Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
In one brief span of time, the Leilehua Mules showed all the breathtaking, playmaking ability in the world.
At the same time, their relative inexperience showed. Robert Siavii’s 55-yard interception return to paydirt was the pivotal play in a 32-13 win over previously unbeaten Campbell last night.
Fifth-ranked Leilehua remained unbeaten in league play (2-0), while No. 4 Campbell fell to 1-1.
Siavii, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound safety, had already caught a touchdown pass. But on his interception return, he got flagged for an unnecessary dive over the goal line, though two Campbell players were on his heels.
However, once Siavii played to the Leilehua crowd with hand waves and posturing, a second flag hit the synthetic turf at Hugh Yoshida Stadium. Officials told Leilehua defensive coordinator Mark Kurisu that the second penalty was for taunting, though Siavii was facing the Mules’ crowd.
With that, Siavii was automatically ejected. On the ensuing point-after kick by Tim Momiyama, who drilled the double-penalty, 50-yard attempt through the uprights, Mikal Peyton was thrown out for throwing a punch.
Kurisu questioned both penalties, but won’t argue until he sees the video.
"The ref is always going to call it tight. If we left no doubt in the referee’s head, we would’ve been fine. It’s all a matter of judgment," Kurisu said. "(Siavii) was being chased. The second one on Mikal, the ref said he threw a punch, but we’ll look at the video and justice will be served."
With the ejections, Peyton, a starting wide receiver, and Siavii, could be out next week in a homecoming game against tough-nosed Aiea. Leilehua expects to appeal both possible suspensions.
"Defensively, we played our hearts out and we got a lot of opportunities, but offensively, we were hit and miss," Campbell coach Amosa Amosa said. "It’s that consistency we want to achieve day in and day out. Coach Mark and Coach Nolan did a great job. They gave us short routes and the middle, and we weren’t successful."
Leilehua amassed 332 total yards of offense and limited Campbell quarterback Justin Tago to 88 passing yards, including minus-2 in the second half.
"They ran basic plays that we’ve been practicing for all week. (Tago) is pretty fast," said defensive end Penitito Melei, who sacked Tago twice.
The game was close for a half, turning into a defensive battle despite early fireworks. The visiting Sabers got an 80-yard bomb from Tago to Amosa Amosa Jr. on the first play from scrimmage, but the touchdown was called back on an illegal block to the back.
"I thought it was OK, but that flag came out," Amosa said.
Piceno scored on a 5-yard run with 2:24 left in the first half to bring the Sabers within 15-13. That 2-point conversion attempt, a reverse by Brant Cadelina, was snuffed out by Leilehua’s Brennan Jacinto.
After a three and out by Campbell, Sadanaga found Nick Rodriguez for a 36-yard pass, then fired an outside-shoulder bullet to Siavii in the end zone to give the Mules a 22-13 lead with 9:26 to go in the third quarter.
At Hugh Yoshida Stadium
| Campbell (3-1, 1-1) |
7 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
— |
13 |
| Leilehua (3-0-1, 2-0) |
15 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
— |
32 |
Lei–Mikal Peyton 49 pass from Kenan Sadanaga (Tim Momiyama kick)
Cam–Keoni Piceno 10 run (Jaelan Subia-Etrata kick)
Lei–Jeremiah Andrade 59 pass from Sadanaga (Reece Acohido pass from Andrade)
Cam–Piceno 5 run (run failed)
Lei–Russell Siavii 11 pass from Sadanaga (Momiyama kick)
Lei–Siavii 55 interception return (Momiyama kick)
Lei–Momiyaga FG 19
RUSHING–Campbell: Piceno 6-88, Paul-Andrew Rhoden 7-13, Aries Pihi 2-12, Jyrelle Umali 1-9, Triston Bega-Pebria 2-8, Justin Tago 7-6, Bronson Ader 1-0, Team 1-(-13). Leilehua: Larry Paas 8-53, Cole DeCorte 15-48, Keanu Kamakaiwi 1-5, Allen Racette 1-0, Sadanaga 2-(-6).
PASSING–Campbell: Tago 13-25-1-88. Leilehua: Sadanaga 17-26-2-183, Andrade 1-1-0-49.
RECEIVING–Campbell: Amosa Amosa Jr. 4-47, Ader 3-29, Pihi 2-8, B.J. Halmos 2-3, Malik Lockett 1-4, Piceno 1-(-3). Leilehua: Andrade 6-83, Peyton 2-73, Nick Rodriguez 2-43, Paas 2-9, Racette 2-5, Siavii 1-11, David Dawson 1-7, Josh Jenks 1-4, Dalten Diggs 1-(-3).
Junior varsity–Leilehua 6, Campbell 2.
OIA RED EAST
No. 3 Farrington 50, Castle 13
Junior running back Tyler Taumua rushed 23 times for 215 yards and three touchdowns to power the Governors over the Knights.
Taumua scored on a pair of 13-yard runs in Farrington’s 23-point second quarter and added a third score on a 44-yard run in the third quarter.
Castle scored the first points of the second half on a 90-yard interception return by senior defensive back Layne Suyat.
At Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium
| Castle (0-2, 0-4) |
0 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
— |
13 |
| Farrington (2-0, 4-0) |
7 |
23 |
13 |
7 |
— |
50 |
Farr–Toma Barrett 39 pass from Travis Tamapua (Keanu Foki kick)
Farr–Tavale Masalosalo 8 run (kick failed)
Farr–Tyler Taumua 13 run (Masalosalo pass from Tamapua)
Farr–Taumua 13 run (Foki kick)
Farr–Safety, Olycon Finau tackled in end zone
Cas–Layne Suyat 90 interception return (Adam Aquino kick)
Cas–Jesse Medeiros 25 pass from Brett Harrington (kick failed)
Farr–Taumua 44 run (Foki kick)
Farr–Abraham Silva 1 run (kick failed)
Farr–Jackie Anakalea 1 run (Shanelle Atabay Carillo kick)
RUSHING–Castle: Olycon Finau 6-(minus 4), team 1-(minus 29), Kela Shea 1-9, Brett Harrington 1-(minus 7). Farrington: Tyler Taumua 23-215, Tavale Masalosalo 10-74, Jacky Anakalea 8-23, Abraham Silva 8-49, Setefano Lavatai 9-52, Travis Tamapua 3-(minus 20).
PASSING–Castle: Brett Harrington 5-22-3-115, Kela Shea 8-15-1-57. Farrington: Travis Tamapua 4-13-1-80, Toma Barrett 1-1-0-18.
RECEIVING–Castle: Adam Aquino 3-56, Jesse Medeiros 2-71, Kamalei Kam-Awea 1-0, Olycon Finau 2-8, Bulla Clayton 3-19, Cullen Shroma-Fernandez 2-18. Farrington: Toma Barrett 3-75, Tyler-Milton Liana 1-5, Francis Evagelia 1-18.
Junior varsity–Farrington 20, Castle 6.
OIA WHITE
Waipahu 28, Kalani 14
Gregorio Alip tallied 22 carries for 253 yards as the Marauders defeated the Falcons.
Matapua Tulafale scored two touchdowns for Waipahu, while quarterback Drake Yoshioka lifted the offense by completing eight of 14 attempts for 164 yards with no interceptions.
Kalani’s David Rasmussen went 18-for-38 for 183 yards but threw three interceptions.
At Kaiser Stadium
| Waipahu (3-0, 3-1) |
0 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
— |
28 |
| Kalani (1-1, 1-2) |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
— |
14 |
Kaln–Gavin Kim 7 pass from David Rasmussen (Kazuto Moribe kick)
Waip–Dylan Taii 55 pass from Drake Yoshioka (Jahna Tacson kick)
Kaln–Lorenzo Reaves 20 pass from Rasmussen (Moribe kick)
Waip–Matapua Tulafale 6 pass from Yoshioka (Tacson kick)
Waip–Tulafale 3 run (Jayson Gonsalves kick)
Waip–Gregorio Alip 44 run (Gonsalves kick)
RUSHING–Waipahu: Alip 22-253, Tulafale 4-31, Yoshioka 3-25, Isaiah Alama 3-11, Tydro Ate-Taito 1-9, Christian Paulino 4-7, Mataio Fualema 1-(-19). Kalani: Enrique Gruver 2-13, Shane Ra 1-(-8), Rasmussen 7-(-9), Genta Hammani 4-(-14).
PASSING–Waipahu: Yoshioka 8-14-0-164, Fualema 0-1-0-0. Kalani: Rasmussen 18-38-3-183.
RECEIVING–Waipahu: Taii 2-72, Micah Luke 2-41, Ate-Taito 2-6, Wesley Nagaseu 1-39, Tulafale 1-6. Kalani: Reaves 6-74, Kim 5-63, Trevor Yamashita 5-33, Talon Sismar 2-13.
Junior varsity–Waipahu 55, Kalani 12
Pearl City 27, Nanakuli 12
Kaimi Paredes threw for two touchdowns and ran in two more to lead the Chargers past the Golden Hawks.
Paredes also led Pearl City’s offense with 10 carries for 76 yards.
Nanakuli’s Khade Paris rushed for 18 yards, including a touchdown.
At Nanakuli
| Pearl City (2-0, 2-1) |
0 |
8 |
13 |
6 |
— |
27 |
| Nanakuli (1-2, 1-3) |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
— |
12 |
Nan–Khade Paris 3 run (kick failed)
PC–Kelson Laboy 18 pass from Kaimi Paredes (David Laranol run)
Nan–Brandon Felisi 8 run (pass failed)
PC–Paredes 6 run (Laranol kick)
PC–Joe Hammond 8 pass from Paredes (kick failed)
PC–Paredes 4 run (kick failed)
RUSHING–Pearl City: Paredes 10-76, Noah Derby 8-68, Rakeel McMillian 6-53, Angel Aponte 3-30, Shawn Lopez 2-5, Shayne Biven 1-3. Nanakuli: Brady Kaaihue 14-23, Paris 10-18, Felisi 6-12, Stephen Johnston 1-8.
PASSING–Pearl City: Paredes 15-27-2-210, Aponte 1-6-0-4. Nanakuli: Felisi 6-19-3-76.
RECEIVING–Pearl City: Laboy 6-116, Adrian Hall-Fonoimoana 4-38, Lopez 3-42, Hammond 1-8, Laranol 1-6, Airick Pelen 1-4. Nanakuli: Paris 2-10, Joseph Shelton 1-35, John Tupuola-Tausaga 1-15, Jamaal Winston 1-15, Derrick Mane 1-1.
Junior varsity–Pearl City 20, Nanakuli 19
MIL
Kamehameha-Maui 24, King Kekaulike 15
OIA RED LATE FRIDAY
No. 1 Kahuku 55, Kaiser 0
At Kahuku
| Kaiser (0-2, 1-3) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
| Kahuku (2-0, 4-0) |
14 |
20 |
21 |
0 |
— |
55 |
Kahu–Mikeli Fiso 35 pass from Livai (Kekahu Aluli kick)
Kahu–Kawe Johnson 22 pass from Livai (Aluli kick)
Kahu–Mason Kuealii-Moe 35 interception return (kick failed)
Kahu–James Kahele 1 run (kick failed)
Kahu–Livai 1 run (2-point conversion)
Kahu–Norman Soloman-Unga 17 pass from Livai (Aluli kick)
Kahu–Tre Kubota 3 run (Aluli kick)
Kahu–Kaimana Kaina 10 run (Aluli kick)
RUSHING–Kaiser: Fitou Fisiahi 5-27, Vidli Kannys 4-18, Leimana Chong-Gum 1-2. Kahuku: Mahonilai Fakatou 6-81, Kubota 7-38, Kahele 4-29, Kaina 1-10, Livai 1-1, Sterling Moe 2-(-1).
PASSING–Kaiser: Curt Clivio 4-22-2-16. Kahuku: Livai 10-23-0-167.
RECEIVING–Kaiser: Christian Clapp 3-15, Kannys 1-1. Kahuku: Johnson 2-45, Spencer Nagy 2-24, Jonathan Yu 2-17, Fiso 1-35, Reed Salanoa 1-21, Soloman-Unga 1-17, Danny Aki 1-8.
Junior Varsity–Kahuku 27, Kaiser 0
76
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARADVERTISER.COM