Leilehua QB Kenan Sadanaga threw five TD passes in the first half against Radford. Brien Ing | SL

×

0924112014__BI_7535a.jpg - Brien Ing | SL

Purchase this image
4x5 5x7 8x10 image download

WAHIAWA - Looking like postseason form, Leilehua struck for six first-quarter scores en route to a 52-0 win against Radford in Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West football at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

The Mules (5-0-1 overall, 4-0 Red West) clinched one of the top two seeds in the West for the 12-team OIA Red tournament. The top two teams from the East and West have first-round byes in the tournament. Campbell is the other West team to earn a bye.

Leilehua, ranked third in the OC16/SL Power Rankings, looked focused from the start, scoring on its first six possessions against the Rams (1-5, 1-3), who have dropped four in a row since their 14-7 upset of Mililani to start the Red West season.

The Mules built a 45-0 lead at the half, forcing a mercy-rule running rnclock for the second half.

Kenan Sadanaga displayed his usual consistency, completing 17 of 20 passes for 204 yards and five touchdowns - all in the first half - almost mirroring what was going on with former Mule Bryant Moniz in the University of Hawaii's win against UC Davis at Aloha Stadium. Sadanaga had TD passes of 11 and 62 yards to Jeremiah Andrade, two yards to tight end Penitito Melei, 11 yards to Allen Racette and nine yards to Josh Jenks.

Jenks, the backup QB, had a TD pass of his own when he connected with Keanu Ferreira-Kahele for 61 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Mules' defense, which had three interceptions and three sacks, added to the scoring. Tevaka Sanborn returned an interception 36 yards for first-quarter TD that made it 31-0.

The Rams used three QBs, combining for 23 yards from a collective 5-of-22 passing.

In all of the Mules' scoring, they first got on the board with a 26-yard field goal by Timothy Momiyama. That came after an interception by Melei. The 5-foot-10, 230-pound kicker who also plays offensive line, showed some skills by throwing to Andrade for a 2-point conversion and bombing three touchbacks on kickoffs.

Despite the early commanding lead, the Mules did show an assortment of plays, giving coaches scouting the game and future postseason opponents a lot to think about.

"We've gotten better, I think," Leilehua interim coach Mark Kurisu said. "There still were a lot of mistakes that happened. I think we caught Radford with some guys who were out (injured). We were able to execute a few plays and get a lead early so anytime you get a lead early, it changes your game plan.

"It's still a long season with this new six-team tournament (six from each division). I know they're playing for their run into the tournament, too, so we're just trying to keep our guys healthy and get better from week to week."

The Mules can clinch at least a share of the division title with a win at Waianae next week. It doesn't get easier for the Rams, who travel to Aiea, which is coming off a 7-6 win against Mililani.