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POSTED: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Before Andrew Manley and his Leilehua teammates think about defending their state title, they've got a league championship to win first.

The defending Oahu Interscholastic Association Red champions passed their first postseason test in a resounding way, getting three touchdown passes from Manley to beat Kaimuki 38-7 last night at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

Rico Newman returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score as the third-ranked Mules advanced to the semifinals of the OIA tournament Friday against Farrington at Aloha Stadium.

“;We're excited to be able to give our kids another week to play,”; Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.

Leilehua looked nothing like the team that a month ago saw its 11-game winning streak snapped by Waianae in a rare home loss.

Kaimuki running backs Justin Paderes and Tevita Aholeilei tried to emulate the success Waianae had rushing against the Mules defense, but linebacker Nate Hall was having no part of it.

In the first half alone, Hall had two sacks and recovered a fumble he caused in the end zone for a touchdown that gave the Mules a 21-7 lead.

“;He went back and I knocked the ball out, it hit the ground once and I picked it up,”; Hall said. “;The Waianae loss showed us to be humble and we came together as a team.”;

Leilehua raced out to a 14-0 lead before the Bulldogs cut it to seven on a 24-yard pass from Nainoa Hiapo to Chris Fiamate midway through the second quarter.

With less than 2 minutes remaining, the Bulldogs were backed up to their own 2 when Hall came blitzing off the edge and punched the ball out of Hiapo's hand, then picked it up for a score.

The Mules recovered the ensuing kickoff, and Manley found Cheves Aberilla-Ramento on a 15-yard touchdown strike with 52 seconds remaining to go up 21 at the break.

Kaipo Kea erased any thoughts of a Kaimuki second-half comeback with an interception on the Bulldogs' first play. Seven plays later, Manley hooked up with Edieson Dumlao from 20 yards out for their second touchdown connection of the game to push the lead to 35-7.

Nicholas Lino added a 31-yard field goal to cap the scoring.

Paderes and Aholeilei combined for 49 yards on 16 carries as Kaimuki was held to 114 total yards. Fiamate was responsible for most of the Bulldogs offense with four receptions for 83 yards and the lone touchdown.

At Hugh Yoshida Stadium

                                                                                                                                           

Kaimuki (5-5)	0	7	0	0	—	7
Leilehua (8-1)	14	14	10	0	—	38

Lei—Rico Newman 90 kickoff return (Maika Kunioka kick)

Lei—Edieson Dumlao 5 pass from Andrew Manley (Kunioka kick)

Kaim—Chris Fiamate 24 pass from Nainoa Hiapo (Nicholas Lino kick)

Lei—Nate Hall fumble recovery in end zone (Kunioka kick)

Lei—Cheves Aberilla-Ramento 15 pass from Manley (Kunioka kick)

Lei—Dumlao 20 pass from Manley (Lino kick)

Lei—FG Lino 31

RUSHING—Kaimuki: Justin Paderes 9-41, Lino 6-28, Tevita Aholeilei 7-8, Eddie Char 1-7, Kevin Tofiga 1-4, Hiapo 5-(-29), team 1-(-29). Leilehua: Newman 3-32, Carlos Marshall 4-14, Manley 6-11, Kaipo Kea 3-10, Austin Schmidt 3-5, CJ Bailey 3-0, Kamana Akagi 7-(-2), team 1-(-31).

PASSING—Kaimuki: Hiapo 5-17-2-84. Leilehua: Manley 14-30-1-133, Akagi 1-1-0-3, Newman 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING—Kaimuki: Fiamate 4-83, Desmond Tautofi 1-1. Leilehua: Aberilla-Ramento 4-51, Dumlao 4-39, Kea 2-23, Akagi 2-4, Newman 1-9, Marshall 1-7, Bailey 1-3.

Also

No. 4 Kahuku 42, Mililani 13

No. 10 Waianae 25, Castle 13

OIA RED PLAYOFFS
SECOND ROUND
Yesterday
» Farrington 37, Kapolei 20
» Leilehua 38, Kaimuki 7
» Kahuku 42, Mililani 13
» Waianae 25, Castle 13
SEMIFINALS
Friday at Aloha Stadium
» Farrington vs. Leilehua
» Kahuku vs. Waianae
CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 7, Aloha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
third place
Nov. 8 at site