Posted on: Saturday, November 6, 2004
No. 1 Kahuku holds on to beat Leilehua, 12-6
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Kahuku High School football team escaped a colossal upset last night, holding off Leilehua, 12-6, in O'ahu Interscholastic Association semifinal action at Aloha Stadium.
A rain-soaked crowd of 3,541 watched the Red Raiders (9-1), ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, survive only after recovering a Leilehua fumble at midfield with 52 seconds remaining.
The Mules (8-2), ranked No. 8, burned their final two timeouts and were not able to stop the clock after that as Kahuku took a knee to run off the final seconds.
Kahuku plays Mililani next Friday at Aloha Stadium for OIA title.
"Great job, Leilehua," said Red Raiders coach Siuaki Livai, whose team had not won by less than 20 points to any Hawai'i team this season. "They played their hearts out, and it was a great game."
The Mules were only a few feet away from making it even greater.
After Kahuku took a 12-0 lead in the second quarter on touchdown runs by Siaosi Lauhingoa and Simi Alo, Leilehua took over at the Red Raiders' 17-yard line on a botched Kahuku punt attempt and advanced to a first-and-goal on the 1 four plays later. But having used their final timeout, the Mules fumbled the snap with 13 seconds left and could not spike the ball before time expired.
"That would have been a turning point," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "We had two plays called in the huddle — the first was a pass play, but we fumbled the snap and there was not much we could really do after that. We shot ourselves in the foot there, and it hurt us."
The Mules defense kept Leilehua in the game, however, by shutting out Kahuku in the second half. The Red Raiders had first-and-goal on the 5 late in the third quarter, but fumbled the ball out of the end zone, giving Leilehua a touchback.
Mules sophomore quarterback Bryant Moniz then connected with receiver Chustin Senas on a 73-yard pass play that gave them first-and-goal on the 7. Three plays later, Moniz hit Anthony Palomares on a play-action pass to make it 12-6 with 11:00 remaining in the game. The extra-point attempt failed.
Leilehua forced a punt and got the ball back with 2:39 left and advanced to the Kahuku 45, but fumbled the snap after a timeout and the Red Raiders recovered.
LEILEHUA (8-2) 0 0 0 6 — 6 KAHUKU (9-1) 0 12 0 0 — 12 Kah — Siaosi Lauhingoa 15 run (kick failed)
Kah — Simi Alo 1 run (run failed)
Lei — Anthony Palomares 8 pass from Bryant Moniz (kick failed)
RUSHING — Lei: Moniz 7-(minus-10), Justin Lawelawe 8-19, BJ Fruean 2-4, Ryan Bibilone 2-1, Sione Faleofa 2-2, Chustin Senas 1-(minus-7); team 5-(minus-18); Kah: Jason Mauai 1-5, Kamuela Aliso 12-116, Lauhingoa 10-48, Viliami Tilini 3-30, Jacob Kahawai'i 5-17, Alo 2-4, Spencer Hafoka 1-5.
PASSING — Lei: Moniz 12-34-1—165; Kah: Kaulin Krebs 0-1-0—0, Kahawai'i 2-5-0—8.
RECEIVING — Lei: Senas 4-92, Palomares 3-26, John Felix 1-4, Fruean 2-16, Guy Cantrell 1-12, Lawelawe 1-15; Kah: Hafoka 3-8.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
