JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Leilehua's Brad Iaulualo, left, and Jermaine Schuster brought down Kailua punter Styren Kahale last night.

Mules nudge past Surfriders to open season

It wasn't pretty, but No. 8 Leilehua did just enough to stymie Kailua last night in the first game of the preseason for both teams.

The Mules overcame several turnovers in the first half and withstood a crucial Surfriders possession to hold on for a 6-3 win at Kailua, edging the Surfriders to open the season for the second straight year.

Junior quarterback Kaipo Ke'a connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to junior Rico Newman with 1 minute, 45 seconds before halftime for a 6-0 lead and the game's only action in an end zone. Ke'a, who replaced Star-Bulletin all-state selection Bryant Moniz, displayed accuracy with 10 completions for 98 yards. Several more balls were on target, but dropped by his receivers.

Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda wished he had seen better care taken of the ball. His team fumbled on its first handoff of the game, and again on its next two possessions.

"I can't put the blame on our quarterback," Tokuda said. "Our entire offense came out, you know, I think they were trying to do too much, when basically all they've got to do is play instead of press, and that's what it was. Good to get the first game out of the way, get the jitters out."

There weren't many jitters to be had for the Mules' trusty defense. They led the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West in defense the last two years, and it showed last night; the Surfriders were held to only 95 yards of total offense. Kailua went heavily with the run, but Leilehua was prepared for it. Salvador Wong led Kailua on the ground with 18 rushes for 56 yards.

On a rare pass attempt with 3:27 to play, Surfriders quarterback Chaunsey Sumner lobbed a ball to the deep right of the end zone on fourth down. But Leilehua's pressure forced a dropped ball, drawing a groan from the Kailua crowd. A touchdown with an extra-point conversion would have given Kailua the lead.

Kailua's Eddie Oden nailed a 22-yard field goal with 9.7 seconds left in the third period to cut Leilehua's lead in half. But the Surfriders' next possession ended with a blocked pass by Leilehua defensive lineman Dontae Scott on fourth down, quelling Kailua's last threat.

Powerful running by Newman chewed up enough clock over the final few minutes for the Mules to escape with the win.

After the game, Kailua coach Gary Rosolowich took the glass half-full approach.

"We're still undefeated in the (Oahu Interscholastic Association) Red East," he said to his team. "We're just warming up fellas, just warming up."

Kailua hasn't had a winning season since 2003, when it went 8-3-1.