In a thrilling opening-round matchup at the Hawaii Dental/HHSAA Flag Football State Championships, Moanalua edged past Leilehua 19-13 on Monday night, thanks to a breakout performance from Shaydenurijah Key Bird. The speedy receiver hauled in two touchdowns, proving to be the difference-maker in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Moanalua (13-1), the OIA runner-up, now sets its sights on BIIF champion Konawaena in the quarterfinal round. That matchup is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday at Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium, and if Monday's performance is any indication, Key Bird will be a player to watch.
Key Bird’s speed was a game-changer from the start. She opened the scoring with a 33-yard touchdown reception, giving Moanalua a 7-6 lead. Then, early in the second half, she broke loose for a 65-yard catch-and-run that extended the lead to 13-6. Her ability to stretch the field was crucial, especially with Leilehua focusing its defensive game plan on Moanalua’s top target, Jodie Keo.
“We had to stay together as a team,” Key Bird said. “We’re relieved for now. We move on to the second round.”
Key Bird finished the night with five receptions for 112 yards, while Keo—recently named to the U.S. national team—still managed seven catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. The dynamic between these two playmakers is a recipe that will continue to pay dividends as defenses key in on Keo.
“I told my teammates because they’re double-guarding me that means somebody’s going to be open,” Keo said. “Run your routes open. Our quarterback will get us the ball.”
That quarterback, freshman Breidi-Ann Higa, showed poise beyond her years. She completed 20 of 37 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns, avoiding any turnovers despite a few near-misses on potential scoring plays.
The win carries extra significance given the history between these two programs. When they last met in the 2025 state tournament, Leilehua stunned Moanalua with a 7-6 quarterfinal victory. The Lady Mules then went on to beat Punahou 18-12 before falling to Campbell 6-0 in the state championship game. This time, Moanalua flipped the script.
Moanalua entered the tournament on a 13-game winning streak before a 35-31 loss to Waianae in the OIA title game. That defeat clearly served as motivation, as the team showed resilience against a tough Leilehua squad.
Leilehua, for its part, made things interesting late. After falling behind 19-6 in the second half, the Lady Mules switched to junior safety Cali Moniz-Kealoha at quarterback and nearly completed a comeback. With the ball at Moanalua’s 7-yard line in the final minutes, Leilehua had a chance to tie or win the game. But a series of penalties and a key sack by Moanalua’s Jailyn Smith pushed them back, and a last-second pass into the end zone fell incomplete.
“It was tough. We knew if we could get past this one, we like the road forward. Unfortunately, we fell 10 yards short,” Leilehua coach Br said.
For Moanalua, the focus now shifts to Konawaena and the opportunity to keep their championship dreams alive. With Key Bird and Keo leading the way, this team has the firepower to make a deep run.