For all their big-play passes and shotgun-four receiver looks, the Leilehua Mules are just as resourceful - and old school - as the next guy.

Coach Nolan Tokuda and his staff have borrowed sets and plays from the Bill Walsh-era San Francisco 49ers, Florida State, Hawaii and more. The Mules aren't purists about their base run-and-shoot sets. At times, they'll line up in the I slot and even try an empty backfield, sending versatile Rico Newman in motion for a quick-toss play.

Against Farrington in the OIA playoffs, the Mules drove to the 8-yard line and caught the Governors off-balance by using a defensive player as a weapon. It was third and 2 in the fourth quarter when Nate Hall, one of Leilehua's standout linebackers, entered the game as a tight end. Hall (27) lined up on the left side in a double-tight end set with Newman (5) as the single back.

Though this is widely used in the NFL as a running formation, the Mules like to use it for the extra protection from one or both tight ends. The extra blocking, as it turned out, wasn't necessary on this play.

Farrington used only three down linemen and kept four linebackers in close range. The right-side linebacker blitzed, giving the Govs four rushers, but the normally aggressive unit mostly stayed home, a sign that this seldom-used Mules formation had few, if any, tells.

Manley faked the handoff to Newman while both receivers ran streaks toward the corners. A big key to the play was wide receiver Edieson Dumlao (9), who drew double coverage as the safety shaded over in pre-snap. That opened the back of the end zone for Hall, who gave the blitzing linebacker a tap before taking off.

After the fake handoff, Newman picked up the blitzing linebacker, and by the time Hall had sprinted past the goal line, it was too late for the Govs. Manley lofted a spiral to Hall as a stunned Farrington defense watched helplessly. There wasn't a defender within 4 yards of the 6-foot-4 Hall, who cradled the ball for a touchdown.

When Punahou matches up with Leilehua in Friday's Division I final of the First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Football Championships, this formation could still cause headaches because of Dumlao and left-side receiver Chevas Aberilla-Ramento (6). Dumlao was effective against Kahuku despite a separated shoulder in last week's win over Kahuku. Aberilla-Ramento caught a touchdown pass on a streak route in overtime. Leaving either in single coverage is a big risk.

Newman is always a threat, especially as a receiver. Now, there's Hall to deal with. You can't double everybody, so you pick your poison and live with the results.