The leg of Akoni Tom-Makue, the arm of Max Nichols and a stingy defense helped Leilehua end Damien’s chances of making the state Division I tournament.
Tom-Makue made three first-quarter field goals and Nichols threw two touchdown passes in the second half as the host Mules beat the Monarchs 23-17.
Damien had three possessions while down by six points, but threw an interception, punted and turned the ball over on downs.
“We just made too many mistakes and we couldn’t put it together at the end there,” said Damien coach Eddie Klaneski.
The Monarchs (4-4, 4-3) will finish behind ‘Iolani in the ILH standings. The league gets one state tournament berth.
The Mules (7-2, 5-1) were already assured of being the OIA’s No. 2 seed in the state tournament.
Tom-Makue nailed a 22-yarder to cap the first possession of the game, a 40-yarder with 3:44 left before halftime and another 40-yarder on the final play of the first half.
“I have a lot of confidence in my O-line — they block for me and I just get the points done with my leg,” Tom-Makue said.
He also had a punt that pinned the Monarchs at the 1 for their final possession.
Nichols’ scoring passes were a 28-yarder to Jeremy Evans and a 48-yarder to Kalei Akagi. They were the only catches in the game for the receiver.
“We talked about it during halftime. We knew that was going to be there because the O-line blocked a helluva game the whole way,” said Nichols, who finished 16-for-39 for 231 yards. “We knew if we got the ball to the wide receivers’ hands on the field, it would be wide open.”
Damien scored on a Logan Lauti’s 3-yard run, a field goal by Christian Souza and a 10-yard pass from Jake Holtz, who split time at quarterback with Duke Ho’ohuli.
GAME SUMMARY
Leilehua 23, Damien 17
At Leilehua
>> Damien (4-4, 4-3) 7 0 3 7 — 17
>> Leilehua (7-2, 5-1) 3 6 14 0 — 23
Leilehua — FG Akoni Tom-Makue 22
Damien — Logan Lauti 3 run (Christian Souza kick)
Leilehua — FG Tom-Makue 40
Leilehua — FG Tom-Makue 40
Leilehua — Jeremy Evans 28 pass from Max Nichols (Tom-Makue kick)
Damien — FG Souza 43
Leilehua — Kalei Akagi 48 pass from Nichols (Tom-Makue kick)
Damien — Makanale’a Meyer 10 pass from Jake Holtz (Souza kick)
RUSHING — Damien: Lauti 8-43, Aperamo Sulu 5-20, Holtz 14-13, Duke Ho‘ohuli 1-(minus 1), Team 3-(minus 18). Leilehua: James McGary 10-38, Damarion Smith 7-18, Nichols 8-13.
PASSING — Damien: Holtz 11-33-1-118, Ho’ohuli 2-7-1-19. Leilehua: Nichols 16-39-2-231.
RECEIVING — Damien: Lindon Sevilleja 5-83, Sulu 4-28, Lauti 2-5, Jarvis Natividad 1-11, Meyer 1-10. Leilehua: Dorian Furtado 5-101, Rayden Rulloda-Kim 3-25, McGary 5-12, Chad Dilay 1-17, Evans 1-28, Kalei Aka 1-48.
