It's been a while since these two schools won O'ahu Interscholastic Association football championships.

No. 7 Leilehua will play No. 3 Wai'anae for the Red title 8 p.m. Friday at Aloha Stadium. Both have secured Division I state tournament berths.

The Mules (7-4), the fifth seed in the West, squeaked past No. 9 Farrington, the East runner-up, 7-3, in a semifinal last night at Aloha Stadium.

The Governors (5-3-2) will play Kapolei for third place Saturday at a site to be determined for the final state berth.

The Seariders, who lost to Kahuku in last year's title game, are looking for their first OIA crown since 1997. The Mules have not won the title since 1984, also the last time they played in the league championship. (They played for the state title just two years ago when they were third in the OIA.)

"I'm so proud of these kids," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "We told them to love each other and enjoy the moment."

It was all defense for the Mules, who limited the Governors to 184 yards. They also had four sacks and forced three turnovers, all caused by linebacker Robert Siavii, who had two interceptions and caused a fumble that led to the only touchdown of the game.

"Feels good," Siavii said. "We played as a team. It was all brotherhood."

The Mules had just lost the ball when running back Rico Newman fumbled at the Farrington 29. But on first down, Siavii stripped Farrington running back Matt Stowers of the ball and it was recovered by Kaumu Delos Santos at the Farrington 27. Four plays later, quarterback Andrew Manley threw a perfect pass to Edieson Dumlao to the right side of the end zone for an 11-yard scoring play. The pass split two defenders with Dumlao falling backward to make the catch with 7:02 left in the third quarter to break the scoreless deadlock.

Manley was brought up from the JV to play in last week's overtime win against Mililani in the quarterfinals. Despite an interception and an errant toss that Newman managed to contain early in the game, he completed 15 of 27 for 158 yards.

"I just hope people don't refer to him as a sophomore quarterback," Tokuda said. "He's a varsity quarterback. He did the job for us. He managed the game and came up with the win."

The Governors drove to within the Leilehua 5 early in the fourth quarter. But consecutive sacks pushed Farrington back to the 17, where it settled for a 34-yard field goal by Lutua Folaumahina with 6:58 left in the game to make it 7-3.

Farrington's ensuing onside kickoff was recovered by the Mules at their 49. Leilehua drove to the Farrington 16, where Garrison Garma's 32-yard field-goal attempt was wide right.

The Governors took over at their 20 with 3:40 left, but the drive died four plays later when Siavii got his second interception of the night at the Leilehua 41 with 2:18 left.

FARRINGTON (5-3-2) 0 0 0 3 — 3

LEILEHUA (7-4) 0 0 7 0 — 7

Lei—Edieson Dumlao 11 pass from Andrew Manley (Garrison Garma kick)

Farr—FG Lutua Folaumahina 34

RUSHING—Farrington: Matt Stowers 22-91, Anthony Noga 1-1, Alefesio Iu 9-(minus 45), Ani Isumu 1-1, Dayton Kealoha 5-18, Jimmy Robinson 0-3. Leilehua: Andrew Manley 4-(minus 20), Bronson Pausa 4-8, Rico Newman 16-39, Joedee Taua 1-4

PASSING—Farrington: Iu 9-17-2—115. Leilehua: Manley 16-27-1—158.

RECEIVING—Farrington: Ani Isumu 8-104, Drake Miller 1-11. Leilehua: Zaire Macapagal 2-15, Newman 2-19, Edieson Dumlao 7-85, Allan Macam 5-39.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.