Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda told Paul Honda on Wednesday that he expects quarterback Kona Andres to start Friday’s OIA first-round playoff game against Moanalua.
Andres has been the Mules’ starter since Week 2 when he took over for Kaleo Piceno, who suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener against No. 1 Punahou.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound sophomore had to leave last week’s 22-9 loss to Kaiser in the second quarter with concussion-like symptoms. He was cleared by a doctor on Tuesday to play Friday against Moanalua.
Andres finished second in the OIA Red completing 52 percent of his passes for 1,226 yards and 14 touchdowns. He threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Ty Keough and had the Mules up 9-0 at the end of the first quarter against the Cougars, but Leilehua couldn’t score the rest of the game with him out.
Leilehua hosts a Moanalua program that has never won a game against the Mules in 24 tries. Leilehua had won at least one playoff game in eight consecutive seasons until losing as a No. 2 seed in the OIA quarterfinals last year to Campbell.
Rooting for the Mules as Mililani is awaiting the winner, and they just beat Moanalua. Plus Mililani vs Leilehua is a rivalry as being neighbors. Either way good luck to both teams.