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Kalani Takase | ScoringLiveAugust 30, 2019, 9:17pm
Fri, Aug 30, 2019 @ Leilehua [ 6:00 pm ]
WAHIAWA — RJ Javar passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns and Rashod Tanner recorded two of Moanalua's four interceptions in a 24-20 win over host Leilehua Friday night.
Na Menehune (3-0 overall, 2-0 league) overcame five first-half sacks by the Mules (3-1, 2-1) to seize sole possession of first place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I standings before a crowd of about 350 fans at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.
Javar completed 20 of his 28 pass attempts and was not intercepted. He was pressured by the Leilehua defense for much of the night — including seven total sacks by the Mules — and took a huge hit early on when Laakea Umiamaka came in unblocked off the right edge and buried Javar for a nine-yard loss just five snaps in for Moanalua.
"He took a gigantic hit and that was a clean lick, but it was good. He bounced back, I was worried he would be rattled, but again, RJ to the rescue with his composure and all that, so he did really well," Na Menehune coach Savaii Eselu said of his senior quarterback.
Moanalua receiver Rudy Kealohi celebrates after hauling in the go-ahead TD for Moanalua, which was also his first of the season.
Javar was 2 for 2 on third downs on the drive. His 20-yard toss to York was grabbed by the fingertips on third-and-8 and three plays after that, Javar fired to Domingo in the right seam for an 11-yard completion on another third-and-8. A roughing-the-passer penalty against the Mules tacked on another 15 yards. On the very next play, Javar was hit as he released his pass and Kealohi made a sprawling catch for a 17-yard gain to set-up their own TD pass two plays later.
The Motas PAT was blocked by Pio and Cy Acohido to keep Na Menehune's lead at 12-7.
Leilehua put together a nine-play drive to start the fourth quarter, but ended up having to punt. Jonathan Vasquez booted a high punt that bounced several times and was downed at the Moanalua 1-yard line.
However, after a false start penalty against the Menes, Javar stood in his own end zone with five wide receivers and completed a short pass over the middle to York, who shed two tacklers and then turned on the jets for a 99-yard scoring play.
Moanalua's Jansen York sprinted down the right sideline for a 99-yard touchdown on a catch-and-run.
"That just like our play to Jansen," Javar said. "He's just gotta make a move and shake a guy off and then everything else is just him. He made the rest, he broke the tackle."
Moanalua went for two on the point after, but Kealohi's pass fell incomplete.
Eselu said the long touchdown gave his team all the momentum.
"Heck yeah. I had a feeling (because) you know they were gonna put pressure on us and we decided to go a little short and it popped big, man. Jansen is just a keeper," Eselu said.
The Menes made it 24 unanswered points just four plays later, when Jett Tanigawa scored on a 32-yard interception return. Tanner made the hit on the Mules' receiver after a short completion that jarred the ball loose and into the hands of Tanigawa.
Moanalua's Jett Tanigawa (44) beats Leilehua's Kalei Akagi (13) to the end zone after picking off Akagi's pass.
"I just seen Rashod Tanner — he's one of the best corners in the state right now — I just seen him come on that play and as soon as I saw him and the ball just got popped out, I already knew that I could catch it and then I saw open field and I just took off," Tanigawa said.
Tanner came down with his second interception of the game five plays into Leilehua's next drive. His first pick halted the Mules' first drive of the evening and came in the end zone.
"That was huge. That was a momentum-changer actually," Eselu said. "I mean, that helped us out. The whole game plan coming in was to control the whole game and I'm anxious to see the possession time, so I want to see if our game plan worked out, but defense came up clutch — Rashod, corners, secondary, everybody — it was awesome."
Moanalua CB Rashod Tanner comes down with his second INT of the night to lead Na Menehune's secondary.
After the Tanigawa pick-6, Motas missed the extra point wide right to keep the Leilehua lead at 24-7 with 7:39 left in the game.
Leilehua made it close at the end with two TD passes from backup quarterback Koa Turnagan to Vasquez in the final four-plus minutes. Konapiliahi Raymond made the first extra point, but was short on the second to keep it a four-point game with 35 seconds left.
Pio attempted the onside kick, but Aukai Grace recovered it for Moanalua, which took a knee to end the game.
Grace also came down with an interception in the fourth quarter. Marcus Marion, Gabriel Suka and Jeremiah Tauai each recorded a sack in the win.
"We just really needed to get our stuff together. Once we started recognizing the offense, we just started to ball out," Tanigawa said.
The Moanalua defense celebrates in the end zone after Jett Tanigawa scored on a 32-yard interception return.
York finished with game-highs of seven receptions for 162 yards.
Eselu said Moanalua made changes at halftime to account for the Mules' heavy pass rush.
"We adjusted our personnel," Eselu said. "We were having problems on the edge and then once we flipped it we gave (Javar) a lot of time and let him work, so it was good."
Javar said the early hit from Umiamaka was a test of his mettle.
"You just gotta keep pushing," Javar said. "I didn't want to come out of the game because I know I would let my team down if I come out and I just want to set a good example for these guys to not give up."
Damarious Smith rushed for a game-high 107 yards on 19 carries in a losing effort. Jayzon Ramos led the Mules with six catches for 94 yards.
Leilehua was 3 of 12 on third downs and Moanalua was 2 of 11.
Na Menehune recorded just 12 first downs — none by rush.
Leilehua edge rusher Kiaka Pio (56) was a thorn in Moanalua's side all game long.
Pio had two sacks and Ashton Raquino added 1 1/2 sacks in the loss.
Leilehua held a 7-6 halftime lead.
The game was originally scheduled to be played last Friday at Moanalua, but was pushed back a week due to non-working lights at Na Menehune's field.
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