Sabers shake off slow start to rout Mules

Campbell's Tysic Puni led the way for the Sabers' defense, registering two tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery in a win over Leilehua. Brian Bautista | Special to SL

WAHIAWA — For the first 16 minutes of the game, host Leilehua had No. 5 Campbell on the ropes.

Then the switch was flipped.

The Sabers shook off a slow start behind a strong defensive effort to thump the Mules, 41-7, in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Open Division contest at Hugh Yoshida Stadium Saturday night.

Campbell recorded 10 tackles for loss with three sacks and three takeaways to remain unbeaten on the year as it improved to 4-0 in league play.

The emergence of sophomore running back Rowen-Ray Bucao also sparked the Sabers with his best game of the season, rushing 15 times for 108 yards and one score. He also turned a screen pass into a 40-yard touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter.

Campbell was out of gear to start the game, with three procedural penalties on its opening drive and an interception on its following possession. The Sabers were also whistled for defensive pass interference on each of the Mules' first two drives, with the second penalty giving Leilehua first-and-goal at the 10-yard line.

Leilehua missed out on some points with a missed field goal, but got on the scoreboard first with an 80-yard TD connection from Krystian Arindain to Keawe Andres one drive later. Campbell also turned it over on downs on its following possession.

Things finally started to go the Sabers way when Tysic Puni recovered a fumble to end a Leilehua drive at the 7:48 mark of the second quarter.

Following the change in possession, Bucao turned in his best run of the game for a 23-yard gain. Two plays later, Chayne Kuboyama-Hayashi threw a 36-yard TD pass while under pressure to Jourdain Berinobis-Pyne. Calzzic Ili's PAT tied the game with 6:52 remaining in the first half.

Campbell forced Leilehua into a third-and-25 situation on the following possession before turning in its longest scoring drive of the night, which went eight plays for 61 yards. Jonah Tofagau-Tavui's 5-yard TD run capped the drive to put the Sabers ahead, 13-7, with 2:46 left in before halftime.

Bad special teams play by Leilehua allowed Campbell to score twice in the final minute of the first half. A shanked punt by the Mules was followed by Bucao's receiving TD. Leilehua mishandled the ensuing kickoff and the Sabers capitalized with Kuboyama-Hayashi's 39-yard scoring strike to Diego Betancourt to give the visitors a 27-7 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, Bucao scored on a 22-yard run and Kuboyama-Hayashi threw his fourth TD pass of the night — a 39-yard catch-and-run to Dominick Espinda — as the Sabers finished with a season-high in points scored.

Campbell racked up 371 yards of total offense while holding Leilehua to 143 yards. Most of the Mules' yards came on the 80-yard score and in the fourth quarter against the Sabers' backups.