The Leilehua Mules can rock and roll with some of the most explosive foes in the state.
That much is true, even on a night when the mighty Mules had to begin life without one of the top two-way performers in the islands. Charles Moku Watson, their standout defensive back/wide receiver, didn’t dress for the game against No. 7 Mililani on Friday. Watson, who recently decommitted from Washington State, will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum on Tuesday according to Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda.
The Mules did what they could, leading 21-20 late in the first half before losing 63-42 at John Kauinana Stadium. Jerome Holiday, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound junior, stepped up in Watson-like fashion. Holiday hauled in two touchdown passes and knocked away a fourth-down pass attempt from Dillon Gabriel to Andrew Valladares.
There was no way, though, to overcome the absence of Watson. The 6-2, 190-pound senior has 10 scholarship offers: BYU, Colorado, Fresno State, Hawaii, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Vanderbilt, Washington State.
The OIA playoffs are done for Leilehua (4-7), which had already qualified for the HHSAA Division I state tournament.
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