Leilehua QB Sadanaga shreds Baldwin

By Fred Guzman

At 5-foot-7, 155 pounds, he’s small by even prep football standards. But last night at War Memorial Stadium, Leilehua junior quarterback Kenan Sadanaga played like a giant. The little lefty with the big arm put on a dazzling display of passing.

He threw for a state tournament record 477 yards and his five scoring passes accounted for all of Leilehua’s touchdowns as the Mules advanced to the semifinals of the Division-I tournament with a 35-26 road win over third-seeded Badwin.

Leilehua overcame six turnovers and 19 penalties for more than 130 yards to beat Baldwin in the tournament for the fourth straight year.

Sadanaga’s performance was in keeping with recent passing tradition at Leilehua, which includes such standout former quarterbacks as Bryant Moniz and Andrew Manley. Moniz is now starting and starring for the University of Hawaii, ranking among the nation’s top passers. Manley is a freshman at New Mexico State.

Both, obviously, are taller than Sadanaga, but none were ever as productive as he was in a state tournament game. He completed 32 of 51 passes in shouldering an offense that managed just 26 yards rushing against Baldwin’s highly-touted defensive line.

Although the Bears did an excellent job of handling Leilehua’s ground game, Baldwin’s secondary was torn apart by Sadanaga and his stable of talented receivers.

Jeremiah Andrade had 10 catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Fred Padrones had nine catches for 130 yards and two scores.

The victory improved Leilehua’s season record 9-2, and allowed the mules to earn a berth opposite second-seeded Saint Louis in a 7 p.m. semifinal Friday at Aloha Stadium.

Baldwin’s Ro Wilson accounted for two touchdowns, the first on a juggling 25-yard reception and the second on a 59-yard punt return.

Leilehua’s defense kept constant pressure on Baldwin sophomore QB Keelan Ewaliko, was completed 11 of 22 for 143 yards while tossing three picks and being sacked six times.

In the other D-I game, Puletua Wilson threw for 247 yards for three scores and ran for another TD, leading Waianae to a 34-16 win over Kealakehe. Waianae jumped out to a 28-0 lead late in the second quarter over the visiting and fourth-seeded Big Island champs.

Waianae will face top-seeded Mililani in Friday’s 4 p.m. semifinal at Aloha Stadium. Both semifinal games will be televised on OC-16.

Chester Sua ran for two scores and picked off a pass, helping Kaimuki overcome five turnovers and hold on for a 14-9 road victory over Kamehameha-Hawai’i in D-II action.

The Bulldogs will next face second-seeded Lahainaluna in a 7 p.m. game Friday at War Memorial Stadium.

Top-seeded Iolani will host the other semifinal on Saturday against the winner of today’s game between Kauai and visiting Kalaheo.

The state championship games are set for Friday, Nov. 26, at Aloha Stadium. The D-II title game will start at 4:30, with the D-I game set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.