Buffanblu, Mules ready to decide the state's best

Leilehua and Punahou have disproved old-school, conservative offensive theory by reaching the state final without establishing dominant rushing attacks.

STAR-BULLETIN / 2008

Leilehua quarterback Andrew Manley has passed for 3,450 yards and 30 touchdowns.

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The only team that throws the ball more than Punahou? Leilehua. While Punahou threw the ball 55 percent of the time this season, Leilehua (11-2) put the ball up in 61 percent of its plays.

When the two teams collide in tomorrow's Division I final of the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships at Aloha Stadium, fans might be wise to bring their blankets and pajamas.

It's going to be a long night.

"We're not going to leave anything behind. We're throwing the kitchen sink out there," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "It'll be a chess match."

Punahou, which has never won a state football title or the Prep Bowl of yesteryear, last played for the crown three years ago. Kahuku stopped the Buffanblu with a last-minute interception in the end zone to win 28-21.

"As it gets closer to the game, we're getting more excited, but we'll try to take a low-key approach and enjoy the ride," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "It comes down to making fewer mistakes and capitalizing when you can. I expect someone we don't expect to make a big play for us."

Tokuda believes his team has the intangibles of a champion.

"Our kids," he said, "have been playing with heart all year."

No biggie. Andrew Manley's prowess through the air is well documented, particularly his direction of the comeback overtime win over Kahuku. Edieson Dumlao went down with a separated shoulder against the Red Raiders, but his return in the second half brought a dormant offense back to life.

When Punahou has the ball

Toma and Hilliard are a lethal combination against almost any coverage. With Manti Te'o on the field, there is practically no way to truly cover all three.

That's why Leilehua will try to bring heat on quarterback Cayman Shutter, who has thrown for 26 touchdowns and only five interceptions. His chemistry with the receivers is uncanny, and his resilience has been remarkable. He returned from a concussion to lead Punahou over Saint Louis and Farrington.

Leilehua's defense has kept the team afloat, permitting only 8.3 points a game in the last three weeks. The Mules gave up 116 rushing yards a game, but were stellar against the pass with 20 interceptions. Quarterbacks threw for only five scores and completed only 39 percent of their attempts.

A horde of pass rushers, from Brad Laulualo to Garrison Garma, would love to pin Shutter. Problem is, he gets rid of the ball quickly, thanks to quick pre-snap reads.

When Leilehua has the ball

No biggie. Andrew Manley's prowess through the air is well documented, particularly his direction of the comeback overtime win over Kahuku. Edieson Dumlao went down with a separated shoulder against the Red Raiders, but his return in the second half brought a dormant offense back to life.

They will line up in shotgun, I-slot and double-tight-end sets and run just enough to keep defenses honest. Using Newman as a back and receiver, the Mules are always looking for a mismatch. Dumlao, Newman and speedy Cheves Aberilla-Ramento are all dangerous against single coverage.

The key, of course, is Manley. The junior has passed for nine touchdowns and just two picks in his last three games and leads the state with 3,535 yards on 62-percent accuracy.

Punahou mixes coverages and brings blitzes from different angles. That presents a big test for Manley, who will make plenty of hot reads.

Te'o, who leads Punahou with 121 tackles, has been tested by some of the state's best quarterbacks. Manley has scrambled for big gains lately, but he'll be more wary of No. 5 in blue.

Toma and Hilliard will probably see major playing time on defense.

Special teams

Leilehua invests 30 minutes a day on special teams and it has paid off substantially. Kicker Maika Kunioka is accurate and had a three-field goal-game early in the season. Newman is a skilled punter who can hit the coffin corner well and also knows how to squib a punt to spook off returners. Garma may be the best on-side kicker around.

Key matchup

Punahou RB Manti Te'o vs. Leilehua linebackers

Te'o is Punahou's key playmaker on defense. On offense, however, Punahou coordinator Darryl Kan can almost toy with defenses by making Te'o, a bruising runner with breakaway speed, equal parts wrecking ball, deft receiver and running back.

Out of the I slot, Te'o had success on toss sweeps, discounting last week's last-minute fumble against Farrington. He's also lined up as a lead blocker for Dalton Hilliard. He's most dangerous, though, in open space. Whether in motion to the slot or simply running routes from the backfield, he is too quick and fast for most linebackers. When smaller defensive backs try to cover him, he simply outjumps and outmuscles his way to receptions, including the spectacular one-handed kind.

Not bad for the nation's No. 1-rated linebacker.

Leilehua

PROBABLE STARTERS

Offense

Punahou

PROBABLE STARTERS

Offense

Individual leaders

Top performers

Rushing yards

1. Malosi Teo, 2005 Kahuku, 30-262-1 TD

2. Jayson Rego, 2004 Kamehameha, 39-212-1 TD

3. Mulivai Pula, 2001 Kahuku, 23-212-2 TDs

4. Vai Notoa, 1994 Kahuku, 32-211

5. Boyd Yap, 1979 Kamehameha, 20-166-3 TDs

Longest td run

1. Clyde Kaui, 1974 Kamehameha, 91 yards

2. Mulivai Pula, 2001 Kahuku, 82 yards

3. Malosi Teo, 2005 Kahuku, 79 yards

3. Jayson Rego, 2004 Kamehameha, 79 yards

5. Inoke Funaki, 2001 Kahuku, 76 yards

Passing yards

1. John Hao, 1989 Saint Louis, 15-22-0-329, 4 TDs

2. Brett Kan, 2005 Punahou, 22-52-3-271, 2 TDs

3. Mike Nua, 1988 Saint Louis, 13-23-0-266, 2 TDs

4. Timmy Chang, 1998 Saint Louis, 15-27-0-253, 2 TDs

5. John Hao, 1990 Saint Louis, 14-24-0-252, 2 TDs

Longest TD pass

1. Larry Rhoads from Terrance Hallums, 1988 Waianae, 90 yards

2. Leighton Fafard from John Hao, 1989 Saint Louis, 86 yards

3. Itula Mili from Daryl Stant, 1989 Kahuku, 86 yards

4. Micah Matsuzaki from Mike Nua, 1988 Saint Louis, 73 yards

5. Devin Unga from Kaulin Krebs, 2005 Kahuku, 72 yards

Receiving

1. Miah Ostrowski, 2005 Punahou, 11-108

2. Randyn Akiona, 1996 Saint Louis, 9-75

3. Ross Dickerson, 2000 Saint Louis, 8-130

4. Duane Silva, 1981 Saint Louis, 7-43