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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, November 28, 2009

No. 2 Warriors' pass rush overwhelms Leilehua, 40-0


By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kamehameha's Kupono Park is off and running en route to one of his two touchdowns against Leilehua.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Andrew Manley's storybook career at Leilehua came to an end last night.

No. 2 Kamehameha's storming and swarming defense smothered No. 3 Leilehua, 40-0, last night in the semifinal of the First Hawaiian Bank Division I state football tournament before 10,479 at Aloha Stadium.

The second-seeded Warriors (11-0) will play top-seeded, undefeated and No. 1 Kahuku (12-0) for the state title at 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, but their first since 2004, when they won the championship against Leilehua. The teams have met seven times since 1953, all in preseason, with the Warriors winning six.

The bloodlines are the storyline for a matchup between the two O'ahu league champions. Kamehameha coach David Stant is a Kahuku graduate. Kamehameha cornerback Walter Santiago is the son of the Kahuku assistant of the same name.

"I hate to say it, but it feels like another game," Stant said of reaching the championship game. "But we're not done. We still have one more game to win before we can feel good about ourselves. And it's Kahuku."

"I think I have to move out, stay at a friend's house or something," joked the younger Santiago. "(My dad) still helps me with my game.

"As the playoffs came, we won ILH and Kahuku won the OIA, my dad told me, 'We're going to meet. You better be ready. We're going to come hard.' "

But for Manley, a class act since joining the varsity as as wide-eyed sophomore two years ago in the OIA playoffs, it will be the first time he will not end his season in the title game. It was the first time The Advertiser's 2008 Offensive Co-Player of the Year had been shutout in a game he played. The last time Leilehua (9-4) 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's not that disappointing," Manley said. "We're honored to get here three years in a row. Yeah, it sucks that we lost, but I have a great feeling. We're just grateful to be here again."

Manley passed for a season-low 120 yards on 14-of-28 passing and was sacked seven times, one from a strategic stunt that created an opening for safety Wave Ryder on a delayed blitz through the middle.

Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda had nothing but praise for Manley's brilliant career.

"I just watched him grow up in front of me," Tokuda said. "Just watching him telling the other guys, 'eh, good luck, go get 'em.' Great maturity and it's only going to get better for him. I hope the best for him in the near future."

But Kamehameha defense had an answer for seemingly every Leilehua move, holding the Mules to a net 89 yards offense.

"One of the best offenses in the state, we shut 'em out," Stant said. "That says something about our defensive guys, believing in each other."

His counterpart, Kamehameha QB T.C. Campbell, would set the tone, ironically, with his legs. With the Mules wary of running back Ryan Ho, Campbell benefitted with two long runs on their first two plays from scrimmage on option keepers after faking handoffs to Ho, to score on the first offensive drive.

"They have to respect Ryan because he's such a great back,"Campbell said. "We watched Kahuku. The option worked really well for Kahuku against Leilehua so we figured out that might work for us."

Campbell was 16 of 23 for a season-high 217 yards with TD passes of 25 yards to Charley Bollig IV and 18 yards to Blaise Cuban. Campbell also rushed for 62 yards on six carries, while Ho led the way with 107 on 15 rushes and one TD. Kupono Park scored on two runs, as did backup QB Christian Akana.

The early scoring was crucial for Kamehameha's game plan last night.

"We wanted them to play catch-up," Stant said of taking the early lead. "When (Manley) takes control of the ball and takes his chips here and there, he just kills us. We wanted to make him play catchup."

Kamehameha led 14-0 at halftime on Park's 15-yard run up the middle and Campbell's 25-yard pass to Bollig IV.

The Warriors sacked Manley six times in the first half. The Mules were held to just 21 yards of offense in the half to Kamehameha's 243 yards.

In the second half, Campbell hit Cuban on a play-action 18-yard TD pass over the middle with 6:49 left in the third quarter. Tarra Gabriel missed the PAT to keep it 20-0.

The Warriors scored on their next series, needing three plays to move 47 yards with Ho scoring on a 39-yard run 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 2-yard run with 11:31 left in the fourth to make it 34-0.

Akana scored on a 1-yard run to make it 40-0 and start the 35-point differential running clock with 5:11 left.

LEILEHUA (9-4) 0 0 0 0— 0

KAMEHAMEHA (11-1) 7 7 13 13—40

KS — Kupono Park 15 run (Tarra Gabriel kick)

KS — Charley Bollig IV 25 pass from TC Campbell (Gabriel kick)

KS — Blaise Cuban 18 pass from Campbell (kick failed)

KS — Ryan Ho 30 run (Garbriel kick)

KS — Park 2 run (Gabriel kick)

KS — Christian Akana 1 run (kick failed)

RUSHING — Leilehua: Austin Schmidt 3-13, Carlos Marshall 4-8, Jordan Kalaau 1-1, JC Bailey 1-(minus 1), Andrew Manley 9-(minus 67). Kamehameha: Ho 15-107, Campbell 6-62, Park 4-31, Cuban 1-16, Jason Muraoka 4-12, Dyson Hoohuli 1-9, Kamu Morita 1-4, Jacob Makaiwi 1-3, Devin-Jackson Kawewehi 1-3, Ronson Nakoa-Moniz 1-3, Akana 4-(minus 1).

PASSING — Leilehua: Manley 14-28-0—120, Kalaau 2-5-0—15. Kamehameha: Campbell 16-23-0—217, Akana 2-2-0—40.

RECEIVING — Leilehua: Fred Padrones 6-82, Kamana Akagi 6-36, Keanu Sapla 2-11, Darrien Shealy 1-5, Blaine Furtado 1-1. Kamehameha: Cuban 4-75, Bollig IV 2-49, Keanu Ruelke 2-37, Brent Auyong 2-23, Alika Bell 2-12, Hoohuli 1-22, Bryson Baqui 1-18, Tang 1-11, Keola Bradley 1-6, Ho 1-4, Muraoka 1-0.