Tokuda stood near midfield at Aloha Stadium Friday as media members carrying cameras and microphones quickly moved in.

He wore a button that said, "Love Conquers All." Right next to it was a cross that hangs from a chain around his neck.

As Tokuda tried to find the right words, he looked up into the night and grasped the cross. He then pointed out the green and gold button.

"This pendant says it all. It says, 'Love Conquers All,' " Tokuda said. "We just came out and loved each other and we kept believing. I definitely have to give the credit to God."

Leilehua's victory over Saint Louis, like pretty much the entire season, was quite an adventure.

The Crusaders led 16-6, but Bronson Pausa's 1-yard run and Garrison Garma's PAT made it 16-13 with 6:13 left in the game.

Saint Louis ran nine plays on its next possession, but faced a fourth-and-1 at midfield and decided to punt with 2:22 remaining. The punt traveled 13 yards.

"There were thoughts of going for it at midfield, but our defense had been playing well all season long," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said. "We just felt if we could give them a longer field and put the game in the hands of our defense, we'd be all right."

Leilehua benefitted from roughing the passer and defensive pass interference penalties on its first two plays, which advanced the ball 30 yards to the Crusaders' 33.

The Mules had a fourth-and-1 at the 24, but Manley picked up 3 yards on a quarterback draw.

Two plays later, he threw a perfect pass down the right side to Edieson Dumlao for a 15-yard touchdown with 36 seconds remaining.

"When I caught that ball everything just went silent," said Dumlao, who made the catch despite pass interference on the defense. "When I got up I just heard the crowd yelling."

The Crusaders started their final drive at their 43, but Leilehua defensive back Micah Cruz intercepted a pass over the middle to seal the victory.

"Our defense played together and we knew if we stick together we could win," said Mules linebacker Art Laurel.

It was Leilehua's first football state title. The inaugural tournament was held in 1999.

"Never believed it would happen," Manley said. "It's a dream come true, honestly."

Hugh Yoshida, who coached Leilehua to the 1984 Prep Bowl title, was on the field after the game. Yoshida was Leilehua's football coach and athletic director from 1970 to 1987. The Mules' home field is named in his honor.

"That Leilehua ball club was very tenacious," Yoshida said. "They stayed in the ball game. They never gave up and it's a real tribute to them."

After the victory, hundreds of Leilehua fans gathered at the school to congratulate the team. The celebration lasted well into the early morning yesterday.

"This goes to show this is a football town," Tokuda said. "We have so much love and support. We have future Mules here and we share this win with the entire community."

Ana Jaime, a senior at Leilehua, was proud of her team.

"I think they played with a lot of heart and they pushed themselves through it," she said. "Even though there were times when even we didn't believe in them, they believed in themselves."

Jaime said she got a little emotional when things were looking bleak for the Mules.

"I was crying with two minutes and 40-something seconds left on the clock," she said. "I was so scared (the Crusaders) were going to get the first down and we weren't going to make a touchdown."

Jose Rocha, a sophomore, also was losing hope near the end.

"I am very proud," he said of the team. "I admit I had doubts, and I hate myself for that."

Caitlin Ohashi, a Leilehua graduate who attends the University of Hawai'i, also was beaming with pride.

"My junior year we went to states, but we lost to Kamehameha (in the 2004 final)," she said. "It was a good thing to pull through. It'll bring our community closer together."

John Manaea, father of Leilehua receiver Elijah Manaea, also was there.

But before he left the Aloha Stadium parking lot he got white shoe polish and wrote "OIA and state champs," "Mules Rule," and other messages on the windshields of his van.

Manaea said he'll leave it on, "Probably until I go to work on Sunday. I work at Turtle Bay at Kahuku. I have a Mules sticker on the back of my van and everyone gives me a really hard time out there."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.