Memorable Matchups - Campbell vs. Leilehua, Aug. 23, 2013


» ORIGINAL GAME RECAP: Special teams boost No. 7 Mules past No. 8 Sabers, 28-21

Tristan Kamaka returned the opening kickoff 96 yards and Ikaika Piceno returned another kickoff 98, each for touchdowns, to help Leilehua win their Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West season opener against Campbell on Aug. 23, 2013.

Campbell tied the game with 2:57 left in the third quarter when Isaac Hurd hit Jayce Bantolina for a 60-yard TD play. Bantolina made the catch at the Mules' 37 and spun off a tackler en route to the end zone. But an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Campbell on the play set the PAT back to the 18, where Tyler Subia's PAT was short.

The tie was short-lived, as Piceno, who transferred to Leilehua two years ago from Campbell, returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards to give the Mules back the lead, 20-13, with 2:42 left in the third quarter.

But the Sabers stormed right back, driving 67 yards on 11 plays with Hurd hitting Bantolina on a 20-yard TD pass with 10:35 in the fourth quarter. After a Sabers' timeout, Campbell decided to go for the 2-point conversion and Hurd rolled right and dove into the end zone to put the Sabers ahead for the first time in the game, 21-20.

Quarterback Mack Eberhardt drove the Mules 79 yards in nine plays, hitting Toma Savea on a 10-yard TD pass with 8:02 left in the game. Eberhardt connected with Kamaka for the 2-point conversion on a similar play to the earlier TD pass.

Campbell got the ball back with 1:48 left starting at its 28. Backed to its 20 on third down, Hurd fired a bomb to a wide-open Bantolina, but Deshaun Osborne broke up the play. Though Hurd ran for 30 yards and a first down on fourth down, he fumbled with eight seconds left to end the Sabers' hopes of a comeback.