By Wes Nakama

WAHIAWA — A costly injury to starting quarterback CJ Villanueva and a rejuvenated Leilehua team proved too much for visiting ‘Iolani on Saturday night, as the Mules pounced on the wounded Raiders for a 27-14 non-league victory at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

Leilehua, which suffered a heartbreaking 28-27 home loss to Hilo last week, flipped the script and scored 27 straight points after an early 7-0 deficit Saturday to improve to 1-2. ‘Iolani, which was coming off a 45-26 defeat at ‘Aiea, fell to 2-2.

Of great concern is the status of Villanueva, who injured his right (throwing) shoulder/collarbone after taking a hard-but-legal blindside hit late in the first quarter with the Raiders up, 7-6. He tried to shake off the injury and stayed in for three more plays, but got hit again in the same shoulder on a handoff and then threw a very short and wayward pass that clearly indicated he had to come out of the game. 

After being evaluated on the sideline by team doctor Calvin Oishi, Villanueva removed his jersey and shoulder pads and was declared done for the night.

He was replaced by sophomore Adrian “A.P.” Perkins, who had thrown only 10 passes in the previous three games. Perkins was intercepted on the first play of the second quarter Saturday, by linebacker Chavis Acol, giving the Mules possession at the ‘Iolani 47 yard line. Three plays later, Bennett Strobel threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Nakoa Punley and Rodel Alano’s extra point put Leilehua up for good at 13-7.

Two possessions later, the Raiders lost the ball on downs at their own 48 and the Mules capitalized with a nine-play drive culminating in Kyin Rivera-Galbraith’s 5-yard TD run and Alano’s PAT to stretch the lead to 20-7 with 2:57 remaining before halftime.

‘Iolani then went three-and-out on the ensuing series, and Leilehua marched 56 yards in just seven plays capped by Strobel’s 16-yard scoring pass to Brennan Kepa’a. Alano tacked on the extra point to give the Mules a 27-7 lead at the break.

‘Iolani had taken a 7-0 lead on its first drive, going 79 yards in just eight plays, capped by Ayden Teranishi’s 1-yard run and Ty Mitsunaga’s extra point. But Leilehua answered with a four-play, 65-yard scoring drive culminating in Strobel’s 25-yard pass to Zaeden Newman. The PAT attempt was blocked, making it 7-6 with four minutes left in the first quarter.

“Getting on the scoreboard quick like that, it helped our confidence,” Strobel said. “Not just for the offense, but for the whole team.”

Villanueva was injured on the next series, and ‘Iolani would not score again until the fourth quarter.

“Today I’m very excited for the way our kids played,” Leilehua coach Mark Kurisu said. “(The Raiders) are a well-coached team. Granted, there was an injury, but we were able to slow down that offense.”

On ‘Iolani’s first possession of the second half, the Raiders marched 16 plays to the Mules’ 20, but had an incomplete pass on fourth-and-7.

On their next drive, they advanced to the 25, only to fall short on fourth-and-9.

‘Iolani finally found the end zone again early in the fourth quarter, when Perkins connected with Kekama Kane on a 25-yard scoring pass. Mitsunaga’s extra point cut it to 27-14 with 10:14 still remaining.

But despite stopping Leilehua on the next two series, the Raiders could gain only one first down the rest of the way.

‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said although Perkins was placed in a tough situation, the expectation was for the offense to still move the ball.

“He was thrown into the fire, with no time to prepare, but for the most part he did alright,” Look said. “He’s gotta get better, but it’s not just him. We all need to get better. We gotta execute better, that’s what it comes down to.”

In addition to the defense, Kurisu gave credit to Alano, who produced five touchbacks on five kickoffs, forcing the Raiders to start their drives from the 20 each time.

“He’s a kicker, but that dude is practicing all day,” Kurisu said. “He’s lifting with the defense, he tries to get better any way he can.” 

Photos: Garin Yasunari

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