Oh, to have the brilliant future of Leilehua High quarterback Andrew Manley.

Not that the present isn't pretty remarkable, too, after leading the Mules to the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division I State Football Championship last night with a stirring 20-16 comeback victory over perennial power Saint Louis at Aloha Stadium.

Even for those who wildly waved the "Believe" signs in the ecstatic Leilehua rooting section of the 15,583 on hand, who could have imagined the exploits under pressure of this sophomore leading the Mules to their first state title? And, driving them there through the heart of Crusaders' all-senior starting defense to boot?

Five games into his varsity career, Manley took the Mules 63 yards on 6 plays in 1 minute 34 seconds, the go-ahead score a 15-yard pass to Edieson Dumlao with 36 seconds remaining. Garrison Gama's extra point and defensive back Micah Cruz's interception with 3 seconds left preserved the victory and set off the pandemonium of the Mules' first state title and biggest win since the 1984 O'ahu Prep Bowl, also over Saint Louis.

The Drive and the Phenom in an amazing sequence, the likes of which these state championships have rarely seen. Indeed, such quarterbacking brilliance has usually been the province of Crusaders over the years. Instead, the Crusaders were their own worst enemies with penalties galore, giving Manley an opportunity to work his magic and inspire the Mules.

But on this night it was a stout and sturdy 6-foot-2, 180 pounder taking the Mules to their sixth consecutive victory. At halftime, Manley had completed just 4 of 14 passes for 23 yards and been picked off. But he rallied to complete 14 of 28 for 158 in the second half, the most telltale on that final drive.

In that he was the poster player for a team breakthrough bordering on the incredulous. For the Mules had finished in a tie for fourth in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western division at 3-3 and required a tie breaker just to get into this thing. Saint Louis, meanwhile, had been No. 1-ranked much of the year and was almost a prohibitive favorite to return the state championship trophy to Kalaepohauku.

But if few were sure how the Mules got their invitation, there was no denying what they did with it, becoming a team of destiny behind their quarterback of today — and tomorrow.

As a sign in the stands put it, "O'ahu the sleeper has awaken."

And it was clear who roused the Mules from their early-season slumber.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.