Kapolei's Sam Naulu tackles Aiea's Jordan Liilii. The Hurricanes' defense handed Na Alii its second straight shut out. Joshua Lopez | Special to SL

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Kapolei's Sam Naulu tackles Aiea's Jordan Liilii. The Hurricanes' defense handed Na Alii its second straight shut out. Joshua Lopez | Special to SL

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AIEA – Kapolei's defense recorded five turnovers to help the ninth-ranked Hurricanes (3-4) defeat Aiea, 12-0 in both squads' Oahu Interscholastic Association Blue Division regular season finale Saturday night.

With Moanalua (3-4) losing to Mililani later that night, the Hurricanes are awarded the Blue Division's fourth seed in the league's 12-team playoffs next week (Kapolei owns the tiebreaker over Moanalua via head-to-head). Kapolei will host Castle (2-5), the Red Division's fifth seeded team in the opening round. 

Making his first start at quarterback for the Hurricanes was sophomore Leonard Lee. Despite throwing three interceptions, Lee was able to lead two touchdown drives to give Kapolei the win. The 5-foot-10 sophomore completed 14 of his 26 pass attempts for 246 yards and a score.

Incumbent Alton Julius was dealing with a hip pointer that regulated him to a limited role at tight end.

"I think he acquitted himself well. We did throw some interceptions. I think that's one of the things that we have to work on, but again, it's a new guy, new start, only a sophomore and field conditions were terrible. We think he can only get better," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said on Lee. 

Torrential downpour during the junior varsity game turned the field at Aiea Stadium into a quagmire. Neither team could get any traction in the first quarter as both teams combined for 69 yards of total offense in the opening period.

"It was hard. We didn't even practice in this stuff. The whole week it was nice and dry," Aiea coach Wendell Say said on the offensive struggle. "It was tough but Kapolei had to play in it too. Offensively we just couldn't generate anything."

The lone offensive player that found success in the slippery field was Kapolei's Naliko Kea. The 5-foot-7 senior receiver finished with six catches for 157 yards and the Hurricanes' first touchdown. 

"If we had a bad play we just got to fight it off. Just focus on the next play. Don't get bothered by the mud. I just played my heart out because I love the game," Kea said on being the Hurricanes' offensive spark.

Kea's scoring play was set up by Keoni Taylor's interception on Aiea quarterback Kobe Kato. The Hurricanes came away with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries to give the offense extra possessions. It was also the second game in a row that Kapolei held an opposing offense scoreless.

"It was good. Everybody did their assignment, that's all that matters. Everybody played with heart tonight, didn't give up. Nobody wanted to play individually. We just stuck together and did our jobs," said Kapolei's Kone Maluina who had two sacks and a forced fumble in the contest. 

Maluina's forced fumble on Aiea's Ferenisi's Lualemana in the third quarter was recovered safety Bryson Hughes. This helped set up a nine-play, 60-yard drive for Kapolei's second score of the game on an Ekolu Young four-yard plunge. 

Leading the Aiea defense was sophomore Noah Taiese with two interceptions.

Na Alii will travel to Waianae (4-3), the Red Division's third seeded team, in the opening round of the playoffs.