'Aiea rallies to upset Kapolei for title
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
MILILANI — Lawrence Leovao scored with two minutes, 58 seconds left in the game and then he and his teammates watched James Hadley intercept a pass in the end zone with in the waning seconds to save 'Aiea's 22-15 upset of No. 5-ranked Kapolei for the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White championship last night.
Na Ali'i (8-2), avenged a 44-24 loss on Oct. 10 to the Hurricanes in winning the OIA Division II crown. They will draw a bye and in the inaugural Division II state tournament, which starts Friday. Kapolei will play Damien in a first-round game Friday at a site to be determined.
"I just seen the ball in the air and I just stepped up," Hadley said of the interception off Kapolei quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, who almost single-handedly rallied the Hurricanes. "Feels good, man. Feels good."
On the other side, Kaheaku-Enhada felt the pain.
"Losing is losing and it hurts all the way around," he said. "You just gotta accept it."
'Aiea took a 15-7 lead into the half, only to see the Hurricanes tie the game late in the third quarter. After an interception return to the 'Aiea 48 by linebacker Andy Buchanan, Kaheaku-Enhada scored on a 48-yard TD run on second-and-10 on an option keeper. He ran in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 15.
After the teams exchanged scoreless series, 'Aiea took over at its own 17, moving 83 yards in eight plays with fullback Leovao plowing through for a 2-yard TD run with 2:58 left in the game.
Kicker Brandon Puckett's kickoff for a touchback — his third of the game — forced Kapolei to start at its own 20. The Hurricanes, behind Kaheaku-Enhada, converted two fourth downs to keep the drive alive before Hadley's interception preserved the lead with eight seconds left in the game.
On the play, receiver John Medeiros, lined up on the left, ran a stop-and-go into the end zone, where Na Ali'i was in a prevent with Hadley reading the play correctly.
"Feels awesome, baby, feels awesome," said Leovao. "Everybody worked as a team. No one person did it."
Meanwhile, Kaheaku-Enhada almost duplicated his last effort he had against 'Aiea in the Oct,.10 game, when he ran for two long touchdowns. Besides, the 48-yarder, he also scored Kapolei's other TD on a 13-yard run.
"I just made the wrong read," he said of the interception. "They were in the right defense. They called it at the right time, so they came out on top."
Leovao not only contributed offensively. He made a number of key stops as linebacker and knocked down a pass headed for a wide open receiver.
The win was more of a relief to 'Aiea coach Wendell Say.
"They can score at anytime," he said. "That was my biggest fear, making sure we could stop 'em. Man, it was hard."
Turnovers, which hurt Na Ali'i in their first meeting with the Hurricanes, came back to haunt Kapolei.
A 32-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back C.J. Tausaga put 'Aiea ahead 12-7 with 2:45 left in the half. 'Aiea added a field goal with 19 seconds left to take a 15-7 lead at the half.
'AIEA (8-2) 0 15 0 7 — 22
KAPOLEI (9-1) 7 0 8 0 — 15
- Kap—Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada 13 run (Kerisano Tuaniga kick)
- 'Aiea—Ben Ah Mook Sang 1 run (kick failed)
- 'Aiea—C.J. Tausaga 32 interception return (pass failed)
- 'Aiea—FG Brandon Puckett 31
- Kap—Kaheaku-Enhada 48 run (Kaheaku-Enhada run)
- 'Aiea—Lawrence Leovao 2 run (Puckett kick)]
RUSHING—'Aiea: Kali Kuia 4-(minus 11), Raymond Tauala 16-119, Leovao 7-11, Donny Mapusaga 3-5, Ah Mook Sang 4-6, Jonathan Burgos 3-88. Kapolei: John Medeiros 1-(minus 4), Kaheaku-Enhada 15-149, John Dela Rama 5-1, Gilbert Brown 5-9, Chaves Gamboa 2-(minus 3), Team 1-(minus 2), Colin Dumlao 1-(minus 3).
PASSING—'Aiea: Kuia 12-17-0—97, Ah Mook Sang 1-3-1—8. Kapolei: Medeiros 0-4-1—0, Kaheaku-Enhada 7-14-2, 101.
RECEIVING—'Aiea: Alden DeMello 6-42, Tauala 3-11, Ah Mook Sang 2-37, Jabez Armodia 2-15. Kapolei: Brandon Pieper 2-27, Dumlao 1-23, Gamboa 1-25, Medeiros 3-26.
JV championship: Kahuku 38, Leilehua 29. Kahuku finishes season at 9-1, as does Leilehua.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
