WAHIAWA — A quick start on offense and a steady performance on defense lifted Leilehua to a 21-7 victory over visiting Kapolei last night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association football action at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

The defending state champion Mules, ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the OIA's Red Conference Western Division. Kapolei fell to 2-3, 1-2.

Leilehua scored all its points in the first quarter, with junior quarterback Andrew Manley completing 7 of 10 passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns to help the Mules build a 21-0 lead. Manley finished 23 of 39 for 268 yards, with two interceptions.

"That's what we practiced all week (coming out quickly)," Manley said. "Coach (Nolan) Tokuda gave me the freedom to call some of my own plays, and that's what we talked about — trust in each other."

Leilehua wasted little time out of the gate, going 80 yards in just four plays after the opening kickoff, with Manley's 32-yard TD pass to Cheves Aberilla Ramento down the left sideline helping put the Mules up, 7-0, just 90 seconds into the game.

Leilehua made it 14-0 four minutes later after a 19-yard touchdown pass from Manley to running back Rico Newman, who ran a crossing pattern and caught a laser from Manley in the end zone.

Manley connected with Edieson Dumlao on a 5-yard TD throw with two seconds remaining in the quarter, and Micah Kunioka's third extra point put the Mules up, 21-0.

"That's not a formula for success, spotting the defending state champs 21 points in the first quarter," said Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez. "I think later on we showed we can play with them, but we just shot ourselves in the foot with that first quarter."

The Hurricanes closed it to 21-7 with 4:42 left in the half after they converted an interception by Michael Filio at midfield into a 35-yard touchdown run by Donnie King three plays later.

But that would be it for Kapolei's scoring, as the stingy Leilehua defense limited the Hurricanes to 186 yards of total offense, including just 71 in the first half.

"With our defense playing that way, we were able to be a little more conservative and just try to control the clock after (Manley's) two interceptions," Tokuda said. "What we wanted to do against a spread option team was jump on them early so they would be forced to throw. The entire defensive unit did a great job."

KAPOLEI (2-3, 1-2) 0 7 0 0— 7

LEILEHUA (4-0, 2-0) 21 0 0 0—21

Lei — Cheves Aberilla Ramento 32 pass from Andrew Manley (Maika Kunioka kick)

Lei — Rico Newman 19 pass from Manley (Kunioka kick)

Lei — Edieson Dumlao 5 pass from Manley (Kunioka kick)

Kap — Donnie King 35 run (Micah Uehara kick)

RUSHING — Kapolei: Noah Pascua 11-3, Simione Vehikite 7-33, Cyril Ontai 1-3, King 4-41, Seth Roman 1-5. Leilehua: Newman 10-43, Austin Schmidt 1-(minus-1), Manley 3-(minus-11), Jeremy Suguitan 1-(minus-1).

PASSING — Kapolei: Pascua 12-22-1—101. Leilehua: Manley 23-39-2—268.

RECEIVING — Kapolei: Anu Sapla 4-12, Ontai 1-9, Lyle Santiago 2-27, King 1-3, Vehikite 1-12, Travis White 2-16, Kalani Brackenridge 1-22. Leilehua: Kamana Akagi 3-24, Dumlao 3-50, Aberilla Ramento 5-85, Newman 5-67, Schmidt 3-22, Marcus Breakfield 3-19, Suguitan 1-1.

JV SCORE — KAPOLEI 14, LEILEHUA 14

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