The Leilehua High School football team fell just short against Kamehameha, 20-14, last night in a tense nonleague rematch of last year's Division I state championship game.

But the true cost of the defeat will be felt throughout the Mules' regular season, as they suffered crucial injuries to quarterback Bryant Moniz (broken collarbone) and linebackers Gyles Galdeira (torn ankle ligament) and Mene Coffin (shoulder). Head coach Nolan Tokuda said all three starters are expected to miss four to six weeks.

Leilehua (2-1 overall) is 1-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association and plays Kapolei (3-1, 2-0) in a key Red Conference Western Division matchup Friday.

"Galdeira is a warrior out there and is our quarterback on defense," Tokuda said. "You cannot really replace a Bryant Moniz, either, and Coffin is another starting linebacker. Those are some of the biggest losses we can have."

The injuries come after Advertiser All-State receiver Chustin Senas was dismissed from the team for personal reasons.

Despite the key missing parts, the Mules still threatened to pull off a big road upset before about 3,000 fans at Kamehameha, ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media. The Warriors (3-1) sealed the victory only after Parker Paredes' interception with 1:22 remaining.

"We were one play away," Tokuda said. "I'm proud of our boys for getting in there and stepping up. But Kamehameha is a good team and they executed better than we did."

The Warriors started quickly, recovering an onside kick and scoring on the game's first play from scrimmage, a 52-yard sprint up the middle by Ryan Montez. They made it 14-0 midway through the first quarter after Kahaku Ka'ai's 8-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Nichols.

No. 5-ranked Leilehua closed to 14-7 in the opening moments of the second quarter, after Moniz's 26-yard TD pass to Tianeva Tyrell Edra on fourth-and-5. But Kamehameha answered with a 51-yard touchdown scamper by Drew Ueno on a fake punt — with Galdeira getting injured on the play.

Moniz went down late in the third quarter, but backup Joe Iosefa scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to help close to 20-14 with 2:11 left in the period.

After the teams traded possessions in the fourth quarter, Leilehua took over on downs with 1:30 remaining. But on first down, Paredes picked off a pass over the middle and Kamehameha ran out the clock.

LEILEHUA (2-1) 0 7 7 0—14

KAMEHAMEHA (3-1) 14 6 0 0—20

KS—RYAN MONTEZ 52 RUN (KAMAKANA OSORIO KICK)

KS—Aaron Nichols 8 pass from Kahaku Ka'ai (Osorio kick)

Lei—Tianeva Tyrell Edra 26 pass from Bryant Moniz (Daniel Phelps kick)

KS—DREW UENO 51 RUN (RUN FAILED)

LEI—JOE IOSEFA 1 RUN (PHELPS KICK)

RUSHING—Leilehua: Iosefa 9-9, Moniz 8-40, Tino Pablico 6-7, Aric Edra 4-8, Paul Hernandez 2-3, Tyrell Edra 1-6. Kamehameha: Jeremiah Dela Pe–a 17-53, Jordan Rego 7-23, Ryan Montez 6-68, Ka'ai 2-0, Bryson Vivas 2-(minus-5), Ueno 1-51, Justin Saniatan 1-11.

PASSING—Leilehua: Moniz 14-21-1—156, Iosefa 3-8-1—55. Kamehameha: Ka'ai 3-10-0—0—17.

RECEIVING—Leilehua: Tyrell Edra 6-79, Christian Mendez 4-80, Martin Iosefo 3-20, Edra 2-7, Dustin Pau'u 1-13, Pablico 1-12. Kamehameha: Nichols 3-17.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.