Leilehua close to securing playoff spot

Even with a steady rain turning the Hugh Yoshida Stadium field into a sloppy mess, No. 10 Leilehua managed to firm up its footing in the OIA playoff chase last night.

With the weather severely hampering both offenses, the Mules sloshed their way to a 21-6 OIA Red West win over Aiea.

"Aiea's going to throw the ball 40 times a game, and to throw in this weather is just difficult," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.

"We play on this field every day and we knew we had to run the football this week. It was basically a field-postion battle and we didn't want to turn over the football. We made sure we took care of the football and it kind of played into our hands."

Both teams were part of a five-way logjam of teams with two conference losses entering the game. Leilehua (4-3 overall) emerged at 3-2 in league play and can lock down second place with a win next week. Aiea closed its regular-season schedule at 4-4 overall and will have to wait to see if its 3-3 conference record is good enough to finish in the top five.

"Normally 3-3 will get you into the playoffs, but the way the league is this year we have to wait and see," Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "I was playing it out and the worst-case scenario would be is we'd have to wait for a coin toss."

The conditions limited both teams' passing games, and trying to run in the slop wasn't all that reliable either.

Aiea quarterback Keenan Naeole, the conference's top passer, completed 13 of 26 throws for 127 yards and a touchdown. Leilehua's Kaipo Kea threw for 93 yards and ran for 33 to lead the Mules.

"I live in Wahiawa and I told the kids I expected the weather to be like this," Say said. "But telling the kids and actually being in it are two different things."

Tokuda stayed dry in the coaches' booth to get a different perspective in play-calling, and watched as neither offense could get much traction early on. But both managed one big play each to go into halftime tied 6-6.

Leilehua broke ahead on the second play of the second period when Kea completed a short screen pass to Edieson Dumlao, who found a seam and outran the Aiea defense for a 66-yard touchdown.

Aiea responded on its next possession to tie the game. Naeole completed one of his few downfield throws of the first half for a 40-yard score to Aldodius Colquitt. Neither team could convert on its conversion attempt.

Aiea's first possession of the second half ended with a botched punt attempt, giving Leilehua the ball at the Na Alii 22. Six plays later, Kea scored on a 1-yard keeper around the right side and completed a pass to Rico Newman for the 2-point conversion, giving the Mules a 14-6 lead at the 4:23 mark of the third quarter.

OIA RED EAST

Kailua 21, Moanalua 0

Kaleo Wong ran for 110 yards and a touchdown to lead the Surfriders over Na Menehune.

OIA RED WEST

No. 8 Kapolei 36, Radford 20

The Hurrcanes beat the Rams despite allowing 233 yards passing by Epa Maika. The Hurricanes were led by quarterback Noah Pascua, who had 138 yards passing.

OIA WHITE

Roosevelt 29, Kaiser 0

The Rough Riders, led by Ranson Tuitama's 137 yards rushing and one TD, shut out the Cougars. Roosevelt had 236 yards on the ground last night.

Kaimuki 34, Waialua 20

Justin Paderes racked up 129 yards and three touchdowns to lead Kaimuki over Waialua in the battle of the Bulldogs. Waialua's Koa Vierra and Josiah Castellanos each returned interceptions for scores in the loss.