Special teams save No. 7 Kahuku

Kahuku won its 34th straight home game Friday night without scoring an offensive touchdown. 

The seventh-ranked Red Raiders struck twice on special teams and once on defense to edge No. 4 Leilehua 21-14.

Keala Santiago took the opening kickoff 82 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown and added a 67-yard punt return late in the first quarter for a 14-0 Kahuku lead.

But it took a mighty effort to thwart the energetic and stubborn Mules.

The win puts both teams in a first-place tie in the OIA Red at 5-1.

"I’m frustrated (about the offense)," Kahuku coach Lee Leslie said after the game. "Really frustrated. But I’m so glad our special teams and Keala were lights out tonight. It was a great defensive game and we’ve got some work to do to clean up our offense."

Leilehua held the Red Raiders to 80 yards of offense from scrimmage and only 22 on the ground.

Midway through the third quarter, Kahuku’s Alohi Gilman intercepted a pass by Leilehua quarterback Kalanimoku Pauole and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead.

Leilehua, which moved successfully on offense all night, cut the gap to 21-14 with 9:44 to go on Ikaika Piceno’s 2-yard TD run. Pauole’s 28-yard completion to Piceno paved the way for the score.

Earlier in the third, the Mules had fourth-and-an-inch at the Kahuhu 16, but a Pauole pass fell incomplete.

"He slipped and underthrew the receiver," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "Otherwise, it would have been a touchdown."

With about five minutes left, Kahuku’s fake punt worked for a first down, and the Mules didn’t get the ball back until 2:08 remained on Devin Gray’s fumble recovery.

A pitch to Piceno on fourth-and-6 from the Leilehua 45 failed when Piceno slipped a bit and was tackled.

Kahuku took over with 1:17 to go and ran out the clock.

"We learned a lot tonight," Tokuda said. "Our defense played with heart and soul, and whether it was a win or a loss, we are still going to take 24 hours and then regroup."

Santiago was a blur on his two touchdown returns. He went left both times, outside of his wall of blockers to the end zone. 

The Red Raiders, who inserted Kesi Ah-Hoy at quarterback for most of the game instead of regular starter Tuli Wily-Matagi, gained just 18 total yards from scrimmage before the break.

The Mules drove into Red Raiders territory four times in the first half, but only put seven points on the board. Twice their efforts were thwarted by Kahuku linebacker Salanoa Alo-Wily, who recovered one fumble and caused another fumble that was recovered by teammate Hirkley Latu.

Midway though the second quarter, the Mules finally found the end zone with a 69-yard drive. Piceno’s 32-yard run up the middle helped set up Pauole’s 19-yard touchdown toss to Tyreek Keough to make it 14-7.

Leilehua was without the services of speedy and durable running back Randy Neverson, who hurt his knee after his first carry and didn’t return.

Kah–Keala Santiago 82 kickoff return (Jurrell Kai kick)

Kah–Santiago 67 punt return (Kai kick)

Lei–Tyreek Keough 16 pass from Kalanimoku Pauole (Jadan Gilliland kick)

Kah–Aloha Gilman 29 interception return (Kai kick)

Lei–Ikaika Piceno 2 run (Gilliland kick)RUSHING–Leilehua: I. Piceno 12-57, Anterrio Gainwell 1-25, Randy Neverson 1-13, Pauole 15-0, TEAM 1-(minus 10). Kahuku: Salanoa Alo-Wily 5-14, Tuli Wily-Matagi 8-5, Lisiate Tovo 2-3, Kesi Ah-Hoy 14-2, Pena Fitisemanu 1-(minus 2).

PASSING–Leilehua: Pauole 22-40-1-201. Kahuku: Ah-Hoy 3-3-0-42, Wily-Matagi 2-7-1-16.

RECEIVING— Leilehua: I. Piceno 6-78, Kaleo Piceno 5-29, Toma Savea 4-38, Jensen Cassium 2-27, Keough 2-14, Neverson 1-9, Lauriano Lucas 1-5, Gilliland 1-1. Kahuku: Gilman 1-22, Tovo 1-15, Ah-Hoy 1-11, Likio Vea 1-5, Chance Maghanoy 1-5. 

Junior varsity–Kahuku 28, Leilehua 7