WAHIAWA — Capitalizing on its "home swamp advantage," the Leilehua High School football team sloshed past 'Aiea, 21-6, last night at soggy Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

The Mules improved to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Western Division. Na Ali'i, tied for eighth in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, fell to 4-4 and 3-3 in their regular-season finale.

'Aiea will have to wait until the rest of the division wraps up the regular season next week to determine its postseason fate, but the worst-case scenario would have Na Ali'i in a tie for fifth place and facing a coin flip to decide the final playoff berth.

Leilehua now has a chance to finish as high as second, but a loss last night could have put the Mules' playoff hopes in jeopardy.

"This was a must-win game for us," Mules coach Nolan Tokuda said.

The conditions appeared to have a bigger effect on 'Aiea, which relies heavily on a passing attack. Quarterback Keenan Naeole entered the game leading the state in passing yards with 1,392, but finished last night 13 of 23 for just 129 yards.

He also threw a fourth-quarter interception which Leilehua linebacker Art Laurel returned 48 yards to the Na Ali'i 21, setting up fullback Dontae Scott's 2-yard touchdown run five plays later. Rico Newman's extra point made it 21-6 with 4:57 remaining.

"We tried to prepare (for the wetness), but we don't have this kind of field," 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "The ball was so slippery, and we couldn't do certain things with our offense. But it's no excuse, because Leilehua had to play in the same conditions."

Leilehua went up 14-6 with 4:23 left in the third quarter on Kaipo Kea's quarterback sneak and two-point conversion pass to Newman.

The Mules won the turnover battle, 4-0.

'AIEA (4-4, 3-3) 0 6 0 0— 6

LEILEHUA (4-3, 3-2) 0 6 8 7—21

Lei — Edieson Dumlao 67 pass from Kaipo Kea (kick blocked)

'Aiea — Aldodius Colquitt 40 pass from Keenan Naeole (run failed)

Lei — Kea 1 run (Rico Newman pass from Kea)

Lei — Dontae Scott 2 run (Newman kick) RUSHING — 'Aiea: Naeole 6-5, Daniel Li'ili'i 7-10, Christian Kupau 9-37, Vance Baron 1-12. Leilehua: Kea 11-28, Newman 7-24, Zaire Magacapal 2-6, Scott 4-12, Bronson Pauso 3-6.

PASSING — 'Aiea: Naeole 13-23-1—129. Leilehua: Kea 5-9-0—94.

RECEIVING — 'Aiea: Li'ili'i 1-5, Colquitt 4-54, Peter Taliloa 1-2, Ezra Knight 4-38, Bryan Echalas 3-30. Leilehua: Dumlao 2-68, Newman 2-13, Pauso 1-13.

JV score — Leilehua 12, 'Aiea 7

KAPOLEI 36, RADFORD 20

Mason Koa rushed 16 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns, and caught five passes for 83 yards and one score as the visiting Hurricanes beat the Rams in an OIA Red West game. Koa also passed for 67 yards.

KAPOLEI (5-2, 3-2) 6 16 8 6—36

RADFORD (0-7, 0-5) 0 12 0 8—20

Kap — Mason Koa 17 run (kick failed)

Rad — Donnigtay Campbell 60 fumble return (kick failed)

Kap — Koa 15 run (Koa pass from Noa Pascua)

Kap — Koa 9 pass from Pascua (Shaydon Akuna pass from Koa)

Rad — Shawn Putnam-Curry 25 pass from Epa Maika (run failed)

Kap — Chad Lopati 3 run (Kalani Omoto pass from Koa)

Rad — Ezekiel Pulou-Falaniko 36 pass form Maika (Maika run)

Kap — Cyril Ontai 6 run (run failed) RUSHING — Kapolei: Chase Alcott 2-1, Koa 16-149, Jason Recamara 2-0, Keli'i Aki 5-16, Shenon Moore 4-5, Pascua 4-minus 10, Chad Lopati 3-13, Kelvin Perreira 1-minus 1, Bryan Tabion 3-8, Curtis Donald 2-5, Ontai 3-9. Radford: Leon Hazley 6-2, Maika 7-15, Luke Failauga 1-4, Pulou-Falaniko 3-3, Mosiah Manuma 1-0, Dustin Ramelb 1-0, Team 1-minus 20.

PASSING — Kapolei: Koa 5-11-0-67, Alcott 0-1-0-0, Pascua 10-18-3-138. Radford: Maika 15-37-1-233.

RECEIVING — Kapolei: Omoto 2-16, Moore 3-34, Koa 5-83, Akuna 1-8, Recamara 1-5, Aki 1-9, Nate Dixon 2-50. Radford: Putnam-Curry 7-103, Deshawn Robinson 1-7, Manuma 2-42, Pulou-Falamiko 3-71, Jared Victorino 2-10.

JV score — Kapolei 28, Radford 21

Reported by David Lane

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.