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Prep football: Leilehua stops 2-point try to beat Waipahu in OT

Nick Abramo

Rough and tumble. Wild and woolly. Call it what you want. The official name is the OIA Red West, and the football craziness that has been happening all year continued Friday night.

Leilehua, coming off a tough loss to Campbell a week ago, rallied for a 27-26 overtime victory over Waipahu at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

The Mules (3-2 Red West, 5-1) broke a 20-20 regulation tie by scoring first in overtime after Waipahu decided to defend first. Then, Leilehua — after yielding a TD to Waipahu — stopped Marauders running back Terrance Lauti on the 2-point conversion to end the game.

“We wanted to win it in overtime,” said Waipahu coach Eric Keola, when asked why he chose to go for the 2 points instead of the kick to tie. “That’s why we chose to defend first. We wanted to stop them and then win it. We just didn’t get enough push (from the line on the 2-pointer).”

The Marauders (2-3, 2-5) were without their bull of a running back, Wesley Nagaseu, for that crucial conversion try. The 6-foot, 250-pounder, who is used in pivotal short-yardage situations, was on the bench with a hamstring injury.

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