On the road on wet turf, the offensive juggernaut in blue and silver showed a penchant for lockdown defense.
Moanalua limited No. 9 Leilehua to its lowest scoring output of the season, spoiling the Mules’ homecoming night with a 23-10 upset at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.
Moanalua seized sole possession of first place in OIA Division I with a 4-0 record (4-0 overall). Leilehua slipped to 3-1 (4-2 overall).
Na Menehune came into the game averaging 40 points per outing, but had to come up with something different to slow an equally explosive Leilehua offense.
“We added some new stunts,” defensive lineman Tupu Alualu said. “Our offensive and defensive coaches made us run a lot this week, and we had to keep attacking Leilehua.”
Alualu, the D-line MVP at the GPA Combine last June, was relentless. He was in on 1.5 of Moanalua’s three sacks in the first half. Though the visitors didn’t record a sack after the break, they corralled the Mules and limited them to 76 yards of total offense in the final two quarters.
“Our defense led the charge today. We kind of stalled out offensively, but our defense took it personal,” Moanalua coach Savaii Eselu said. “Leilehua tried to sit a little bit and tried to deliver a big blow, but it worked out for us.”
Leilehua’s potent offense managed 209 total yards. Running back James McGary was reined in all night and finished with 12 rushing yards on eight carries.
Moanalua also did it with special teams. Place-kicker Griffin Motas demonstrated one of the most powerful legs in the state as he made field goals of 27, 40 and 26 yards with plenty to spare.
After a 36-yard field goal by Akoni Tom-Makue tied the game at 3 early in the second quarter, Moanalua safety/kick returner Trequan Henderson demonstrated speed and brute strength. He shook off several tacklers and sped down the sideline with a caravan of blockers for a 99-yard touchdown. Moanalua led 10-3 with 10:42 left in the first half.
An interception by defensive end Kahakai Kahoiwai gave Leilehua the ball at its 49 with eight minutes to go in the half. That set up a 23-yard scoring strike from Max Nichols to Jeremy Evans, who made a one-handed catch at the goal line. That tied the game up at 10 with 7:22 to go before the half.
Motas’ second field goal lifted Moanalua to a 13-10 lead going into intermission.
Leilehua trailed 13-10 and had the ball at Moanalua’s 16-yard line on fourth and 2. After a timeout, the holder, Kalei Akagi, faked the field-goal try and rolled left, but his pass was deflected by Aukai Grace.
Moanalua’s ensuing drive stalled, but the punt was muffed and Keanu Kekawa recovered for Na Menehune at the Leilehua 39. A 29-yard pass from Nick Au to Rudy Kealohi (nine receptions, 104 yards) set up a 5-yard blast by Makana Spencer. Moanalua led 23-10 with 10:57 remaining.
The Mules had three more possessions, but never entered Moanalua territory again.
The last time these programs met, Moanalua won 58-22 on Oct. 9, 2015. Prior to that, Leilehua had won 24 games in a row over Na Menehune.
GAME SUMMARY
Moanalua 23, No. 9 Leilehua 10
at Leilehua
>> Moanalua (4-0, 4-0) 3 10 3 7 — 23
>> Leilehua (4-2, 3-1) 0 10 0 0 — 10
FG Griffin Motas 27
Leilehua — FG Akoni Tom-Makue 36
Moanalua — Trequan Henderson 99 kick return (Luke Palalay kick)
Leilehua — Jeremy Evans 23 pass from Max Nichols (Tom-Makue kick)
Moanalua — Motas FG 40
Moanalua — Motas FG 26
Moanalua — Makana Spencer 5 run (Palalay kick)
RUSHING — Moanalua: Spencer 5-63, Jacob Copeland 6-37, Lawsen Lee 7-21, Drayden Von Oelhoffen 1-0, Nick Au 5-0, team 2-(minus-2), Ezra Grace 1-(minus-3), Rudy Kealohi 3-(minus-4). Leilehua: James McGary 8-12, Kekoa Turnagan 1-(minus-6), Masen Reis 1-(minus-8), Nichols 8-(minus-11).
PASSING — Moanalua: Au 20-29-1-180. Leilehua: Nichols 17-34-1-204, Kalei Aka 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — Moanalua: Rudy Kealohi 9-104, Copeland 3-23, Von Oelhoffen 3-17, Grace 2-16, CJ Paleafei 2-4, Javon Monico 1-16. Leilehua: Dorian Furtado 6-66, Evans 3-48, McGary 3-37, Rayden Rulloda-Kim 3-32, Jayzon Ramos 1-21, Reis 1-0.
* JV — Leilehua 33, Moanalua 6
