Isaiah Iuta blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game last night, preserving a thrilling 26-24 victory for Farrington over defending state champion Leilehua in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association semifinals.

The Governors, ranked No. 5 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 8-2 in the regular and postseason and will face Kahuku — a 12-7 winner over Wai'anae last night — for the title Friday at Aloha Stadium.

It will be Farrington's first OIA championship appearance since 1994, when the Govs lost to Kahuku.

"This feels so good, to bring the pride back to the Farrington community," said Iuta, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior linebacker/rover. "Hopefully the stadium will be full."

Last night, a vocal stadium crowd of about 3,500 was treated to one of season's most exciting games, featuring plenty of fireworks on offense, defense and special teams down to the last play — which was set up by a facemask penalty on Iuta when he tackled Mules receiver Matt Reyes after a 21-yard catch from Andrew Manley with no time remaining.

Because a game cannot end on a defensive penalty, Leilehua was awarded an untimed down at the Farrington 10-yard line.

The Governors then used their final two timeouts, making Mules kicker Maika Kunioka wait.

"I just wanted to speak to our kids and calm them down," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "We were going for the block."

The snap was clean, but Iuta found a seam in the "A-B" gap between the center and guard and shot through and lunged to swat the kick away to the left, where teammate Aaron Iramina picked up the ball and ran out of bounds, setting off a wild celebration on the nearby Farrington sideline.

"We just talked about making one more big play," Iuta said. "Once I saw the snap, I just went for it. I was falling down, but I put my hand up and the ball hit my shoulder pad. I was so happy."

It was the final emotion in a roller-coaster ride full of them.

Reyes' catch was made possible only after Manley's 15-yard scramble on fourth-and-15 from his own 46 with 14 seconds left. He had been sacked for a five-yard loss on the previous play, and Leilehua was out of timeouts.

The Mules had started the drive on their own 40 after a five-yard punt with 57 seconds remaining. They forced the Govs into a three-and-out after a 6-yard play-action touchdown pass from Manley to Nate Hall on third-and-goal with 3:13 left.

Kunioka's extra point closed it to 26-24.

Farrington had taken a 26-17 lead with 4:38 remaining after cornerback Vaughn Tomas intercepted a Manley pass and returned it 39 yards down the right sideline for a TD. The Govs had gone ahead, 19-17, with 8:16 left on Justin Vele's 52-yard interception return for a score down the left sideline.

Manley completed 31 of 46 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns, but he was intercepted three times.

"We tried to put the game into the hands of our secondary; they've played well for us all year," said Okimoto, who added the Govs' scheme often used a "nickel" package with five defensive backs.

Leilehua took a 3-0 lead with 7:53 remaining in the first quarter on Kunioka's 37-yard field goal, but Farrington answered with a 25-yard TD run by Apelu So'oalo, and Robert Molina's extra point made it 7-3 midway through the quarter.

The Mules took the lead back at 10-7 with 5:52 left in the half after Manley's 8-yard touchdown pass to Edieson Dumlao on third-and-goal, and they went up 17-7 with 52 seconds remaining in the half after Manley's 20-yard TD pass to Rico Newman one play following Brad Iaulualo's recovery of a Govs' fumble caused by defensive back Garrison Garma.

Farrington closed it to 17-13 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter on So'oalo's 29-yard touchdown ramble.

So'oalo finished with 138 yards rushing on 25 carries.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of in losing to a team like Farrington," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "They have size and speed, and they are well-coached and well-prepared."

Third-ranked Leilehua fell to 8-2 and will play Wai'anae for third place next Saturday, with a state tournament berth on the line.

FARRINGTON (8-2) 7 0 6 13—26

LEILEHUA (8-2) 3 14 0 7—24

Lei — FG Maika Kunioka 37

Farr — Apelu So'oalo 25 run (Robert Molina kick)

Lei — Edieson Dumlao 8 pass from Andrew Manley (Kunioka kick)

Lei — Rico Newman 20 pass from Manley (Kunioka kick)

Farr — So'oalo 29 run (kick failed)

Farr — Justin Vele 53 interception return (run failed)

Farr — Vaughn Tomas 39 interception return (Molina kick)

Lei — Nate Hall 6 pass from Manley (Kunioka kick)

RUSHING — Farrington: So'oalo 25-138, Dayton Kealoha 6-7, Siaosi Feleunga 3-8. Leilehua: Newman 4-(minus-1), Carlos Marshall 5-9, Manley 5-4.

PASSING — Farrington: Kealoha 4-12-0—31. Leilehua: Manley 31-46-3—318.

RECEIVING — Farrington: So'oalo 2-21, Ani Isumu 2-10. Leilehua: Dumlao 6-48, Newman 7-63, Cheves Aberilla Ramento 6-107, Matt Reyes 9-71, Marcus Breakfield 2-23, Nate Hall 1-6.

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com.