Mules ride Abreu-Laybon past Tigers

The big green machine is humming again.

Micah Abreu-Laybon rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns as ninth-ranked Leilehua ousted No. 10 McKinley 23-14 last night in the quarterfinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red playoffs.

"They were blitzing a lot, and our line made the holes," said Abreu-Laybon, who transferred from Pearl City in the offseason.

A raucous crowd of about 1,500 at Mililani High School saw Bryant Moniz throw for 141 yards and direct an offense that amassed 372 yards without a turnover.

"We had two weeks to prepare. Every day, we went through video and our walk-throughs," the senior quarterback said. "Our running backs did an excellent job because of our O-line."

Leilehua (7-2) will meet defending league champion Kahuku in the semifinals next week at Aloha Stadium. Moniz was at the reins two seasons ago when Leilehua upset Kahuku in the state tournament semifinals.

"Our 24-hour rule is in. We'll enjoy the win for 24 hours, then get ready for the team in red," coach Nolan Tokuda said.

McKinley, playing with a number of two-way performers, finished the season 5-4. Senior Tilton Kaluna, returning from an early-season injury to his non-throwing shoulder, threw for 207 yards on 16-for-36 passing. He had two touchdowns and was picked off once in a gutsy performance.

The Tigers had back-up Isaac Iuta for the opening drive, but Kaluna entered from that point on.

"He assured me he was OK. He said, 'Coach, I'm 100 percent.' He played very well," coach Bobby Grey said.

The Mules were ready for Kaluna, one of the headiest, most instinctive playmakers in the OIA.

"We were preparing for him," Tokuda said. "If you're going down, you go down with your best."

Leilehua drove 66 yards in 15 plays on its first series. An encroachment call against McKinley was the turning point, as the Mules hustled their punt team off the field and went for it on fourth and 2. After Moniz ran for the first down, Abreu-Laybon capped the drive with a 10-yard scoring run on the left side, leaping over a defender inside the 5 and tumbling over the goal line. After a missed PAT kick, McKinley led 6-0 with 2:12 left in the opening quarter.

Kaluna showed some rust early, misfiring on four of his first five attempts. However, he got on track with a 56-yard bomb to Ben Davis to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead with 7:09 to go in the first half.

McKinley recovered the ensuing pooch kick, but couldn't capitalize. The Tigers' drive stalled at the 27-yard line, and Leilehua responded with a fury. The Mules drove 73 yards in nine plays. Aric Edra's 27-yard catch on third and 14 kept the march alive, and Moniz found Martin Iosefo on a 7-yard lob into the corner of the end zone.

The Mules led 13-7 with 1:02 left in the half.

McKinley took the lead just before intermission on a wild play by Kaluna. On second down from the Leilehua 29, he eluded the pass rush, scrambled back to the McKinley 45, escaped several tacklers and launched a bomb to Josh Nakama for a touchdown with 4 seconds to go in the half. The Tigers led 14-13.

"That was just him being a playmaker," Grey said of Kaluna. "That was definitely not in our playbook. Usually, a great play helps you get momentum and breaks the defense down, but Coach Tokuda does a great job with their program."

From that point on, fatigue caught up with the Tigers and their thin roster. Keawe drilled a 22-yard field goal to give Leilehua a 16-14 lead with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

The Mules put the game out of reach with a 99-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter. They switched out of the shotgun and into an I formation and pounded away. Abreu-Laybon and fullback Bronson Pausa combined for all 99 yards on the ground, and Abreu-Laybon finished it off with a 19-yard touchdown burst up the middle.

Leilehua led 23-14 with 3:58 left.

OIA WHITE PLAYOFFS
Waipahu 29, Waialua 26

Soueira caught two passes for 100 yards and two scores, Keo Palimoo rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown for Waipahu. Caleb Fore led Waialua with 200 yards passing and another 68 on the ground.

Waipahu advances to face Kaimuki in the OIA White Championship in two weeks.