For as much as the Leilehua football team struggled in the first three quarters Friday night, it found itself within a score of eighth-ranked Waianae with just 11 minutes and 55 seconds left to play.

It all came unraveling, however, within a matter of minutes early in the final stanza.

Connor Murakami's 19-yard field goal, just one play into the fourth quarter, cut the Searider lead to 28-20.

Waianae answered the score in just five plays, driving 70 yards in just 1:29, capped by Javen Towne's 5-yard touchdown run up the middle. Following the Tate Ebel extra point, the visitors stretched their lead to 35-20 with 10:23 remaining.

Leilehua found some success on its ensuing drive. It moved the chains three first downs — including a pair of third-down conversions — and covered 35 yards in eight plays to reach the Seariders' 33-yard line.

Any semblance of momentum the Mules picked up on the possession was wiped away on play nine: an 85-yard pick-6 by Waianae's Mosiah Brame. The Seariders brought the house on a blitz and sophomore quarterback Kona Andres heaved a desperation pass toward the left hash mark, which Brame swooped under before carving his way through a wall of blockers for the score. With the PAT, the lead was now 42-20, but the next 50 seconds proved to be the final blow needed to put the hosts to bed.

A decent kickoff return was negated by a 15-yard personal foul by Leilehua and on the very next play, Waianae's Ikaika Paaoao-Ahina was Johnny-on-the-spot, recovering a Anthony Ugliano fumble after a short reception. Dalton Rajowski forced the fumble, which Paaoao-Ahina returned 16 yards to the Leilehua 4-yard line. Just two plays later, Ezekiah Moniz-Hopeau rumbled in another Seariders' third rushing score of the half. The two-point conversion run was good and just like that, Waianae had separated to a 50-20 lead.

The Mules got a late score on a 6-yard scoring strike from Andres to wideout Ty Keough, but by then it was far too little and much too late.

Leilehua entered the weekend having scored an average of just 10.5 points in its two previous games and it trailed at halftime Friday, 14-10. The offense managed just 73 yards of total offense — including minus-7 rushing — and just seven first downs in the first half. Its first scoring drive — which resulted in a 21-yard Murakami field goal — was aided by two Waianae personal fouls and the second — which was highlighted by Andres' 11-yard TD pass to Jadan Gilliland — was initiated off a Bryson Caminos Kekahuna fumble recovery near midfield and benefitted from another roughing-the-passer penalty.

The teams exchanged scores on six consecutive drives in the second half until the Seariders reeled off 22 straight points to seal the deal.

It was Waianae's third consecutive win — all coming on the road — in as many weeks since a season-opening loss to Kamehameha.

"That was a big task, so the momentum is going to be huge for us going into the next couple of games," first-year coach Walter Young said. " We have one more game and then we have a bye so that will help us heal up and get ready for the end of the season."

Another road game awaits the Seariders when they take on McKinley at Roosevelt Saturday.

"I'm pretty confident," said Towne, who rushed for two scores Friday and had 10 on the season. "Our morale is up and that hopefully can carry out throughout the season."