Kailua has erased the woes of an 0-7 season in 2014 with two straight wins to start its season. Sylvia Lee | SL

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After going 0-for-7 the previous year, the Surfriders are ready to take the state by storm in 2015.

Kailua picked up its second win in as many weeks with a 27-14 victory over ninth-ranked Leilehua in both team's Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I opener at Alex Kane Stadium Friday night.

"It's just about us putting all the work in last year and implementing the system," said Kailua second-year coach Joseph Wong. "Players are buying into the system and their hard work is paying off. I can't ask for anything more than that."

One player that has witnessed the turnaround in the program is quarterback Noah Auld. The senior-signal caller started three games as a freshman and has been the starter ever since.

"Commitment has been a big part this year," said Auld. "Everyone is showing up for practice, everybody is on time and everybody wants to win. There's more of an urgency to win this year. This is a senior driven team and want it to be our year."

In two games Auld has completed 28 of his 50 pass attempts for 353 yards and seven touchdowns with no turnovers. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior displayed his veteran presence on several occasions against the Mules, scrambling up the middle and stepping out of bounds when the opposing defense bring pressure as well as throwing the ball away when nothing is open in the passing game.

"I don't want my quarterback taking hits — and when he does that he manages the game perfectly," Wong said on Auld. 

Auld's favorite weapon so far has been left wideout Martin Tigilau. The duo has hooked up 10 times for 181 yards and five touchdowns heading into this week. Right wideout Koolauloa Gaspar caught his first touchdown against the Mules and slot Noah Ah Yat gives Auld a safety valve in the underneath routes.

Even though Kailua employs a four-wide offense, it has still kept defenses honest with a strong running attack that averages 206 yards per contest. Gabriel LeLesch and Dwight Richardson have handled the bulk of the carries so far, combining for 224 yards on the season. Dalton Kalama, who sat in the season-opener against Castle, is another name to watch for in the backfield.

While the Surfriders' offense has the firepower to win games, their defense has the potential to win championships. The unit forced four turnovers and held Leilehua to 2-for-7 on fourth down attempts in last Friday's win — and nearly pitched a shutout if it wasn't for two long balls in the third quarter.

Kailua's defense was highly aggressive, but disciplined against the Mules' potent passing attack. Leilehua quarterback Kona Andres was pressured all night long and just completed just 38.7 percent of his passes in the contest against an airtight Kailua secondary that had two interceptions and at least five deflections.

"For us here at Kailua, I preach to them they have to bleed blue. That's the mentality on defense," said Wong. "It's just a never give up, relentless attitude they have out there."

Leaders on the defense include seniors linebacker/strong safety Awa Byers and cornerback Kalei Kealoha-Machado. Byers had seven tackles and a fumble recovery against the Mules and Kealoha-Machado had six tackles and an interception.

The Surfriders made their debut in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division I Football Power Rankings at No. 9 this week and will have a chance to prove their rank when seventh-ranked Kapolei visits Saturday.