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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 27, 2009

Kamehameha routs Leilehua in state semifinal, 40-0


By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Andrew Manley’s storybook career at Leilehua came to an end tonight.
No. 2 Kamehameha’s storming and swarming defense smothered No. 3 Leilehua, 40-0, in the semifinal of the First Hawaiian Bank Division I state football tournament at Aloha Stadium.

The second-seeded Warriors (11-0) will play top-seeded, undefeated and No. 1 Kahuku (12-0) for the state title 7:30 p.m. Friday at Aloha. The Red Raiders’ seventh title appearances ties Saint Louis for the all-time lead in the 11-year history of the tournament. Kahuku returns to the title game for the first time since 2006, the last time it won the crown, its fifth overall. The Warriors make their second appearance in the title game and first since 2004, when they won the championship against Leilehua.

It was the first time a Mules’ team led by Manley had been shutout. The last time Leilehua went scoreless was a 21-0 loss to Kapolei in the 2007 regular season, when Manley was still the JV QB. Manley, who led the Mules to the 2007 state title, ends his career 5-2 in state tournament games. It is the first time he will not end his season in the title game for the 2008 Offensive Co-Player of the Year.

After the Mules failed to take advantage of a 31-yard kickoff return to start the second half from their 42, they still had to punt away to the Warriors’ 25. Kamehameha wasted little time, moving 75 yards in seven plays with Campbell hitting Blaise Cuban on a play-action 18-yard TD pass over the middle with 6:49 in the third quarter. Gabriel missed the PAT to keep it 20-0.
The Warriors scored on their next series, needing just three plays to move 47 yards with running back Ryan Ho scoring on a 39-yard run up the middle to make it 27-0 with 3:35 left in the third quarter.
Kamehameha continued its assault, scoring on its third series of the half when Park scored on a two-yard run to cap a six-play, 71-yard drive with 11:31 in the fourth quarter to make it 34-0.
The Warriors scored again in the fourth quarter with substitutes starting the drive with 10:37 left in the game. Backup QB Chrisian Akana scored on a one-yard run to make it 40-0 and start the 35-point differential running clock with 5:11 left.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.