Ninth-ranked Leilehua scores early, often to down 12th ranked Iolani

Brian Bautista | SL

After being held in check a week ago, Leilehua found its groove offensively against Iolani, racking up 429 total yards and six touchdowns in a 41-27 win in the friendly confines of Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

The Mules managed just 135 yards in total against the Warriors and a single field goal, but got going from the outset against the Raiders, racing out to a 20-7 first quarter advantage.

Hanohano Plunkett had two scoring tosses in the opening frame, one a 10 yard pass to Talon Tarpley and the other a 49 yard strike to Cameron Keeve, and running back Kyin Rivera-Galbraith added a five yard plunge to bookend the Raiders' first quarter score, a six yard pass from CJ Villanueva to Kekama Kane.

Iolani rallied in the second quarter, with Villanueva finding Keon Preusser on an eight yard route for a score and Austin Dang booted through a 28 yard field goal to make it a 20-17 contest at the 5:30 mark.

The home team found offense via its defense in the waning stages of the half, as Kevin Burke sacked Villanueva, forcing a fumble, which Gabriel Liua scooped up and took back 39 yards to make it 27-17.

On the ensuing possession, Villanueva rebounded nicely, completing four of six passes on the drive,and Iolani benefited from a roughing the passer penalty and an pass interference penalty to set up a quarter ending 36 yard field goal by Dang.

A halftime margin of just 20-17 would be as close as the Raiders would get, as the Mules added a third quarter score on a nine yard Plunkett to Carter McMillen connection and Rivera-Galbraith added his second scoring run from 21 yards out to stretch the lead to 41-20.

The Mules' starting running back led all players with 14 carries for 110 yards. Keeve added 43 yards on the ground on eight carries, and his total alone eclipsed the team total of 40 yards gained for the Raiders.

On its final drve of the game, Iolani again was able to find success in the hurry up, going 79 yards in six plays and just 1:12 off the clock, capped by Villanueva's two yard keeper.

Both starting QBs flirted with the 300 yard mark in the contest, Plunkett finished with 291 yards on 23 of 34 completed passes and three TDs, while Villanueva was 31 of 48 for 290 yards and two scores. Each threw one interception.

Iolani's duo of Preusser and Kane combined for 243 of the teams 290. Preusser had 11 grabs for 136 yards and Kane 10 for 107. In contrast, Leilehua had seven players register at least two receptions and no Mules' player had more than 58 yards in total.

Burke had a huge game for the Mules defensively, racking up nine total tackles (eight solo), to go along with a sack, three forced fumbles and a pass defended. As a team, Leilehua had eight tackles for loss, and added three fumble recoveries and seven pass breakups.