A teenage girl posed for a photo with the blond quarterback after a big game over the weekend.

The University of Hawai'i's Colt Brennan?

Not quite there yet.

Try Leilehua's Andrew Manley.

While the storybook season has one more chapter for Brennan on New Year's Day, you can close the book on Manley's with "happily ever after" after he helped guide the Leilehua Mules to a 20-16 win against Saint Louis in Friday's First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Football Championship at Aloha Stadium. Manley's 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Edieson Dumlao with 36 seconds left completed the Mules' rally from a 16-6 deficit after three quarters.

"Unbelievable," Manley said. "I'm speechless. That's all I can say. It's a dream come true."

The Mules' six-play, 63-yard drive got a 30-yard boost from consecutive 15-yard penalties against the Crusaders on a personal foul and pass interference, taking Leilehua to the Saints' 33. Manley's first pass to Dumlao was incomplete before a 9-yard completion to Allan Macam made it third-and-1. After another incomplete pass, the Mules faced fourth-and-1 from the 24 with 1:20 left. Manley lined up in shotgun formation and ran between his left tackle and left guard for a 3-yard gain with 1:15 left. Manley hit Macam for 6 yards to the 15 as the seconds ticked away.

On second-and-4 from the 15, Dumlao, the right-side wide receiver, ran a streak to the end zone. Manley threw a perfect fade to Dumlao, who was closely covered by the defender. Pass interference was called, but declined.

"If that ball is just a little bit under thrown, I think it would've been tipped," Dumlao said.

The Mules had run the play numerous times during the game, Manley said.

"I made the read with the corner coming up, so I just threw it to the playmaker," Manley said. "I threw it and I had confidence in Edieson. When he came down with the catch, I was very excited."

It was the fifth varsity game for the sophomore promoted from the JV after injuries knocked out quarterbacks Kaipo Kea and Kaipo DeRego, in the same game — the first round of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red tournament. Manley hardly played as a freshman because of an injury, so he remained on the JV.

Manley appears to have a bright future, one that isn't lost on Dumlao, a junior.

"We have him for two more years," Dumlao said. "I have him for one more."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.