Leilehua rallies to win

Leilehua’s offense struggled for all but two drives on Saturday.

Thanks to a spirited defensive effort, those two possessions proved to be enough for the sixth-ranked Mules to pull out a 12-10 win over No. 4 Kamehameha in an interleague game at Leilehua’s Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

Leilehua receiver Josh Jenks scored the first of his two touchdowns with 28 seconds left in the first half and gave the Mules their only lead of the game with a 30-yard catch and run on a screen pass to cap a five-play 98-yard drive with 7:28 left in the fourth quarter.

The Mules defense, which kept it close after Leilehua fell behind 10-0 in the first half, held on from there to improve to 2-0.

"When you face a good defense like Kamehameha, you’re not going to move the ball up and down the field. When you get the opportunity, you have to take advantage of it," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.

"(Defensive coordinator Mark) Kurisu does a great job year in and year out. They’re the reason we’re always in the hunt, because our defense keeps us there and they did it again tonight."

Leilehua forced Warriors fumbles on consecutive drives in the first quarter, the first coming just short of the goal line when linebacker Keannu Kamakaiwi stripped the ball and safety Malik Morton recovered it in the end zone.

The Warriors defense was equally stingy in forcing Leilehua into three-and-out punts on the Mules’ first four possessions. A miscue on the Mules’ fifth punt attempt gave Kamehameha the ball at the Leilehua 11.

The Mules held the Warriors to a 30-yard field goal by TJ Fitzsimmons, but after the offense came up short on a fake punt at its 36, Kamehameha quarterback Makoa Camanse-Stevens connected with Austin Gerard on a touchdown pass down the left sideline.

Leilehua had 11 yards in total offense and no first downs until quarterback Justin Jenks completed a 33-yard pass to his cousin Josh at the 2:34 mark of the second quarter.

The Mules later extended the drive with an 18-yard completion to Ikaika Piceno on fourth and 15. After a roughing-the-passer penalty, Justin and Josh Jenks connected again on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 28 seconds left in the second quarter.

"It was really big. The offensive line did a great job, the receivers ran the correct routes, it was a good momentum builder," Justin Jenks said.

After a scoreless third quarter, a Kamehameha punt pinned Leilehua on its 2-yard line with 8:55 left. On second down, Leilehua receiver Keoni Piceno — who had two catches for 2 yards to that point — hauled in a 30-yard completion from backup quarterback Levi Castanares down the right side and picked up a 40-yard gain on a post pattern two plays later.

After Kamehameha used its final timeout with 7:36 left, the Mules called for a wide receiver screen to Josh Jenks, who took the pass over the middle and found an open lane to the end zone.

"There was just a big hole over there," Josh Jenks said.

Leilehua attempted an onside kick, which Kamehameha recovered at midfield. The Warriors drove to the Leilehua 21 before stalling and a field-goal attempt went wide right. After a Leilehua punt, the Warriors couldn’t sustain a drive and the Mules ran out the clock.

"Early in the season, so hopefully we can improve," Kamehameha coach David Stant said. "(Leilehua’s) a good team, and hopefully we understand what we need to get better."