Interleague FOOTBALL: Leilehua rambles past 'Iolani, 56-35

HHSAA

Leilehua displayed a balanced and explosive offensive attack Saturday afternoon -- running off 35 straight points after an early 21-14 deficit -- to blow past 'Iolani, 56-35, in interleague action at Eddie Hamada Field.

It was the season opener for the Mules; 'Iolani fell to 1-1.

The Raiders took a 21-14 lead after Easton Tsubata's 1-yard quarterback sneak and Jordan Genovia's extra point 45 seconds into the second quarter. But Leilehua tied it up at 21-21 six minutes later after Kalanimoku Pauole's 6-yard touchdown pass to Tristin Kamaka, then went up for good on Ikaika Piceno's 62-yard run with 3:18 remaining in the half.

The Mules took a 35-21 lead into the locker room after Pauole's 8-yard TD pass to Toma Savea with 31 seconds left. Deshaun Osborne's 64-yard interception return back to the house two minutes into the second half helped push the lead to 42-21, then Pauole broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown scamper and John Enos' PAT made it 49-21 with 5:13 remaining in the third quarter.

'Iolani finally broke the run with Tsubata's 13-yard scoring pass to Chad Hanaoka two minutes later, then closed it to 49-35 after Jin On's 6-yard TD pass to Keoni-Kordell Makekau and Genovia's extra point with 2:13 left in the game. But Leilehua sealed the victory with Randy Neverson's 64-yard scoring dash on the very next play from scrimmage.

The Mules finished with 222 yards passing from three quarterbacks and 320 yards rushing. Mack Eberhardt, a transfer from Massachussetts, started the game behind center for Leilehua and completed 13 of 19 passes for 142 yards before leaving the game late in the second quarter with an apparent thumb injury.

Piceno was the game's leading rusher with 126 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.

LEILEHUA (1-0) 14 21 14 7 -- 56
'IOLANI (1-1) 14 7 7 7 -- 35

 Lei -- Lecory Wynn 4 run (John Enos kick)
'Iol -- Keoni-Kordell Makekau 35 pass from Austin Jim On (Jordan Genovia kick)
Lei -- Ikaika Piceno 2 run (Enos kick)
'Iol -- Chad Hanaoka 17 pass from Jim On (Genovia kick)
'Iol -- Easton Tsubata 1 run (Genovia kick)
Lei -- Tristin Kamaka 6 pass from Kalanimoku Pauole (Enos kick)
Lei -- Piceno 62 run (kick failed)
Lei -- Toma Savea 8 pass from Pauole (Piceno run)
Lei -- Deshaun Osborne 64 interception return (Enos kick)
Lei -- Pauole 41 run (Enos kick)
'Iol -- Hanaoka 13 pass from Tsubata (Genovia kick)
'Iol -- Makekau 6 pass from Jim On (Genovia kick)
Lei -- Randy Neverson 64 run (Enos kick)

RUSHING -- Leilehua: Kendrick Nunes 3-11, Piceno 9-126, Wynn 1-4, Austinn Nagao 7-12, Mack Eberhardt 3-28, Pauole 2-48, Neverson 2-70, Justin Jenks 2-11. 'Iolani: Jordan Ross 19-89, Tsubata 4-14, Jim On 3-12, Genovia 1-7, Tyler McKenna 5-13.

PASSING -- Leilehua: Eberhardt 13-19-0--142, Pauole 6-10-2-76, Jenks 1-3-0--4. 'Iolani: Tsubata 6-14-0-56, Jim On 15-25-2--147.

RECEIVING -- Leilehua: Jenks 3-29, Kamaka 7-78, Dustin Ancheta-Maeda 6-54, Savea 3-48, Piceno 1-13. 'Iolani: Hanaoka 7-78, Makekau 3-50, Ross 3-12, Kanekuni 1-5, Teruya 7-58.