HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Leilehua downs Iolani in battle of champions
Playing its first home game as state champion, Leilehua rolled to a 33-14 win over Iolani last night on Hugh Yoshida Stadium's famously slick field.
Mules quarterback Andrew Manley completed 16 of 21 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns as Leilehua took advantage of Raider miscues and the Wahiawa showers to take a 27-0 lead in the duel of the reigning Division I and Division II champs.
"Any time you play at Leilehua, there's going to be rain, the field's going to be slippery and it comes to our advantage," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.
"It's exciting to come back home and play in front of our crowd. They supported us all last year and they're excited to be here to watch us this season."
Manley, who piloted the Mules' postseason run to the D-I title last fall, led Leilehua to touchdowns on all four of its first-half possessions, connecting with Edieson Dumlao eight times for 115 yards and a score before halftime.
Rico Newman managed two touchdowns -- on a 5-yard run and a 4-yard reception -- in the first half and led the Mules on the ground with 60 yards.
Iolani, the defending D-II champion, struggled to overcome its mistakes. The Raiders' first drive ended with a dropped pass in the end zone and the next two resulted in a lost fumble and an interception, both leading to Leilehua scores.
"We took advantage of their mistakes, I don't think Iolani was used to this type of climate and lucky for us we took advantage of it offensively," Tokuda said.
The Raiders cut into the deficit on the final play of the first half when quarterback Kela Marciel found Trevyn Tulonghari alone in the end zone for a 21-yard score on fourth down.
After a scoreless third quarter, Iolani closed to 27-14 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Marciel, who rushed for 61 yards and passed for 147. But the Raiders' ensuing onside kick was picked up by Marcus Breakfield, who returned it 47 yards to end any lingering thoughts of a Raider comeback.
"We're making too many mental mistakes and physical mistakes -- simple things like tackling," Iolani coach Wendell Look said.
"Our defense played well in the second half, we did a good job of getting some pressure on (Manley). And offensively we were close, but we were one play away. We'd move the ball and then we'd stall."
Leilehua actually committed the first mistake of the night. Iolani deferred after winning the coin toss, but Leilehua elected to kick, meaning the Mules would kick off to open both halves.
But the miscue was washed away with the Mules' first-half performance.
"(At first) I thought Nolan did it on purpose," Look said. "He always has something tricky up his sleeve."
At Hugh Yoshida Stadium
| Iolani (1-1) |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
-- |
14
|
| Leilehua (2-0) |
13 |
14 |
0 |
6 |
-- |
33 |
Lei--Tony Demello 1 run (Maika Kunioka kick)
Lei--Rico Newman 5 run (kick blocked)
Lei--Newman 4 pass from Andrew Manley (Kunioka kick)
Lei--Edieson Dumlao 2 pass from Manley (Kunioka kick)
Iol--Trevyn Tulonghari 21 pass from Kela Marciel (Carl Gibson kick)
Iol--Marciel 1 run (Gibson kick)
Lei--Marcus Breakfield 47 kickoff return (run failed)
RUSHING--Iolani: Marciel 18-61, Kellen Imada 13-56. Leilehua: Newman 13-60, Kamana Akagi 4-10, C.J. Bailey 2-7, Demello 6-7, Lerrion Jones 5-6, Matt Reyes 1-3, Brad Iaulualo 1-1, Kaipo Ke-A 1-(-3), Manley 3-(-9).
PASSING--Iolani: Marciel 13-28-2-140. Leilehua: Manley 16-21-0-155.
RECEIVING--Iolani: Brandon Ball 4-90, Tulonghari 3-35, Keenan Hoohuli 3-12, Imada 2-0, Travis Muraoka 1-3. Leilehua: Dumlao 8-115, Newman 4-21, Cheves Aberilla Ramento 2-12, Reyes 2-7.
