Football
McGary, Leilehua bust through Iolani


  



Sat, Sep 8, 2018 @ Leilehua [ 6:00 pm ]


Final 1 2 3 4 T
Iolani (8-3-0) 3 10 0 720
Leilehua (8-3-0) 7 0 7 1731
Max Nichols 111 yd 1 TD
Jonah Chong 309 yd 2 TD
James McGary 225 yd 3 TD
Jeremy Evans 91 yd 1 TD
Carter Kamana 143 yd

WAHIAWA — No. 11 Leilehua scored 24-unanswered points in the second half to pull away from No. 9 Iolani, 31-20, in an OIA-ILH Division I interleague game at Hugh Yoshida Stadium Saturday night.

"It's an opportunity to feel good about ourselves. This is going to be a good measuring stick for us not because of their record, but what they bring: their lineage, their history, coaching staff and type of players. We were able to manage and compete with them and it went back and forth," Leilehua coach Mark Kurisu said on the win.

James McGary led the charge with 225 rushing yards on 28 carries and three scores to help Leilehua win their fourth-straight game to improve to 4-1 overall (3-0 OIA).

"I was coming back from an injury and I wanted to get my stats back up. I still got a few more weeks and should be good by then. I'm still going to play hard and ball out," McGary said as he played his second game of the season after recovering from a hand injury.

"They put double coverage on our receivers and we knew we would have to run it. The o-line blocked like crazy and James hit some holes hard," Kurisu said of the running game.

Breaking the 200 yard rushing mark may come at a price for McGary.

"I told them (the o-line) if I get over 200 (yards) tonight, I'll take you to McDonald's. I don't get paid a few weeks from now. When I found out, I'm like, dang I got to take you, but that's what I got to do, I'm a man of my word," McGary said.

The Raiders dropped their second game in a row after coming off a non-league 7-0 loss to Clackamas (Oregon) to fall to 3-2 overall (2-1 league).

After Mika Makekau missed a 32-yard field goal, McGary took his fifth carry and evaded Iolani defenders for an 80-yard touchdown to put Leilehua up, 7-0.

"I did what they asked me to do and did my job," McGary said.

Makekau finished her night going 2 for 2 on PATs and made two 30-yard field goals as the Raiders trailed, 7-6.

Kyler Mento intercepted Max Nichols and two plays later Jonah Chong threw a 7-yard touchdown to Jonah Miyazawa to reclaim the lead, 13-7.

Chong finished with 309 passing yards and two scores without an interception. Favorite targets Carter Kamana had 14 catches for 143 yards and Miyazawa hauled in nine passes for 91 yards.

Iolani had an opportunity late in the first half to pad their lead but turned it over on downs on the Mules' 12 yard line. The Raiders only punted once in their six offensive drives in the first half.

"We had a slugfest going at it. Fortunately we executed better in the second half," Kurisu said.

Leilehua turned the tide in the second half after Cy Acohido recovered Kaua Nishigaya's fumble and the Mules went to McGary five straight times before he found the end zone three yards out to reclaim the lead, 14-13.

"I told coach to run the ball the whole time and that's what we did and we scored," McGary said.

"To be able to manage Nishigaya in the second half, we didn't stop him, he got his yardage, but to not let him get his explosive plays made it easier for us," Kurisu said.

The Mules took over on their own 34 after Iolani turned it over on downs late in the third quarter. Nichols (111 passing yards) threw a 42-yard touchdown to Jeremy Evans, who recorded a team-high 91 receiving yards.

Akoni Tom-Makue blasted a 41-yard field goal and finished 4 for 4 on PATs.

Iolani turned over on downs for the third time and McGary broke out for 10 and 33 yard gains late in the fourth and capped the drive with his third touchdown to cement the game.

Chong threw a 28-yard touchdown to Wailoa Manuel with 30 seconds left for the final score of the night.

Leilehua hosts another uptempo offense in Moanalua in a battle of undefeated OIA Division I teams on Friday, Sept. 14.

Iolani plays Damien in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu contest in the second game of a triple header at Aloha Stadium on Sept. 15.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

Moanalua set to clash with Kamehameha in D1 semifinals

Na Menehune and Warriors dominated their quarterfinal matchups, setting up a rematch of last year's semifinals.

Molokai, University Lab post sweeps to reach D2 semis

Jericho Adolpho put down 18 kills to help take down Bulldogs in Farmers' first state tourney appearance...

Lacar's versatility paying off for Bulldogs; Wildcats ride Lebrun-Ward to clinch state berth

The senior libero-turned-setter played a pivotal role to lead Waialua to its first OIA D2 title, while...

Kamehameha sweeps Campbell in tourney opener; Hilo next

In the final game of the opening round, Warriors got 15 kills and seven aces from Kainoa Wade in straight...

Kamehameha wallops Maryknoll to claim second straight league crown

Warriors racked up 12 hits and drew 10 walks in a mercy-rule shortened victory over the Spartans.

Roosevelt takes down to Maui in four sets to reach D1 quarters

Jonathan Yadao registered a match-high 19 kills for the Rough Riders, who reached the quarterfinal round...