Leilehua turns back Campbell

For the second straight year, the outcome between Leilehua and Campbell came down to the final minutes.

This time, the sixth-ranked Mules held strong.

Senior safety Anthony Johnson intercepted an Isaac Hurd pass after Hurd’s touchdown throw to Kainoa Perry was called back on the previous play and host Leilehua held on for a thrilling

28-21 win over the No. 8 Campbell on Friday night in the OIA Red West opener for both teams.

Tristin Kamaka and Ikaika Piceno each returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the Mules (2-0, 1-0), who lost in overtime, 35-34, to the Sabers (2-1, 0-1) last season.

"We been working hard because we knew they would be a hard opponent," safety Deshaun Osborne said. "We had enough energy in the fourth quarter to finish the game."

Campbell got the ball back with less than two minutes remaining trailing by a touchdown. After a sack by Danzell Stevens Leaai, Hurd nearly completed a long pass over the middle, but Osborne swatted it away at the last second.

Hurd ran for 30 yards on fourth and 21 to keep the drive alive, but Torenzo Vereen forced a fumble with eight seconds left that was recovered by Leaai.

"Campbell came out firing hard in the second half," Osborne said. "They made their adjustments and gave us a run for our money."

Hurd finished 18-for-39 for a career-high 251 yards. He threw for two touchdowns in the second half and ran for another.

The lead changed hands four times in the second half after Leilehua’s defense dominated the opening 24 minutes to take a 13-0 lead into the break.

Kamaka book-ended the first half with touchdowns on special teams and offense, returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score.

He caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Mack Eberhardt on third and 18 with 19 seconds left in the first half to give the Mules their biggest lead of the game.

The Sabers drove inside the Leilehua 10 twice in the first half but came away with no points.

The Sabers were killed by penalties, committing seven 15-yard infractions.

"We’re not going to go anywhere if that’s our attitude toward things," Campbell coach Amosa Amosa said. "That’s not a reflection of our staff and what we’re trying to teach our kids."

After a flawless first half, the Mules defense made critical mistakes to let the Sabers back into the game. Facing a third and 23 from its own 7, Campbell got an 83-yard pass from Hurd to Amosa Amosa Jr., who got behind the Leilehua secondary before getting caught from behind.

Hurd followed with his first rushing touchdown of the season two plays later, scoring from 5 yards out to make it 13-7.

Campbell quickly got the ball back after three straight Leilehua incompletions. Hurd connected on two passes before he was intercepted by Osborne on the Leilehua 5.

The interception only delayed the Sabers comeback, as Hurd connected with Jayce Bantolina on the next Sabers drive for a 60-yard touchdown.

Hurd fired a pass that went through a Mililani defender’s hands into the outstretched arms of Bantolina, who ran untouched the rest of the way.

An unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting forced the Sabers to kick the extra point from the 17, and it was no good.

The tie lasted a whopping 15 seconds, as Piceno took the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

Campbell’s offense was undeterred, as Hurd led the Sabers on an 11-play, 67-yard drive to answer.

Bantolina caught his second touchdown pass of the game, a 20-yarder on fourth and 2, to pull the Sabers within a point.

Campbell elected to go for 2 and Hurd beat the Leilehua defender to the corner, diving into the end zone to give the Sabers their first lead of the game at 21-20 with 10:35 remaining.

Eberhardt then hit Toma Savea with a 10-yard scoring pass and Kamaka for the

2-point conversion as Leilehua took a 28-21 lead.