In the heat of the moment, under the brightest lights on the biggest stage, the young sophomore remained cool as ice.

Andrew Manley, Leilehua High School's out-of-nowhere quarterback who was playing JV ball just six weeks ago, guided the Mules to their first state championship last night by displaying the same amazing grace he has all throughout his team's improbable 5-0 run in the postseason.

Manley's 15-yard touchdown pass to Edieson Dumlao with 36 seconds remaining lifted Leilehua to a stunning 20-16 victory before a disbelieving crowd of 15,583 at Aloha Stadium.

"It feels great, I'm speechless," said Manley, who finished with 18 completions in 42 attempts for 181 yards with two interceptions. "This game was fabulous."

Manley's performance had been erratic until that final drive, which started with Leilehua trailing 16-13 at the Mules' 37-yard line. But they got a boost when the Crusaders were called for roughing-the-passer on first down, and then a pass interference penalty on the next play which moved the ball to the Saint Louis 33.

After an incompletion, Manley threw a 9-yard completion to Allan Macam, giving Leilehua third-and-1 at the 24. After another incomplete pass, Manley ran three yards on a quarterback keeper from the shotgun formation to give the Mules first-and-10 at the 21.

Manley then threw a 6-yard out to Macam on the left side, and then — on second-and-4 from the 15 — he lofted a perfect lob to the right side of the end zone, where Dumlao made a diving catch despite pass interference by the Saints.

"On that last drive, we were just trying for short passes, to get the first down," Manley said. "We had some lucky plays in there."

Manley said he didn't even see Dumlao come up with the catch.

"I just saw the stands going crazy," he said. "It's a dream come true."

Manley's emergence as Leilehua's surprise leader has been a dream come true for all of Wahiawa, after their first two quarterbacks went down to injury in a first round league playoff victory over Castle on Oct. 19.

The coaches called up Manley from the JV, and the Mules haven't loss since.

"He played big," head coach Nolan Tokuda said. "He had the support of his teammates, and they played for each other."

Tokuda and Manley said they did not even think about a potential game-tying field goal to force overtime.

"No, sir," Manley said. "We were going for the win."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.