OIA RED WEST
No. 9 Leilehua puts clamp on fourth-ranked Waianae
Waianae's brutal season-opening schedule finally caught up to it.
No. 9 Leilehua allowed only six first downs and 112 yards as the Mules blanked the fourth-ranked Seariders 8-0 last night at Raymond Torii Field.
The teams have flip-flopped victories dating back to 2002.
Leilehua quarterback Kaipo DeRego hit 17 of 28 passes for 194 yards as the Mules (3-2, 2-1) handed the Seariders (4-1, 2-1) their first loss of the season.
"We started questioning ourselves after our two losses, but to come back and beat a team like Waianae says a lot about us," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.
Four of Waianae's five wins came against teams ranked in the Star-Bulletin Top 10. The Seariders didn't even suit up for their victory over unranked Campbell, as the Sabers had to forfeit the game.
Edieson Dumlao was DeRego's favorite target on offense. The senior receiver caught seven balls for 133 yards, including a key 31-yard reception with 3 minutes remaining. The play allowed the Mules to run the clock to less than a minute before they turned the ball over on downs.
Rico Newman hit a 27-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter to give the Mules an eight-point lead. The Seariders had a chance to drive and tie the score, but quarterback RJ Tacgere-Bailey was intercepted by Rob Siavii to end the threat.
"I saw the D-line rushing the quarterback and when he threw it, I just broke on the ball," Siavii said.
Tacgere-Bailey was thrust into the game in the third quarter after starting quarterback Ben McQuown went down with an injury on Waianae's second possession of the second half.
"After he went down we just attacked the next guy like he was first string," Bailey said.
A fumble on Waianae's first possession helped set up a 24-yard field goal by Newman to give Leilehua an early 3-0 lead.
The score remained the same through halftime, as the Mules defense allowed just one first down and 29 yards in the first half.
After giving up 51 yards on Leilehua's opening drive, the Waianae defense answered the challenge by surrendering just 10 yards the rest of the half.
Midway through the third quarter, Waianae running back Justin Kauwalu was tackled in the end zone for a safety to make the score 5-0.
Aiea 30, Radford 17
Details not available at press time.