JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Waianae's Danny Kekoanui tried to shed Leilehua's Josh Cruz, left, and Peter Desaulniers during yesterday's Red title game.

Manley helps Mules end 23-year title drought

Sophomore quarterback Andrew Manley threw for 130 yards and two touchdowns in just his third career start as Leilehua won its first OIA football title in 23 years by defeating Waianae 12-3 last night in the Red division championship at Aloha Stadium.

Glenn Wain kicked a 32-yard field goal for the Seariders to take a 3-0 lead going into halftime.

Waianae was held scoreless in the second half while Manley hooked up with Edieson Dumlao on a 4-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to take the lead.

Facing a fourth and long with 4 minutes remaining, Manley completed a pass to Allan Macam for 21 yards to put the ball at the 1-yard line.

Two plays later, Manley hooked up with Macam again for a 2-yard touchdown to ice the game with 2:44 remaining.

Both teams will be in the state playoffs that begin next week. Saint Louis and Leilehua earned first-round byes.

The last piece of the puzzle will be decided tonight at 6:30 when Kapolei and Farrington battle for the final OIA berth.

FULL STORY »

Leilehua's defense was an army of one, but it took a child to lead the Mules into the promised land.

Sophomore quarterback Andrew Manley threw for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter as fifth-ranked Leilehua rallied to stun No. 4 Waianae 12-3 last night to capture the Mules' first Oahu Interscholastic Association championship since 1984 before 8,770 at Aloha Stadium.

Nolan Tokuda's Mules (8-4) rode on the back of a stalwart defense led by Art Laurel and Robert Siavii, while Manley won his third game in as many starts since being called up to the varsity after injuries to the Mules' top two quarterbacks.

Waianae was seeking its first OIA title since 1997.

Leilehua reached the OIA semifinals in 2004, but had not won an OIA crown in 23 seasons, when Hugh Yoshida was coach.

Leilehua draws a bye in the opening round of the state tournament. Waianae will travel and face Big Island champion Kealakehe, which rolled over Waiakea last night. It will be the third state-tourney matchup between the two schools in as many years.

Penalties often derailed the Seariders, who drew eight yellow flags for 90 yards. Boston Salmon led a tenacious Waianae defense with 10 solo tackles.

The Mules had only 37 total yards in the first half, but Manley was clutch after the break. The 6-foot-2 slinger was 13-for-15 for 100 yards in the second half, while the Mule defense did a number on Waianae's normally productive offense.

"They tried some new plays like the reverses, but our coaches taught us how to defend against that," said Siavii, a speedy linebacker. "We went over film 2 hours a day, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday."

Sean Kenington, a senior defensive back, was key with six tackles and an interception.

Manley had only one turnover in another near-flawless performance since coming up recently from the JV.

"We tell him to treat it like practice," Siavii said.

For a half, the Mules struggled to muster a first down, let alone any points. However, Manley's confidence rose after intermission as he guided Leilehua on two scoring drives. The first came after the Mule defense shut down Waianae to give Leilehua first down at the Seariders' 37-yard line midway through the third quarter.

Seven plays later, Manley connected with Edieson Dumlao on a fade route in the right corner to give Leilehua a 6-3 lead with 2:34 to go in the third quarter.

The Mules defense forced Waianae to go three and out on consecutive possessions, and Manley took advantage. Leilehua drove 55 yards and took nearly 5 minutes off the clock before Manley fired a 2-yard bullet to Allan Macam in the end zone. That gave the Mules a 12-3 lead with 2:44 left, clinching the win.

Early on, Leilehua had Kaipo Kea warming up in pregame, but went with Manley, who won in his two starts after Kea went down with an injury. Leilehua's first four possessions ended with punts, and Waianae's offense broke the scoring drought with a 32-yard field goal by Glenn Wain with 2:57 to go in the first half.

The field goal ended a string of nearly six quarters without a point by Waianae against Leilehua.

The Seariders threatened to score again moments later when Justin Kauwalu deflected a Manley pass and Josh Iriarte intercepted. Iriarte's short return gave Waianae the ball at Leilehua's 20-yard line, and on the ensuing play, Danny Kekoanui's halfback pass to Preston Cummings in the end zone was just a bit too long.

Two plays later, Leilehua's Bradley Iaulualo knocked the ball loose from Waianae quarterback B.J. Jelf and recovered it at the 29-yard line to end the threat.

The Mules drove to the Waianae 42-yard line -- their deepest penetration of the first half -- but stalled with less than a minute to go in the half.

"We played our hearts out," Waianae defensive back Matt Ibanez said. "Today, we missed our assignments a little and the penalties killed us. That let (Leilehua) get down the field."

Football State Championships

Leilehua 12, Waianae 3

At Aloha Stadium

Lei--Edieson Dumlao 4 pass from Andrew Manley (kick failed)

Lei--Allan Macam 2 pass from Manley (kick blocked)

RUSHING--Leilehua: Rico Newman 14-7, Bronson Pausa 4-7, Manley 3-9, team 4-(-13). Waianae: Harold Viela 7-35, Kekoanui 11-30, Ben McQuown 9-29, Justin Kauwalu 1-3, Preston Cummings 1-0, Danny, B.J. Jelf 6-(-6), team 1-(-7).

PASSING--Leilehua: Manley 18-29-1-130, Newman 0-1-0-0. Waianae: Jelf 4-13-2-22, Kekoanui 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING--Leilehua: Marcus Newman 9-68, Macam 3-37, Breakfield 2-13, Dumlao 2-10, Zaire Macapagal 2-2. Waianae: Kekoanui 2-14, McQuown 1-10, Viela 1-(-2).

A--8,770.

BIIF

Kealakehe 50, Waiakea 13

Saturday, November 17

Quarterfinals

Kealakehe vs. Waianae, 7 p.m., BIIF site

Baldwin vs. Farrington/Kapolei winner, 7 p.m., War Memorial Stadium

Saturday, November 24

Semifinals

Saint Louis vs. Kealakehe/Waianae winner, 4 or 7 p.m., Aloha Stadium

Leilehua vs. Farrington/Kapolei -Baldwin winner, 4 or 7 p.m.