Moanalua’s Michael Feliciano was a threat from everywhere again on Saturday, scoring three touchdowns and making six receptions for 129 yards in Na Menehune’s 28-20 home victory over Campbell on Saturday that clinched an Oahu Interscholastic Association playoff spot.
“He’s just an amazing player,” Moanalua head coach Jason Cauley said. “You put him out wide and they have to go with him. You put him in the backfield and they close the box.”
Feliciano was a workhorse at running back, too, carrying the ball 22 times for 41 tough yards. He tweeted how sore he was on Sunday morning.
The Sabers had two more possessions after Na Menehune went up 28-20 with 3:55 to go in the game, but the first one ended on an interception of Siaosi Soto by Moanalua’s Andrew Nava. The second one ended 3 yards short as time ran out, when Soto was met simultaneously by Na Meneheune strong safety Kyle Bender, linebacker Nehemiah Saovao and defensive lineman Tyler Souci after an 11-yard gain.
After Moanalua took a 7-0 first quarter lead — Feliciano’s 8-yard TD run that was set up by Brandon Bender’s fumble recovery — it was all Campbell in the second period and it looked like the Sabers were going to string together two victories in a row (they beat Aiea last week).
Sabers quarterback Kawika Ulufale hit Fangaima Mailei with a 6-yard scoring pass for a 7-7 deadlock.
Then, Tyson’ Tafai‘s fumble recovery for Campbell that was caused on a hit by teammate Iosua Sevao led to the Sabers’ go-ahead touchdown — Ulufale’s 5-yard fade pass to the deep left corner of end zone to 6-foot-3 wide receiver Markus Ramos.
With two more turnovers before halftime, Moanalua looked beaten. But Campbell kicker Braden Kauhane missed a 22-yard field goal after Austin Fuga’s interception. The boys from Ewa beach, however, did capitalize on Mailei’s blocked punt, when Ulufale hit Ramos with another 5-yard fade TD pass to the left corner for a 20-7 lead.
“Mistakes hurt us,” Ramos said. “We played amazingly good in the first half. We got too complacent, too relaxed.”
Cauley said his Na Mehehune boys played a spirited second half.
“They came back,” he said. “They came back hard.”
The kids a good runner and an explosive player that the Trojan D will have to account for on every play in this weeks game.