It was the game of his life, but to Kenan Sadanaga, he was just doing what he was supposed to do.

Sadanaga, a junior quarterback for the fourth-ranked Leilehua Mules football team, threw a career-best four touchdown passes Saturday night to rally his team to a 30-26 win over visiting Wai'anae. The win kept Leilehua (5-1 overall, 5-0 conference) in sole possession of first place in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West Conference and extended its win streak to five games.

"It was back-and-forth all game long," said Mules' coach Nolan Tokuda, noting the five lead changes between the teams. "We ran a two-minute drill at the end of the first half, got a field goal and led 23-19 at the half."

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Wai'anae went ahead, 26-23, on a Puletua Wilson touchdown run in the fourth.

"On our second-to-last drive of the game - we took a knee on the last drive - (Sadanaga) marched us down the field to give us the victory," Tokuda said.

With just minutes to play, Sadanaga found Russell Siavii for the go-ahead score on a 6-yard pass. Sadanaga was 21-of-31 passing for 220 yards with one interception.

"It was pretty nerve-racking," Sadanaga said of the game-winning drive. "But, as the drive went along, things started clicking together and I started to relax and things came naturally against."

Sadanaga drew a crucial encroachment penalty against the Seariders to extend the drive.

"It was fourth-and-four, we didn't have a play called, it was just to draw them offsides," said Sadanaga, who is 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds. "The whole game we had been going on the same count, so I thought it would work and luckily it did."

He threw touchdown passes of 5, 23, 21 and 6 yards to four different pass-catchers.

Tokuda and Sadanaga both credited the Mules' offensive line - left tackle Kalawala Jenkins, left guard Jaryn Villegas, center Timothy Momiyama, right guard Matt Van Winkle and right tackle Keane Hosaka - for keeping the Wai'anae defense at bay much of the night.

"I'm real thankful for the line. I really wasn't hit that much that game," said Sadanaga, who is a left-handed pitcher for the Leilehua baseball team in the spring. "The coaches had a great game plan, and we practiced hard all week long and it came down to being able to execute on Saturday, but I'm just a part of the team and I couldn't have done anything without the rest of my teammates."

Said Tokuda: "For most of the night, we went with five wide (receivers), so it was only a five-man protection, so they should get a lot of credit for giving him the protection to allow him to make the reads and throws."

Sadanaga, who splits time with senior QB Jordan Kalaau, said he tries to keep an even-keel during a long football season.

"I just try to take it day-to-day and week-to-week," he said. "I don't think of one win as a turning point. We just want to try our best and get better with each game that we play."

Despite a looming showdown with No. 3 Mililani (6-1 overall, 4-1 conference) Saturday, Tokuda echoed the sentiments of his quarterback.

"We don't look at this game as a showdown really, but as just another game. If Mililani comes out victorious, we'll be gracious in defeat and use it to see where we need to improve for the playoffs," Tokuda said. "So far this season, our kids and our coaches have done a good job of staying focused. Last week we focused on Wai'anae and Wai'anae period. Starting Sunday morning, we turned our focus to Mililani."

Kickoff between the Mules and Trojans at Leilehua's Hugh Yoshida Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The game will be aired live statewide on OC16.


WEEK 8 PERFORMERS

Pearl City WR Diacorri Briscoe caught 3 passes for 131 yards and a TD against Waipahu.


Waipahu QB Mark Bumanglag threw a TD pass and ran in another score against Pearl City.


Kalaheo RB Jesse Carney rushed for 136 yards and 2 TDs against Anuenue.


Kamehameha DB Micah Choy forced a fumble and made an interception against Punahou.


McKinley AP Solomon Dixon rushed for 186 yards and a TD against Kalani.


Pac-Five QB Jack Foster passed for 172 yards and 3 TDs against Damien.


Anuenue RB Ikaika Gante rushed for 249 yards and a TD against Kalaheo.


Castle WR Jaques Hough caught 4 passes for 100 yards against Kailua.


Castle QB Jaymason Lee passed for 197 yards and 2 TDs against Kailua.

King Kekaulike RB/DB Kepa Luat-Hueu rushed for 120 yards and a TD, returned 82 yards for another TD and intercepted two passes against Maui.


Mililani QB Trent McKinney passed for 148 yards and 2 TDs and rushed for 83 yards and another TD against Kapolei.


Waipahu RB Victor Moananu rushed for 177 yards against Pearl City.


Castle LB Cy Pana had two interceptions against Kailua.

Kapaa QB Brentten Rapozo passed for 169 yards and 3 TDs against Waimea.


Roosevelt RB Agaese Tago rushed for 150 yards and a TD against Moanalua.

Baldwin WR/PR Ro Wilson caught 2 TD passes and returned a punt 55 yards for another TD against Kamehameha-Maui.


Kahuku RB Aofaga Wily rushed for 119 yards and a TD against Farrington.

---