WAHIAWA — For the second time in 14 days, a breakdown on special teams cost the Leilehua High School football team dearly in a muddy loss at rain-swept Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

Mililani won, 7-0, last night after Thomas Craig recovered a fumbled punt snap in the end zone with 15 seconds remaining before halftime.

The Trojans, 6-1 overall and ranked No. 5 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 5-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association and clinched the Red Conference Western Division's No. 1 seed for the upcoming league playoffs. Leilehua, the defending state runner-up, fell to 3-4 and 2-3.

Two weeks ago, the Mules lost at home to 'Aiea, 14-13, after allowing a punt return for a touchdown, a blocked field goal and a blocked extra point.

"We were one play away again," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.

Pinned on their own 17-yard line and facing a fourth-and-11, the Mules lined up in punt formation with 15 seconds left in the half but the snap skidded across the slick mud and a mad scramble ensued. Craig recovered the ball in the end zone, and with both teams struggling miserably on offense throughout the game, those points were all Mililani needed.

The Trojans finished with just 135 total yards, all but 26 of them on the ground.

"Our offense was not able to do the things we wanted to do," Mililani coach James Millwood said.

Leilehua gained 121 yards, lost three fumbles and crossed midfield only twice.

The Mules had one final chance after recovering a Trojans fumble on their own 24 with 1:21 remaining in the game. They advanced to their 41, but three incompletions in a row and a sack by Brandon Nerida on fourth down sealed it.

Although the sloshy field affected both teams, it may have had more of an impact on Leilehua because its pass-oriented offense relies a lot on timing and precision routes.

"We couldn't get a feel for the ball because it was so wet, our timing was off and even getting the snap alone was tough," Tokuda said. "It wasn't so much the rain as it was the field, plain and simple. It never recovered (since the 'Aiea game), it was bad all the way through and just got worse."

The sloppy field is just one of many obstacles the Mules have had to overcome this season, including several key injuries. The defense got a boost last week with the return of starting linebackers Guyes Galdeira and Mene Coffin, but starting quarterback Bryant Moniz is expected to miss another two weeks because of a broken collarbone.

"You build character through adversity," Tokuda said. "Our defense is a lot better with those guys back, and we feel we can stop anybody. Now we've just got to put the ball in the end zone."

MILILANI (6-1, 5-0) 0 7 0 0—7

LEILEHUA (3-4, 2-3) 0 0 0 0—0

Mili—Thomas Craig fumble recovery in end zone (Michael Smith kick)

RUSHING—Mililani: Kekoa Perbera 20-66, Jordan Torres 8-36, Kekoa Osurman 2-4, Rustin Funakoshi 2-2, Jordan Apduhan 2-1. Leilehua: Guy Cantrell 16-74, Aric Edra 6-(minus-2), Paul Hernandez 3-14, Joe Iosefa 2-5, Jordan Figueroa 1-6.

PASSING—Mililani: Funakoshi 1-4-0—26. Leilehua: Cantrell 3-14-0—24.

RECEIVING—Mililani: Smith 1-26. Leilehua: Tianeva Tyrell-Edra 3-24.

JV score—Leilehua 40, Mililani 0

KAUA'I 27, KAPA'A 8

The Red Raiders scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to remain undefeated (3-0) in the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation.

KAUA'I (4-1, 3-0) 7 0 0 20—27

KAPA'A (0-7, 0-4) 0 0 0 8— 8

KAU—Lucky Andres 1 pass from Tron Rule (Frank Speetjens kick)

KAU—Jett Jasper 4 pass from Kainoa Lemke (kick failed)

KAU—Brendan Young 7 run (Speetjens kick)

KAU—Pono Matthews 13 run (Speetjens kick)

KAP—Coty Salausa 49 pass from Evan Lotu (Lotu pass from Salausa)

RUSHING—Kaua'i: Jonathan Rellin 11-68, Young 4-24, Alan Kalili 1-(minus 5), Andres 1-1, Duke Dasalia 2-(minus 5), Rule 2-(minus 2), Bradley Semana 1-15, Lemke 3-13, Matthews 4-39. Kapa'a: Travis Nakamura 11-20, Ekolu Allianic 2-1, Derek Saiki 1-1, Kalama Silva 5-21, Waylan Kupihea 6-(minus 3), Greg Ragsac 1-(minus 1), Salausa 6-35.

PASSING—Kaua'i: Lemke 11-22-0—116, Rule 3-5-0—47, Matthews 1-1-0—5. Kapa'a: Salausa 3-6-0—34, Kupihea 3-9-0—22, Lotu 1-1-0—49.

RECEIVING—Kaua'i: Dasalia 3-37, Andres 6-72, Jasper 2-22, Kalili 1-5, Rellin 1-13, Speetjens 2-19. Kapa'a: Tom Yotwongjai 1-2, Salausa 3-66, Lotu 3-37.

JV score—Kaua'i 55, Kapa'a 0.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.