Castle's Jordan Kahoekapu brought down Leilehua's Anthony Palomares in the first half of last night's game.
Mules finally make it
Leilehua is going to the state football tournament for the first time.
The Mules held off Castle 14-10 last night in a defensive quagmire otherwise known as the Oahu Interscholastic Association third-place game at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.
After taking a 14-0 lead, Leilehua gave up 10 straight second-quarter points before both defenses put the clamps down in the second half.
On Friday, the Mules (9-2) visit Kealakehe on the Big Island for the first round of the Division I state tournament. The Knights (7-4) are done for the season.
"All year long, the defense has stepped it up," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "Our offense gets all the press, but it's our defense that's always shutting people down. They did it against Kahuku (12-6 loss in the OIA semifinals last week) and against Farrington (7-6 win in OIA quarterfinals), too."
Castle had a major chance to take the lead when Corey Paredes intercepted Leilehua quarterback Bryant Moniz's pass and returned it 75 yards to the Mules' 9 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Two plays later, however, Knights quarterback Louis Mansanas Jr. gave it right back by throwing an interception to B.J. Fruean in the end zone.
"Not scoring after getting it to their 9 really hurt," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said.
Interception roulette continued three plays later when the Knights' Jonathan Horner picked off a Mules pass, but Castle couldn't move and punted.
Starting with 5:47 left, Leilehua reeled off two first downs, including an important 2-yard gain by Moniz on fourth-and-inches, before punting and giving the Knights the ball at their own 31 with 30 seconds to go. Four straight Mansanas passes fell incomplete and Leilehua ran out the final 3 seconds for the victory.
"It went right down to the end between two very good defensive teams," Maeda said. "We struggled tonight, but we did the best we could. Leilehua ran the ball well and controlled the clock."
After the teams combined for five straight punts to start the game, the Mules finally broke through with 3:36 left in the first quarter when Sione Faleofa went off right tackle 47 yards for a 7-0 lead.
Early in the second, Leilehua went up 14-0 when Chustin Senas made a diving catch of a 9-yard Moniz pass in the deep right corner of the end zone.
"We accomplished something big for this community," said Senas, who finished with seven catches for 71 yards. "It's something (making the states) that's never happened here before. For Bryant (Moniz, who went 24-for-37 for 204 yards), it's no pressure. He gets it there, always finding the right spot."
But Castle never budged again on defense, while Mansanas shook off his slow start and began to effectively run and throw.
Mansanas ripped off runs of 15 and 21 yards to set up his 24-yard TD pass to Lihikai Domingo, cutting the gap to 14-7 with 9:01 remaining in the half.
Mansanas then led the 2-minute drill, leading to Ethan Gonsalves' 40-yard field goal that trimmed the deficit to 14-10 with 16 seconds left before halftime.
BIIF
Hawaii Prep 35, Konawaena 14: Ka Makani beat the Wildcats yesterday to win the BIIF Division II title and earn a spot in the state tournament.Hawaii Prep (10-2) plays Waipahu in the first round of the HHSAA tournament on Friday at Radford.
No. 7 Leilehua 14, No. 9 Castle 10
At Hugh Yoshida Stadium
No. 9 Castle (7-4) 0 10 0 0 -- 10 No. 7 Leilehua (9-2) 7 7 0 0 -- 14
Leil -- Sione Faleofa 47 run (Ryan Bibilone kick)
Leil --ĘChustin Senas 9 pass from Bryant Moniz (Bibilone kick)
Cast -- Lihikai Domingo 24 pass from Louis Mansanas Jr. (Ethan Gonsalves kick)
Cast -- Gonsalves FG 40RUSHING: Castle: Mansanas 13-79, Tarann Bajet 3-20, Justin Kruse 4-6, Gonsalves 1-2, Brad Guillermo 1-(-1). Leilehua: Faleofa 9-88, Justin Lawelawe 13-53, Guy Cantrell 1-(-1), Moniz 5-(-18).
PASSING:ĘCastle: Mansanas 14-32-1-107. Leilehua: Moniz 24-37-2-204.
RECEIVING:ĘCastle: Domingo 6-51, Allen Losbog 3-38, Bajet 2-17, Jonathan Horner 2-1, Kruse 1-0. Leilehua: Senas 7-71, Anthony Palomares 3-54, Lawelawe 6-25, , B.J. Fruean 4-20, Jonah Mailo 1-18, Faleofa 1-11, Dwight Villanueva 2-5.Kahuku 34, Waianae 14
