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Mules Have Plenty Of Ammunition Left For OIA Playoffs

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Micah Abreu-Laybon, a star rusher for the Leilehua Mules, shags a pass during a recent practice in Wahiawa. Photo by Byron Lee, staff photographer.
Micah Abreu-Laybon, a star
rusher for the Leilehua Mules,
shags a pass during a recent
practice in Wahiawa. Photo by
Byron Lee, staff photographer.

When teams prepare to play Leilehua, their focus invariably is to slow down the Mules’multi-talented quarterback Bryant Moniz.

But if the Mules have proved anything this season, it’s that they’re far from one-dimensional. The off-season addition of Pearl City transfer Micah Abreu-Laybon in the back-field, as well as an interchangeable offensive line that goes 10 deep, has enabled Leilehua to achieve the balance that wins championships.

Indeed, the by-product of the Mules’ loss to Kamehameha in the 2004 state title game was a renewed commitment to developing their depth, to hear head coach Nolan Tokuda tell it.

“The loss made us stronger,” Tokuda said last week on the eve of his team’s OIA quarterfinal match-up with Kahuku. “We hung with them for three quarters, and eventually we were worn down. We’re not going to have 80 players like them or 95 like Kahuku; we’re going to play with 60.We had to make sure our 60 were well-conditioned. Part of playing 10 linemen is that we could keep people fresh. We feel good about the guys we put out there.”

The Mules finished the regular season as the top-rated offense in the OIA’s Red West (and second overall in the OIA) in large part because of their deep O line.In addition to standouts Ano Alae and Cameron McKeague, the Mules also boast Jordan Jenks, Josh Quinn, Tavana Alailima, Rick Jones, Daniel Pelupelu, Shawn Mahoe, Keala Pascua, Chris Atualevao and Stanford Salavea in the trenches.

“It all begins up front,” Tokuda said of his line.“Before you can get the engine running,you have to have your spark plugs. (Playing 10 offensive linemen regularly) can work for you or against you if they don’t know what they’re doing. But they’re a close group, and they know what it takes to win. Winning (the individual battles) in the trenches is why we’ve been successful.”

Alae, who has played guard, tackle and center at times this season, packs 295 solid pounds into a 6-foot frame. His ability to stay on blocks has made him the Mules’ unsung hero as well as their “coach on the field.”

“He won’t just finish a play - he’ll make a play,“Tokuda said.“He gets down the field to throw a block. He’s the best athlete on our line. He has what we coaches like to refer to as that mean streak.”

Only an injury last year prevented Moniz from starting every game since his sophomore season. He entered last weekend’s game with Kahuku having thrown for 1,472 yards and 16 touchdowns this season against just seven interceptions.

This season, the Leilehua passing attack has been bolstered by a strong running game led by AbreuLaybon, whose 165-yard rushing effort (he also caught four passes for 53 yards) figured big in the OIA playoff win Oct. 28 over McKinley.

“He gives us an added dimension,” the coach said.“He made an average running team into a good running team. The threat of Bryant at quarterback always gives defensive coordinators fits because they have to be prepared for everything. Against McKinley, we ran the ball 80 percent of the time in the second half.”

Leilehua had to win one of its final two OIA playoff games to earn a bid for the upcoming state football championships. This weekend, the Mules will play Waianae or Mililani in either the third-place game or title game, depending on the outcome of last week’s semi-final encounters. Regardless of their situation, Tokuda is hopeful the Mules can play to their full potential.

“We still haven’t played our best game yet. Our defense played a good second half against McKinley, but we were horrible in the first half. Offensively, we’re just starting to click, but we haven’t had a break-out game.We’re getting better week to week, which is always the goal. The kids are understanding the team concept better and better.”

The Mules, who ranked first among West teams coming out of the regular season, are led defensively by linebacker Mene Coffin and end Viliami Haunga.

Last weekend’s Kahuku game was to be the first between the programs since the Mules’riveting win over the Red Raiders in the 2004 state tournament.

“You always have to bring your ‘A game’ when you play Kahuku,” he said, “but you don’t have to play a perfect game. When you try to play a perfect game, that’s when you make mistakes.You just have to play your assignments.You have to make the play.And we have to attack every team we play as a unit.”