WAHIAWA — In an effort to keep the ball away from its opponent's most dangerous player, Leilehua displayed incredible faith in its defense in a 24-13 win against Mililani in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West season opener for both teams last night at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

The Mules (3-0 overall, 1-0 West) onside kicked after each of their four scores just to assure that returner Taz Stevenson would not get a hand on the ball, risking great field position to the Trojans (0-3, 0-1). The gamble paid off, as only once Mililani capitalized with a score. But that came after the Mules had a 24-7 lead with under five minutes left in the game.

"We always say before the game, 'We have each other's back,' " Leilehua safety Kahokunohoaupuni Kama said. "Our coach always says, 'In a picture, everybody should be in the picture when tackling the person.' "

Running back Rico Newman delivered the big blows with touchdown runs of 44 and 93 yards, en route to 157 yards on 10 carries. Quarterback Andrew Manley completed 14 of 29 passes for 160 yards, including a 33-yard TD to all-state wideout Edieson Dumlao.

With the game deadlocked at 7 entering the third quarter, the Mules took the second-half kickoff and started at their 14, driving 86 yards on seven plays — six on runs — with Newman's 44-yard jaunt giving Leilehua a 14-7 lead.

Newman then recovered the ensuing onside kick at the Trojans' 43. A pass interference against Mililani later in the series on fourth-and-16 at the Trojans' 33 prolonged the drive that ended with a 31-yard field goal by Maika Kunioka to make it 17-7 with 5:00 left in the third quarter.

Although the Trojans recovered the next onside kick at their 45, Nate Hall recovered a fumble at the Trojans' 47. The Mules didn't score, but the Trojans punted on their next two series. By the end of the third quarter, the Trojans had possession for just under two minutes. The weary Trojans' defense would later pay for it on Newman's 93-yard TD run with 4:36 left in the game to make it 24-7.

The Trojans took the Mules' next onside kick at the Mililani 48. On first down, Matt Milton hit Fred Culp on a 52-yard TD pass to pull the Trojans to 24-13. But interceptions by Hall and Darric Matsumiya ended two Trojans' drives.

"Just trusting my coaches when they said, 'Onside kick it,' " Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "That's part of family. Trusting family. It turned out our way. These kids played their hearts out.

"I could've lost the game with my play calling. But these kids just pulled together. The defense stepped up when they needed to, the special teams. Mililani's a good team. We'll definitely see them in the playoffs."

Moreover, the Mules were without defensive linemen Brad Iaulualo and Mauna Loa Aitaoto because of injuries.

It was the Trojans who struck first. The Mules' opening kickoff went out of bounds, of course, by design, so the Trojans took over from their 35. They moved 65 yards on 11 plays, milking 6:12 off the clock before running back Trevor Lee scored on a five-yard run to give Mililani a 7-0 lead after Corey Nakagawa's PAT.

The Mules tied it later in the quarter after the Trojans punted from deep in their own territory. Newman's 12-yard return to the Trojans' 45, plus a personal foul gave Leilehua the ball at the Trojans' 30. On fourth-and-13, Manley hit Dumlao in the right corner of the end zone with 29 seconds left in the first quarter to tie the game at 7.

"We had great field position, but we hurt ourselves with penalties," Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux said.

Despite the 0-3 start, Arceneaux said it's still early and there is time to recover in a division that's expected to be tight all season.

"We have the right kind of kids who keep their heads up high," he said. "We're going to continue to fight. We're going to continue to get better. It's still a long way. Kapolei's 0-1 (in league play). We're 0-1. It's still a long way."

MILILANI (0-3, 0-1) 7 0 0 6—13

LEILEHUA (3-0, 1-0) 7 0 10 7—24

Mil—Trevor Lee 5 run (Corey Nakagawa kick).

Lei—Edieson Dumlao 33 pass from Andrew Manley (Maika Kunioka kick).

Lei—Rico Newman 44 run (Kunioka kick).

Lei—FG Kunioka 31.

Lei—Newman 93 run (Kunioka kick).

Mili—Fred Culp 52 pass from Matt Milton (kick failed).

RUSHING—Mililani: Iosua Manuma 8-48, Taz Stevenson 13-46, Lee 3-10, Milton 3-42, Kahi Perbera 3-7. Leilehua: Manley 4-(minus 29), Rico Newman 10-157, Greg Frazier 5-6, CJ Bailey 8-25, Jeremy Suguitan 2-3, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING—Mililani: Iosua Manuma 5-18-1—29, Milton 4-16-2—95. Leilehua: Manley 14-29-1—160.

RECEIVING—Mililani: JR Rosal 1-6, Kahi Perbera 1-11, Stevenson 3-12, Geoffrey Badua 1-16, Manuma 1-24, Culp 1-52, Sean Lai 1-3. Leilehua: Dumlao 3-52, Matt Reyes 4-34, Cheves Aberilla Ramiento 3-28, Joseph Lorenzo 1-19, Greg Frazier 3-27.

JV: Mililani 37, Leilehua 34.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.

MORE OIA RED WEST

WAIPAHU 42, PEARL CITY 12

Troy Matautia returned a punt 54 yards for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter and capped the host Marauders' night with a 35-yard scoring jaunt in the fourth quarter of their OIA Red West victory.

John Lacar scored on runs of 5 and 70 yards for Waipahu (3-0). Pearl City fell to 0-3.

PEARL CITY (0-3) 0 0 6 6—12

WAIPAHU (3-0) 7 21 7 7—42

Waip — Troy Matautia 54 punt return (Neil Guiang kick).

Waip — Joshua Lacar 5 run (Guiang kick).

Waip — Lacar 70 run (Guiang kick).

Waip — Jason Buccat 22 pass from Matautia (Guiang kick).

PC — Skye Kaapuni 82 pass from Colby Young (run failed).

Waip — Victor Moananu 8 run (Guiang kick).

PC — Nick Inouye 37 fumble return (run failed).

Waip — Matautia 35 run (Guiang kick).

RUSHING — Pearl City: Jared Cudiamat 5-23, Anthony Green 4-28, Derek Abalos 1-3, Young 3-19, Lu Manaea 1-2. Waipahu: Lacar 7-89, Matautia 24-179, Moananu 6-42, Freemont Aguinaldo 3-6, Buccat 1-5, Brandon Sahagun 13-83, Jordan Ocol 1-14, Micah Beate 1-8.

PASSING — Pearl City: Green 5-18-1—51, Young 8-15-1—154, Sean Luster 3-7-0—33. Waipahu: Lacar 1-3-1—15, Matautia 1-1-0—22.RECEIVING — Pearl City: Kaapuni 8-157, Cudiamat 3-29, Derrick Viela 1-5, Mason Saio 1-14, Ryan Jay 1-13, Randall Marcos 1-1, Mitchell Resurrecion 1-19. Waipahu: Ocol 1-15, Buccat 1-22.

JV score — Waipahu 35, Pearl City 0.

Reported by Tats Hikiji

OIA WHITE

WAIALUA 7, 'ANUENUE 6

Kainoa Rosa scored on a 3-yard run and kicked the extra point in the fourth quarter to lift the host Bulldogs over Na Koa last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference game.

'Anuenue took a 6-0 lead in the second quarter on Kalani Pua'oi's 2-yard run. The PAT attempt was blocked.

'ANUENUE (0-3, 0-2) 0 6 0 0—6

WAIALUA (1-2, 1-1) 0 0 0 7—7

Anue — Kalani Pua'oi 2 run (kick blocked).

Wail — Kainoa Rosa 3 run (Rosa kick).

RUSHING — 'Anuenue: Kainoa Keana'aina 7-8, Ikaika Gante 5-25, Kaipo Cullen 2-8, Chase Keli'ikoa Aki 8-95, Pua'oi 5-77, Kapononui Takamiya 5-22, Kekoa Sitarek 1-6, Aina Keli'i-Supnet 6-10. Waialua: Rosa 6-17, William Sacapulu-Ueda 5-(minus 4), Kaleo Lopes 2-2, AJ Hernandez 14-76.

PASSING — 'Anuenue: Takamiya 1-4-0-5. Waialua: Sacapulu-Ueda 9-18-1-80.

RECEIVING — 'Anuenue: Gante 1-5. Waialua: Rosa 1-10, Lopes 3-8, Hernandez 4-37, Chun 1-25.

Reported by Reanna August-Agabin