Mules get enough gifts
to beat Na Alii
Five minutes. That's how close the Leilehua Mules came to suffering their first defeat of the season at the hands of Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West rival Aiea. But two quick touchdown passes by quarterback Bryant Moniz gave the Mules the 21-14 victory.
Following a 44-yard strike from Moniz to senior Anthony Palomares that tied the game at 14, defensive back Guy Cantrell intercepted a Lofa Liilii pass. One play later, Moniz threw a 52-yard bomb, this time to wide receiver Chustin Senas. An extra point by Ryan Bibilone gave the Mules the seven-point advantage with 1:49 left in the game.
"It was a dogfight all the way," Leilehua head coach Nolan Tokuda said. "I give credit to all the players. We were very fortunate tonight after all the mistakes we made. We were very lucky to win tonight."
Despite passing for 186 yards, Moniz struggled, going just 12-for-29 and throwing two interceptions.
"We got to work on our protection, and get better reads," Tokuda said.
The Mules took the early lead when Senas returned an interception of Kali Kuia 70 yards for the touchdown. Senas, a receiver and cornerback, covered the width of the field to get into the end zone.
Senas finished with six catches for 104 yards.
The Aiea combination of Josh Blakemore and Donny Mapusaga ran over the Mule defense, with Blakemore attacking from the air, and Mapusaga from the ground.
Blakemore caught two passes for 55 yards, while Mapusaga ran for 101 yards on 17 carries.
Na Alii got started on the scoreboard with a 62-yard pass from Kuia to split end Liilii.
Quarterbacks for both teams would struggle at times during the game, with Aiea throwing four interceptions.
"We beat ourselves," Aiea head coach Wendell Say said. "We told the kids before that Leilehua is a high-powered team, (that) you cannot give them anything."
Liilii came into the game at quarterback in the second quarter after Kuia left with an injury.
"Lofa did an excellent job," Say said. Liilii recently recovered from a collarbone injury he suffered during the preseason.
Late in the first quarter, Na Alii cornerback CJ Tausaga intercepted a Moniz pass and returned it 85 yards before being caught by Mule running back/linebacker Seone Faleofa at the 6-yard line. From there, the Na Alii scored on a 5-yard pass to Mapusaga.
This game was special for both Tokuda and Say. A 1990 graduate of Aiea, Tokuda played under Say as a quarterback. Say played his high school football at Leilehua.
