No. 8 Kahuku holds off No. 4 Leilehua, 21-14

Kahuku defensive back Keala Santiago attempts to break up a Leilehua pass attempt. Santiago had four tackles and a sack in the game defensively, and added a kickoff and punt return for touchdown on special teams. Jim Lebeau | Special to SL

KAHUKU – No offense, no problem.

Kahuku, ranked No. 3 in the ScoringLive/OC16 Division I Power Rankings, improved to 5-1 with a 21-14 win over fourth-ranked Leilehua (5-1) in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division game at Carleton E. Weimer Field Friday night.

The win also gives the Red Raiders the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Mules should the two squads finish the regular season with identical records. Kahuku can clinch the division's top overall seed and a first round bye in the league's 12-team postseason tournament with a win over Waianae (4-2) next Saturday.

Despite the Red Raiders not putting up any points on the board offensively, Kahuku was able to get three total scores out of its special teams and defensive units. Keala Santiago scored twice on special teams and Alohi Gilman returned an interception 34 yards for a score.

"When you play a good team like Kahuku, you have to be solid in all three phases," said Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda. "Our defense did their part; the other two phases of the game we have a lot to work on."

The Red Raiders' offensive woes can be attributed to running back Kesi Ah Hoy getting the start at quarterback against the Mules. This move was made so that Kahuku could take advantage of incumbent Tuli Wily-Matagi's skills as a pass catcher. Wily-Matagi is committed to the University of Utah as a tight end. The plan backfired as Kahuku was limited to just 59 yards of total offense.

While the offense was stuck in first gear, the defense was firing on all cylinders. Kahuku was able to put heavy pressure on Mules quarterback Kalanimoku Pauole all night long, sacking the senior signal caller 10 times in the contest. Linebacker Manaia Atuaia and defensive lineman Salanoa-Alo Wily led the effort with three sacks each. Soli Afalava added two and Jacob Afalava and Santiago had one piece.

The heavy pressure resulted in Pauole's first game of the year with out multiple touchdown passes. Pauole completed 22 of his 41 pass attempts for 208 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

"We knew that if we got to the quarterback it would shut down their offense," said Atuaia. "Getting to the quarterback was a big key for our defense."

Santiago helped the Red Raiders draw first blood with his 88-yard touchdown return down the left sideline on the game's opening kickoff. Jurell Kai's PAT gave Kahuku a 7-0 lead 15 seconds into the game.

"I got the ball and returned it left. I just followed my blockers and there was a big hole," Santiago said on the opening score.

The Red Raiders would later double their lead with Santiago's 67-yard punt return on Leilehua punter Toma Savea's first punt of the game.

Leilehua would get on the board on a Pauole 16-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Keough with 4:02 left in the second quarter. An Austin Molina interception helped set up the eight-play, 69-yard scoring drive.

Kahuku got its final score of the game on Gilman's 34-yard interception return midway through the third quarter.

Leilehua running back Ikaika Piceno capped the game's scoring with his one-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter. Piceno was a bright spot for the Mules, having accumulated 126 yards from scrimmage in the contest. He helped shoulder the load after running back Randy Neverson suffered a right knee injury on his first carry of the game and never returned.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].