Coming through late in the game again, senior Tahje Canyon scored another game-winner for Moanalua.

Canyon leaped over a defender and caught the 40-yard go-ahead touchdown late in the game to help Moanalua defeat Pearl City, 28-25, in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Division football game Friday.

Canyon finished with 33 rushes for 202 yards to help Na Menehune improve to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in league play. It was his third game-winning TD of the season.

"It was a team effort; we're all putting in the work to get to the ultimate goal, which is a state championship," Canyon said. "The O-line, without them, I couldn't do much."

Canyon's 4-yard TD run and Matt Blakeley's extra point in double overtime helped Moanalua edge Radford, 34-33. Against Kalaheo, Adam Francisco completed a 35-yard TD pass to Canyon in the fourth quarter for the winning play.

But against Pearl City, the original play wasn't designed for him.

Richard Villasenor scored a TD for Moanalua, but that was called back after two personal fouls, giving Na Menehune 3rd-and-30.

Moanalua then had to regroup in front of its vocal homecoming crowd. Coach Arnold Martinez said Canyon went down the field, "made a couple moves, sprinted to the corner of the end zone, hurdles the defender" to make the catch from Francisco.

Canyon also had two rushing touchdowns in the game.

"He's a great kid, a workhorse, very strong runner, probably one of the fastest in the conference," Martinez said. "When he gets up the field he's hard to catch."

Added Canyon: "It was exciting. It was good to have all the fans there cheering."

Canyon's work ethic is noticeable on and off the field. The team awards a hard hat, similar to a construction worker's hat, to the hardest-working player after each game. Canyon was awarded one after the Kalaheo game and wore it around campus, drawing compliments and questions about what it was.

Friday's hat went to junior tight end Villasenor.

"We still got a lot to prove to everyone," Canyon said. "We're just playing together, being a family ... we work good together."