Two-time defending OIA Division I champion Kahuku opens its 2017 season at home on the North Shore against Leilehua, which barely held on to defeat St. Francis, 13-9, last Saturday at Hugh Yoshida Stadium. Kahuku has won nine straight against the Mules since Leilehua upset Kahuku in the semifinals of the state tournament in 2008.
Leilehua Mules (1-0)
Head coach: Mark Kurisu, second season, 11-2-1
2017 Mules roster
VS.
No. 2 Kahuku Red Raiders (0-0)
Head coach: Makoa Freitas, first season, 0-0
2017 Red Raiders roster
No. 2 Kahuku 24, Leilehua 0, FINAL
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10:32: Game is over.
10:26: Nawahine scores on a 7-yard run up the middle. Heffernan makes the kick to make it 24-0. 1:28 left.
10:20: Leilehua punts. Kahuku driving.
10:10: Ikaika Togiai scores a 4-yard touchdown on a short pass from Maiava. Heffernan boots the extra point. 17-0, 7:49 to go in game.
10:09: Sitaleki Tongi catches a first-down pass to the 4.
10:06: Thorton Alapa makes a great over-the-shoulder catch of a Maiava pass for 28 yards. But Kahuku is facing a fourth down and 4 from the 10.
FOURTH QUARTER
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9:58: The third quarter ends.
9:56: Leilehua’s Nichols throws three incompletions and the Mules will punt.
9:54: Three Maiava incompletions lead to the Red Raiders losing hte ball on downs.
9:51: A long Nawahine gain is brought back due to a Red Raiders personal-foul penalty.
9:49: Nawahine breaks away for a 26-yard gain to go over 100 yards for the night.
9:46: A 12-yard sack of Nichols by Kahuku’s Miki Ah You leads to another Mules punt.
9:41: Kahuku will be punting from its own 4 after an 11-yard penalty.
9:35: Max Nichols is in at QB for Leilehua. He and James McGary both run for a first down. But eventually the drive stalls and the Mules punt. 7:23 left in the third quarter.
9:31: The Red Raiders can’t move from the Leilehua 35 and lose the ball on downs.
9:29: Alex Fonoimoana-Vaomu makes Kahuku’s fourth interception of the game on third down.
9:25: Leilehua is about to receive the second half kickoff.
THIRD QUARTER
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9:18: 4:17 left on the halftime intermission clock.
9:16: Some halftime stats: Leilehua 12 yards from scrimmage. Kahuku has 138, including 84 yards rushing on 17 carries by Nawahine. Kahuku leads the turnover battle 3-0 and that has proven to be a huge difference so far.
9:07: The Red Raiders faced a fourth and goal from the one with 23 seconds left. Maiava faked handoff, rolled out and threw into the end zone. Leilehua’s Ugalino jumped to tip it harmlessly to the ground. It’s halftime.
9:03: Kahuku gets the ball back, though, with its third interception. This time, Lauina Falatea makes the pick and returns it about 25 yards to the Leilehua 14.
8:58: On a third and short, Maiva gets caught behind the line of scrimmage. He was chased out of bounds by Sinclair. Kahuku punts for the third time.
8:54: The Mules are punting for the third time in the game. They lost the ball to interceptions on their other two possessions.
8:47: A Nawahine 24-yard run gets the ball to the Leilehua 1. Two plays later, Maiava fakes a handoff and cuts to open space and finally gets into the end zone from 2 yards out. Heffernan adds the extra point. Kahuku 10, Leilehua 0. 5:33 left in the first half.
8:42: On second down, Andres underthrows a receiver and his pass is intercepted by Kaonohi Kaniho of the Red Raiders.
8:39: The drive stalls and Duke Heffernan kicks a 28-yard field goal. Kakuku 3, Leilehua 0, 7:50 left in the first half.
8:36: Nawahine carries 3 times to the Leilehua 5. Mules call timeout.
8:34: Kahuku’s Nalu Emerson steps in front of a Leilehua reciver and picks off an Andres pass. Kahuku ball on the Leilehua 26.
SECOND QUARTER
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8:26: Kahuku has two incomplete passes on its next possession and goes three and out and punts. First quarter ends. SCORELESS.
8:22: A Leilehua receiver drops the ball on a third down-pass for the second time in a row. Mules punt.
8:16: Sunny Kanamu Jr. strips the ball from Maiava, but Maiava picks it up only to be sacked by Kalaika Sinclair. Kahuku winds up losing the ball on downs.
8:15: Kahuku moves the pile and Nawahine gains 2 yards.
8:14: Leilehua calls timeout.
8:13: Red Raiders face a fourth and one at the Mules’ 25.
8:08: Leilehua goes three and out and punts from its own 9.
8:05: Richard Shamasaki sacks Kahuku quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava and Donavon Ugalino chases and hits Maiava on the next play, a third-down incomplete pass. Kahuku punts.
8:03: A Nawahine 21-yard run is called back due to a penalty.
8:00: Enoch Nawahine and Sol Jay Maiava are gaining chunks of yardage for Kahuku.
7:57: Touchdback. Kahuku ball on the 20.
7:56: We are underway.
FIRST QUARTER
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7:54: Kahuku will receive. Leilehua will defend the makai end zone.
7:52: Captains are meeting at midfield.
7:45: Presentation of the colors is about to start. National anthem, Hawaii Pono’i and alma maters to follow.
7:43: Kahuku just left the field to go to the locker room. Soon, they will be storming through the fence gate and back on to the field.
7:29: First impressions — Kahuku looks big, unified and hungry. Leilehua is a quite a big smaller, but appear to be working sharply at the warmup stations.
7:26: Varsity kickoff is at least 20 minutes away.
7:25: The varsity teams are on the field warming up.
7:24: Final JV score — Kahuku 26, Leilehua 21
7:19: The Kahuku JV team just intercepted a long pass to just about wrap it up with 31 seconds left.
7:16: The JV game is nearing the end. Leilehua held a lead, but Kahuku scored to take a 26-21 lead. 1:13 remaining.
tank u unko fo live stream us mainland jv n vars
Who’s streaming live please?
I know it’s early in the season, but this Kahuku team looks like Inoke Funaki’s sophomore year team in ’99. Young QB, Young defense and a stout running back.
They will win games but nothing like the previous year 2016 where they were blowing everyone out. Sorta like the ’98 Kahuku team who blew everyone out in the OIA and barely winning prep bowl. So this young Kahuku team will be one to be reckoned with as the season goes on and the coming years.
The refs killed this game…Slowed it down with yellow hankies…And then the TV commercials added to that…Not entertaining at all….Hope it gets better….
Nice win. Couple of starting oline were out, but the 2nd string did get some good experience. Nawahine is a beast, can’t wait to see Wes Maiava in action too. Big Red front 7 is deep. Secondary coming along. Big props to the Mules D, coaching staff had there players ready. Next up is Waianae. Go Big Red!!!
Kahuku doesn’t look ready for Bingham.
2 kahuku tds called back. Nawahine was a beast.
Kahuku should stick to last year’s playbook just with more passing!! They would’ve had more success with running the I formation or the jumbo package. Nawahine style is perfect for the jumbo. I know they want to pass more and they’ve been running but stick to what works and when you have that comfortable lead then by all means pass like crazy. It’s just my opinion. Anyways good game by the mules and will get tougher as the season goes
Saint Louis is still the team to beat, Kahuku was 3-0 just before halftime? Get stronger RR because your Offense has to meet Crusaders Defense, and they are nasty!
Shout out to the Punahou running backs coach. Great work.