WAHIAWA — Once it got a grip of the football, No. 9 Leilehua seized control and ran away with a 41-0 win against Radford last night at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

It was the O'ahu Interscholastic Association West season opener for the two teams, yet, they go back to nonleague action next week before resuming conference play. The running clock was used following the Mules' final TD of the game with 4:06 left in the third quarter because of the 35-point differential mercy rule.

Kaipo Kea tossed two touchdown passes to Edieson Dumlao to pace the Mules (2-0 overall). Leilehua's defense contained the Rams (0-2) to zero net yardage.

Rain on Friday left the field in a mud bog, despite no rain last night. Both teams struggled just getting a clean snap from scrimmage, as both quarterbacks found themselves diving for loose footballs after a number of snaps. But sophomore center Bronson Smithe and Kea eventually adjusted to the slippery ball. From there, with help from the offensive line, the Mules were able to take control of the line of scrimmage.

"Once we got that confidence — that's the way it is with kids —we can execute the game plan and that's what we did tonight," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.

"At first it was hard," Smithe said of the gripping the ball. "But Keala (Pascua, the tackle) told me how to snap the ball when it's wet. The whole O-line was there to help me."

Leilehua lost control of two snaps from center, but recovered both times. Radford, though, bobbled five snaps, losing one that led to the Mules' first score, Dumlao's 21-yard TD catch.

Kea was part of the Mules' quarterback tag team. He completed 7 of 12 passes for 51 yards, while Kaipo DeRego completed his last six passes in a row (6 of 8) for 98 yards. Running back Rico Newman had 66 yards on five carries, including a 39-yard run.

Tokuda said the key was the offensive line. Joining Smithe at center were guards Josh Quinn and Jordan Jenks, and tackles Pascua and Chris Atualevao. Rotating in were center Stanford Salavea and Greg Tialavea.

"The credit has to go to the O-line today because with this mud, there was no footing," Tokuda said. "They're the first guys in the trenches to take care of that."

The Mules also got special teams' help. Jermaine Schuster's blocked punt set up Bronson Pausa's 4-yard TD run that made it 13-0.

The poor conditions also set the Rams back to their own 10 early in the second quarter. They eventually had to punt from their end zone, but elected to take an intentional safety to make it 15-0.

Allan Macam's 51-yard kickoff return to the Radford 14 on the ensuing free kick set up Dumlao's 5-yard TD catch that made it 21-0.

The Mules' defense contributed with four interceptions, two by Hoku Kama, one setting up Joedee Taua's third-quarter 2-yard TD run that started the running clock. Linebacker Robert Siavii's interception in the second quarter set up Rick Jones' 5-yard TD run that made it 28-0 at the half.

The Mules opened the second half with Macam scoring on a 5-yard run on a reverse, after he took a handoff from running back Zaire Macapogal that made it 34-0. The PAT was blocked. Kama's first of two picks then set up the final TD.

RADFORD (0-2, 0-1) 0 0 0 0— 0

LEILEHUA (2-0, 1-0) 7 21 13 0—41

Lei—Edieson Dumlao 21 pass from Kaipo Kea (Marcus Breakfield kick)

Lei—Bronson Pausa 4 run (kick blocked)

Lei—Safety, punter steps out of end zone

Lei—Dumlao 5 pass from Kea (kick blocked)

Lei—Rick Jones 5 run (Breakfiled kick)

Lei—Allan Macam 5 run (kick blocked)

Lei—Joedee Taua 2 run (Breakfiled kick)

RUSHING—Radford: Mosiah Manuma 1-(minus 3), Team 6-(minus 29), Luke Faliauga 5-1, Epa Maika 8-(minus 11). Leilehua: Kea 1-(minus 2), Rico Newman 5-66, Team 4-(minus 6), Zaire Macapagal 4-7, Rick Jones 2-5, Taua 6-9, Kaipo DeRego 3-(minus 3(, Macam 1-6, Nate Hall 1-1.

PASSING—Radford: Manuma 0-3-1—0, Maika 6-24-3—42. Leilehua: Kea 7-12-2—51, DeRego 6-8-0—98. Team 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING—Radford: Brad Osbourne 2-5, Shawn Putnam-Curry 2-23, Christopher Nichols 1-7, Raymond Mongosong 1-7. Leilehua: Newman 1-9, Dumlao 2-26, Hall 1-5, Kaipo DeRego 1-(minus 4), Elijah Manaea 3-20, Mike Dahlum 2-44, Macapaogal 1-8, Macam 2-36, Smith 0-5.

JV score: Leilehua 22, Radford 13.

OIA WHITE

Kaimuki 26, 'Anuenue 6: James Bower ran for two touchdowns and Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionnebo threw for two more as the Bulldogs beat the Rainbow Warriors in an OIA White Conference game at Kaiser High field.

KAIMUKI (1-1, 1-0) 7 6 0 13—26

'ANUENUE (1-1, 0-1) 0 6 0 0—6

Kaim — James Bower 3 run (Tavita Aholeilei kick)

Anue — Kelii Kon 5 pass from Kaehu Kai Mauka (kick failed).

Kaim — Bower 4 run (kick failed).

Kaim — Romnick Paguraya 5 pass from Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionnebo (kick failed).

Kaim — Christopher Etuale10 pass from Kaiwi-Barrionnebo (Aholeilei kick).

NONLEAGUE

Kapolei 42, McKinley 27: Mason Koa scored three touchdowns to help the Hurricanes (2-0) defeat the Tigers in a non-league game at Roosevelt.

KAPOLEI (2-0) 14 14 14 0—42

MCKINLEY (0-2) 7 7 0 13—27

Kap—Mason Koa 45 run (Nacho Martinez kick)

Kap—Koa 11 pass from Noah Pascua (Martinez kick)

McK—Will Starks 90 kickoff return (Marcus Amorin kick)

Kap—Shenon Moore 16 run (Martinez kick)

McK—Starks 50 pass from Earvin Sione (Amorin kick)

Kap—Koa 39 pass from Pascua (Martinez kick)

Kap—Pascua 1 run (Martinez kick)

Kap—Chase Alcott 26 pass from Koa (Martinez kick)

McK—Tavita Woodward 5 pass from Sione (Amorin kick)

McK—Starks 1 run (kick failed) RUSHING — Kapolei: Koa 12-118, Moore 7-32, Alcott 7-minus 21, Bryan Tabion 2-8, Pascua 2-1, Cyril Ontai 1-6, Daniel Nacnac 1-6, Jason Recamara 1-5. McKinley: Sione 8-67, Starks 8-26, Joshua Cardona 4-21, Justin Bassle 1-7, Jeremiah Fetu1-7.

PASSING — Kapolei: Koa 7-12-1-144, Pascua 6-9-1-110. McKinley: Sione 20-41-2-255.

RECEIVING — Kapolei: Alcott 3-72, Koa 3-64, Nate Dixon 2-47, Gen Priest 1-44, Curtis Donald 1-9, Tyler Kukahiko 1-8, Moore 1-7, Nacnac 1-3. McKinley: Starks 7-155, Woodward 4-36, Theodore Spencer 2-7, Bassle 2-10, Alvin Ponce 1-17, Tama Woodward 1-16, Fetu 1-14, Nadrod Theodore 1-0, Cardona 1-0.

JV score — Kapolei 58, McKinley 0

Moanalua 28, Pac-Five 7: Quarterback Pono Tiave ran for two touchdowns and Elijah Cruz returned an interception 45 yards for a score as the host Menehune beat the Wolfpack.

PAC-FIVE (1-1) 0 0 0 7— 7

MOANALUA (1-0-1) 0 0 21 7—27

Scoring and individual statistics were unavailable

Farrington 14, Damien 14: Farrington scored on a late touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game at Kamehameha. Details and statistics of the game were unavailable.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Trojans 37, Ft. McMurray 12: The Trojans, formerly known as Pac-3, defeated Ft. McMurray of Canada at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The Trojans consist of players attending St. Anthony, with the exception of one attending Seabury Hall.

Waiakea 0, Lahainaluna 48: Details and statistics of the game were unavailable.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.