Leilehua beats Nanakuli
to remain undefeated
It was a wet and muddy night at the newly named Hugh Yoshida Stadium, as the Leilehua Mules slid by OIA Red West conference rival Nanakuli, 17-6.
Following a ceremony to rename the Mules' home field after Yoshida, Leilehua running back Guy Cantrell changed roles and caught five passes for 108 yards and a touchdown as the Mules remained undefeated for the season.
The Hawks were able to break through the Mule defense by using the ground attack of their quarterback, Jaycee Alapai. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder rushed for 97 yards, including the Hawks' only touchdown of the game. Alapai faked a handoff to his running back and ran to the outside, passing by defenders as he crossed the field to score on a 27-yard run in the first half.
The Mules struck early on a trick play. Quarterback Bryant Moniz handed the ball off to running back Justin Lawelawe, who threw a deep pass down the right sideline to a sprinting Cantrell to put the Mules up 7-0 following an extra point by Ryan Bibilone.
Leilehua head coach Nolan Tokuda said that because of the suspension of wide receiver Chustin Senas, and an injury to receiver Anthony Palomares, he needed other players to move around.
"We sort of had a receivers by committee," Tokuda said. "But we got a bunch of great kids who all want to play."
Palomares cut his hand in the first half and did not play for the rest of the game.
Lawelawe hit up the Hawks for another touchdown in the first quarter, running in the ball for a 1-yard score following a 22-yard completion from Moniz to Cantrell.
Lawelawe finished the game with 39 yards rushing and 17 receiving in addition to his touchdown pass.
The Hawks had a chance to catch up near the end of the first quarter, when Alapai hit a wide-open Alex Distajo for an easy 60-yard run into the end zone. But a penalty brought the play back, and the Hawks ended the drive with a punt.
After allowing the Mules to score on their first two possessions, the Hawk defense clamped down on Moniz and his receivers. Nanakuli cornerback David Balicao intercepted a Moniz pass to give the Hawks one last scoring opportunity in the first half. But two lost fumbles by Alapai inside the Mule 20-yard line, resulted in a 14-6 score going into halftime.
After Nanakuli's first fumble, senior Charlie Reiher blocked a punt by Mule kicker and punter Bibilone.
The second half began much like the first, with the Mules going to their deep threats. This time, Moniz connected with senior wide receiver Dwight Villanueva for a 54-yard gain before Villanueva was tripped up 10 yards from the goal line.
Bibilone kicked a 29-yard field goal to cap the drive. He went 1-for-2 on field-goal attempts, missing from 32 yards out in the third quarter.
"The defense showed a lot of character tonight," said Leilehua defensive coach Mark Kurisu. "They all played excellent together."
Aiea 29, Pearl City 0: Kali Kuia threw for 103 yards and Donny Mapusaga scored two touchdowns as Na Alii defeated the winless Chargers.
Mapusaga also rushed 16 times for 93 yards, while teammate Teavaiki Vaa rushed seven times for 53 yards.
Joshua Tokunaga threw for 107 yards in the loss.
BIIF
Kealakehe 48, Kohala 6: Jinho Tohara ran in two touchdowns for a combined 119 yards as the Waveriders picked up their first win of the year over the Cowboys.Tohara's 72-yard run was one of four touchdowns in the second quarter. Tohara scored again on a 47-yard run in the third. Teammate Jamie Au Hoon also scored two touchdowns.
The Cowboys scored in the fourth on Tim Holschuh's 20-yard pass to Reyn Matsu.
Waiakea 21, Ka'u 0: Sheldon Otsuka threw three touchdowns to lead the Warriors past the winless Trojans.
Otsuka threw two touchdowns to Joseph Hanohano and David Adcock in the second quarter to give Waiakea a 12-0 halftime lead. Waiakea added a safety in the third and Jacob Williams caught a 1-yard pass from Otsuka in the fourth to finish the night.
