In a clutch "bend-but-no-break" performance, Leilehua's defense gave up some big plays but made even bigger ones to help the Mules hold off Baldwin, 41-34, in last night's First Hawaiian Bank Football State Championship semifinals.

The biggest play came with 13 seconds remaining, when safety Allan Macam made an interception at his own 1-yard line. The Bears had driven from their own 20, with 1:46 left, all the way to the Leilehua 30. On second-and-10, Baldwin quarterback Jordan Helle threw a deep pass on the right side looking for Kalei Kamahele in the end zone.

But Macam, a receiver who stepped in for starting safety Sean Kenigton after a first-half injury, jumped in front of Kamahele near the goal line and came down with the pick.

With the Bears out of timeouts, the Mules ran out the clock with a quarterback sneak.

"We played man (coverage) on that last drive, and we slipped up a couple times," said Macam, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior. "But I had a feeling it was going to come down to a turnover, and I knew I needed to make a play for the team."

It was just the last in many crucial big plays by the Leilehua defense, which surrendered 334 passing yards but also came up with four interceptions and a 47-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by linebacker Robert Siavi'i.

The Mules gave up 201 total yards and 20 points in the first half, and Baldwin's All-State receiver Chase Nakamura had five catches for 90 yards in the first two quarters. But Leilehua held Nakamura to one catch for 15 yards after halftime, and Helle went one second-half stretch with 10 straight incompletions.

Most importantly, the Mules held the Bears to only one offensive touchdown in the final 24 minutes.

"All the credit goes to the boys," said Leilehua defensive coordinator Mark Kurisu. "That Baldwin offense is so explosive — Helle and Nakamura are outstanding players. We thought we could stop them with our zones, but they made things happen and we did have to make adjustments at halftime."

With the Bears trailing 41-34, they started a comeback drive at their own 15 with 4:39 remaining, but Micah Cruz ended it with an interception near midfield. After Baldwin forced a punt, the Bears took over with 1:46 left and moved the ball with three passes to the Mules' 30 with three passes.

Then Macam made one final big play to stop Baldwin for good.

"I gotta thank my teammates, because we told ourselves to play shutdown 'D' and play for each other," Macam said. "I'm glad I was the one who had a chance to step in and make a play, but with us, no one is alone out there."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.