pattern for a 34-yard touchdown pass to give Farrington a 34-0 lead.

Leilehua got on the scoreboard with 6:05 left in the game on Joshua Perez's 12-yard touchdown pass to Sanborn.

Farrington's Erick Pedro capped the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run, and just moments after the final seconds ticked off the clock, Okimoto's attention turned toward next week.

"The road to the championship goes through Kahuku," Okimoto said. "It's going to be a challenge for us, but the guys look forward to the challenge."

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At Aloha Stadium

Farrington (4-4, 5-4)147614--41

Leilehua (3-5, 4-5)0008--8

Far -- Dionte Nomaaea 5 pass from Royce Machado (Matt Bell kick)
Far -- Bell 21 pass from Machado (Smith Lafaele kick)
Far -- Lafaele 11 run (Lafaele kick)
Far -- Bell 8 run (kick blocked)
Far -- Nomaaea 34 pass from Machado (Lafaele kick)
Lei -- Jon Sanborn 12 pass from Joshua Perez (Pio Malagaoma run)
Far -- Erick Pedro 23 run (Lafaele kick)
RUSHING -- Leilehua: Jon Sanborn 11-46, P.J. San Nicolas 1-2, Joshua Perez 8-(-30), Cedric Thomas 7-63. Farrington: Bell 26-176, Machado 3-27, Samson Milo 1-1, Jostin Waialae 4-12, Lafaele 0-11, Mark Tajon 8-37, Eti Atonio 2-(-10), Erick Pedro 1-23.
PASSING -- Leilehua: Perez 7-12-1-85. Farrington: Machado 10-14-0-136.
RECEIVING -- Leilehua: Dallas Pauu 1-25, Edward Garma 1-12, Wade Robinson 1-(-5), Dee Adams 2-22, Jonathan Scruggs 1-19, Sanborn 1-12. Farrington: Alvin Faumui 1-5, Nomaaea 5-80, Bell 4-51.
Att -- 2,145

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OIA playoffs YESTERDAY >> Castle 27, Kaimuki 7 >> Farrington 41, Leilehua 8 TODAY >> Mililani vs. Nanakuli, 5:05 p.m. >> McKinley vs. Waipahu, 7:35 p.m. OCT. 31 >> Kahuku vs. Farrington, 5:05 p.m. >> Campbell vs. Castle, 7:35 p.m. NOV. 1 >> Waianae vs. McKinley or Waipahu, 5:05 p.m. >> Kailua vs. Mililani or Nanakuli, 7:35 p.m.

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