Leilehua and ‘Iolani went stride-for-stride early in their interleague matchup Saturday afternoon.
When the Mules kicked into another gear in the second quarter, the host Raiders couldn’t quite keep pace.
After ‘Iolani made up the stagger to take a lead early in the quarter, Leilehua scored 35 unanswered points and the seventh-ranked Mules opened the season with a 56-35 win at Eddie Hamada Field.
In a matchup of no-huddle attacks, Leilehua’s fast-break offense generated 361 yards before halftime and finished with 522, picking up 305 on the ground.
Running back Ikaika Piceno broke loose for 125 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries, the bulk coming on a 62-yard touchdown burst late in the second quarter.
"Ikaika worked hard in early-season training and it was nice to see him stretch out his legs and break a long one," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "That wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t have the O-line blocking. This year with the commitment the O-line made to the team we’re able to run the football."
The line also kept the pressure off the Mules’ quarterbacks, and Kalanimoku Pauole shook off two early interceptions by ‘Iolani defensive back Max look to throw two touchdown passes. His 41-yard touchdown sprint in the third quarter capped the 35-point run bridging the second and third quarters.
Pauole entered the game in relief of starter Mack Eberhardt, who went 13-for-19 for 143 yards but spent the second half on the sideline with a wrap around his thumb. Tokuda said he kept Eberhardt out as a precaution heading into next week’s OIA Red West opener against Campbell.
No. 8 ‘Iolani also alternated quarterbacks, with Easton Tsubata and Austin Jim On splitting the snaps. Jim On threw for 143 yards and three touchdowns, and Tsubata ran for a score and threw for another, while receivers Chad Hanaoka and Keoni-Kordell Makekau caught two TD passes each.
Both quarterbacks faced heavy pressure throughout the game, and a hurried throw early in the third quarter resulted in a 64-yard interception return by Deshaun Osborne to stretch Leilehua’s lead to 42-21.
"When you play a team like this that’s going to mix it up, bring a lot of pressure on you, that’s what they want to do, create chaos and confusion," ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "At times (the Raiders quarterbacks) were very good, and at times (Leilehua) forced us into some bad decisions."
At Eddie Hamada Field
| 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–Lei: Piceno 9-125, Neverson 2-69, Pauole 2-48, Mack Eberhardt 4-25, Austinn Nagao 7-13, Kendrick Nunes 3-11, Justin Jenks 2-10, Wynn 1-4. Iol: Jordan Ross 18-76, Tyler McKenna 5-14, Jordan Genovia 1-9, Jim On 3-8, Tsubata 7-2.
PASSING–Lei: Eberhardt 13-19-0-143, Pauole 6-10-2-74, Jenks 1-3-0-4. Iol: Jim On 15-27-2-143, Tsubata 6-14-0-54.
RECEIVING–Lei: Kamaka 7-78, Dustin Ancheta-Maeda 6-55, Savea 3-48, Jenks 3-27, Piceno 1-13. Iol: Hanaoka 8-66, Tyler Teruya 7-56, Makekau 3-51, Ross 2-20, Chase Kanekuni 1-4.
