Leilehua's Kenan Sadanaga set a state record, but Saint Louis' Juda Parker is going to a state championship.

The Crusaders, behind the efficient passing of Marcus Mariota, held off the relentless Mules, 42-28, Friday night before 5,867 at Aloha Stadium to advance to the First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Football Championship next Friday against Wai'anae.

It is a rematch of a nonleague game earlier this season, when the Crusaders won, 42-3. But it is the first time the two will meet for the state title. They had met in eight of the 26 O'ahu Prep Bowls, including the inaugural game in 1973, won by Wai'anae, 6-0. But the Crusaders won the next seven meetings, the last in 1997.

"This is a way different Wai'anae team," Saint Louis coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "It's about getting hot at the right time of the year and they're hot. It's not how you start, it's how you finish in this business."

Wai'anae (6-7) will be the first team with a losing record to play for the Division I or overall state title. The Seariders got into the state tournament after Kahuku forfeited its O'ahu Interscholastic Association playoff games and state berth for using an ineligible player.

Saint Louis (10-1), ranked second in the ScoringLive-OC16 Power Rankings, amassed 498 yards of offense against the No. 4 Mules (8-4), who got a record-setting performance from Sadanaga. The left-hander completed 38 of 58 passes with three interceptions for 420 yards and four TDs. His completions broke the previous mark of 36 set by Pac-Five's P.J. Minaya against Word of Life Academy in 2008.

"My hat goes off to my line and my receivers for making the catches," Sadanaga said. "My line gave me the time and coaches for calling the plays."

But in a remarkable turn of events, Saints' defensive end Parker played for WOLA before the school closed earlier this year. He went from losing his old school to making it to biggest game of his life.

"It was a learning opportunity," Parker said. "I took a lot of good things from Word of Life Academy. The transition to Saint Louis, all the pieces really came together for me as a person and even as a football player."

Parker was the Saints' second-leading tackler with seven, including two for lost yardage. Alexander Auelua had three of the team's seven sacks.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders' offense showed little rust after a three-week break. Quarterback Marcus Mariota was 17 of 19 for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Actually, only one of his passes touched the ground. Russell Siavii's interception interrupted his seven consecutive completions to start the game.

The Mules made it a game after falling behind 21-0, pulling to with 14 three times.

"These kids, that's how they are," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "We coach them to be tough, play for one another. No matter what the score, keep playing.

"When we lose, it's the coaches' fault. But don't take anything away from Saint Louis. They're a good team. Nothing to be ashamed of when you lose to a team that well-coached and that athletic. We wish both teams, Wai'anae and Saint Louis, to do their best and give the state of Hawai'i a great game."

See also:
> Student Voices: Mariota, Saints 'got the job done'