The Friday night lights went dark for a while in Wahiawa.
Warmups prior to Friday’s OIA Red West game between Leilehua and Kapolei were halted by a power outage at Hugh Yoshida Stadium, delaying the start of the Mules’ homecoming game.
After sufficient light returned to the field to start the game — about 45 minutes after the blackout — Leilehua appeared on its way to a bounce-back win in building a two-touchdown lead over the first three quarters.
The fourth period, however, belonged to Kapolei.
Aided by three Leilehua turnovers, the Hurricanes scored 35 unanswered points in the final period in a 48-27 win over the No. 7 Mules.
Mana Reis rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns, including the final two in the Hurricanes’ remarkable fourth-quarter rally.
Tristen Pebria added 96 yards and a score and Kainoa Brown powered in for two short-yardage scores, including the go-ahead touchdown with 4:06 left in the game.
Leilehua quarterback Kalanimoku Pauole came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes. But two Leilehua fumbles and an interception in the final period helped fuel the Kapolei rally while Leilehua dropped its second straight.
Pauole entered in relief of Mack Eberhardt on Leilehua’s second possession and led the Mules on a five-play scoring drive. He hit Lauriano Lucas on a short crossing route and Lucas raced to the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown.
After a Kapolei punt, Eberhardt returned to start a drive at the Mules’ 10. On the next play, he retrieved a high snap in the end zone and tried to salvage the play. But his throw was intercepted by Kapolei’s Tristan Centeio, who returned it 2 yards for a score. The extra point was wide, keeping the Leilehua lead at 7-6.
After Leilehua running back Ikaika Piceno broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run, the Hurricanes answered with Reis’ 38-yard score.
Leilehua’s special teams gave the Mules a 20-13 lead at halftime. With less than a minute left in the half, a Kapolei punt snap sailed high and into the end zone. After a wild scramble, Leilehua’s Anthony Johnson came up with the recovery for a touchdown.
Leilehua’s lead grew to
27-13 when Pauole hit Tristin Kamaka on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 3:12 left in the third quarter.
Kapolei began its comeback with a 10-play drive, ending with Brown’s first touchdown run of the period.
The Hurricanes then converted a Leilehua fumble into a nine-play drive that was extended by Alton Julius’ 8-yard run on a fake punt on fourth and 7. Pebria’s 5-yard touchdown run was followed by Arielle Stoyanow’s extra point to tie the game at 27-27.
Kapolei defensive back Paulo Bartley came up with an interception on Leilehua’s next play and the Hurricanes took their first lead on Brown’s 4-yard run. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff set up Reis’ 35-yard run and he later capped a wild quarter with a 3-yard run in the final minute.
At Hugh Yoshida Stadium
Kapolei (5-1, 3-1) |
6 |
7 |
0 |
35 |
— |
48 |
Leilehua (3-2, 1-2) |
7 |
13 |
7 |
0 |
— |
27 |
Lei–Lauriano Lucas 19 pass from Kalanimoku Pauole (John Enos kick)
Kapo–Tristan Centeio 2 interception return (kick failed)
Lei–Ikaika Piceno 25 run (kick failed)
Kapo–Mana Reis 38 run (Arielle Stoyanow kick)
Lei–Anthony Johnson fumble recovery in end zone (Enos kick)
Lei–Tristin Kamaka 16 pass from Pauole (Enos kick)
Kapo–Kainoa Brown 3 run (Stoyanow kick)
Kapo–Tristen Pebria 5 run (Stoyanow kick)
Kapo–Brown 4 run (Stoyanow kick)
Kapo–Reis 35 run (Stoyanow kick)
Kapo–Reis 3 run (Stoyanow kick)
RUSHING–Kapolei: Reis 12-104, Tristen Pebria 23-96, Aizon Kahana 21-46, Kainoa Brown 7-22, Julius 1-8, Kepa Kaina 1-(minus 4), Team 1-(minus 30). Leilehua: Piceno 9-58, Lucas 1-42, Kendrick Nunes 4-8, Pauole 4-5, Mack Eberhardt 1-(minus 2), Team 1-(minus 15).
PASSING–Kapolei: Kahana 4-10-0-10, Julius 0-1-0-0. Leilehua: Eberhardt 4-16-2-33, Pauole 8-12-1-70.
RECEIVING–Kapolei: Reis 2-(minus 6), Pebria 1-12, Kaimana Bunker 1-4. Leilehua: Piceno 4-23, Kamaka 3-35, Lucas 2-26, Dustin Ancheta-Maeda 2-15, Justin Jenks 1-4.
Junior varsity–Leilehua 14, Kapolei 6