Wily carries No. 1 Kahuku past Leilehua

The OIA championship game that didn’t happen two years ago will take place in 2012.

No. 1 Kahuku and No. 4 Mililani will meet next Friday for the OIA Red championship after the Red Raiders held off pesky No. 6 Leilehua 14-7 in the second semifinal on Friday night at Aloha Stadium.

Aofaga Wily had a career-high 41 carries for 190 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning score on the first play of the fourth quarter.

"It was exhausting, but like I said from the weeks before, we always condition on Monday and it benefits us through the week and into the game," Wily said.

Kahuku (9-0) beat Leilehua (7-3) for the fourth straight year in the OIA playoffs and advances to play the Trojans in the final for the OIA’s seeded berth in the state tournament.

Mililani was supposed to play Kahuku in the 2010 title game but was awarded the championship after Kahuku had to forfeit the game due to eligibility questions.

Wily recorded the 19th 100-yard game of his career and scored twice to give him 41 rushing touchdowns in 29 games.

The eventual winning score came on the first play of the final quarter as Kahuku faced a fourth and goal at the Leilehua 1. Without hesitation, the Red Raiders went to their star back. Wily took a quick snap and plowed into the end zone for the go-ahead score.

"I put all my trust in the coaches and the play-calling and they ended up giving it to me," Wily said. "The whole offense took advantage of it."

Things got worse for the Mules, as starting quarterback Justin Jenks was knocked out of the game on their next drive. Jenks was sacked by Matai Paselio — one of a bunch of heavy hits Jenks took in the game — and stayed on the ground for more than a minute before trainers helped him to the sidelines.

Senior Keoni Piceno took over and had a chance to tie the game after Leilehua got the ball back on its own 29 with 3:38 remaining. After an incomplete pass, Piceno threw a ball up the sideline that was intercepted by Kawehena Johnson at the Kahuku 45.

Kahuku then handed the ball off to Wily eight straight plays, as he ran out the clock with 50 yards on the final drive to give Kahuku a chance to defend its OIA championship.

"It feels really good, but it’s not what we want," Wily said. "We want to finish strong at the end."

Jenks finished 13-for-26 for 134 yards before the injury and Piceno was 2-for-9 for 25 yards and the interception.

Leilehua failed to record a first down on its first two drives before using its ground game to take an early lead.

Keanu Kahele Ferreira capped an 11-play, 72-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run on the final play of the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

After throwing the ball on five of their first six plays, the Mules ran the ball nine times during the drive with four different players.

Ikaika Piceno had 41 yards on eight carries at the half as Leilehua ran the ball 22 times for 62 yards.

Kahuku’s defense came up big midway through the second quarter after a bad pitch from quarterback Vililani Livai on an option play was recovered by Elijah Calzo on the Kahuku 25.

Leilehua moved the ball all the way to the Kahuku 11 before two incomplete passes and a penalty forced the Mules into missing a 32-yard field goal that could have made it a two-score game.

Still, Leilehua was in control after forcing Kahuku’s fifth punt of the half. But Jenks fumbled a handoff and Kahuku took over on the Mules 10.

Three plays later, Wily plunged into the end zone from a yard out to tie the game at 7-all.